Rail engineers are preparing to clean decades of soot from the leaky Blackheath to Charlton rail tunnel so they can work out how much work is needed to shore it up in the future.
The tunnel is closing for ten weeks from June 1 to allow Network Rail to start work on waterproofing the line, which has a speed limit after many years of leaks.
Most trains are being diverted via Greenwich, giving stations between Westcombe Park and Deptford a daily six-train per hour service for the first time since cutbacks in December 2022, albeit at uneven intervals. Seven trains per hour will run during peak times. Some weekend and late-night trains will run via Bexleyheath instead.
Industrial-strength vacuum cleaners will be used to clear the tunnel of soot during the closure, which will encompass the 175th anniversary of the line’s opening, which took place on July 30 1849.
Tens of thousands of bricks will also be replaced to replace those damaged by the freezing and thawing of rainwater, with a concrete lining put in place afterwards.
Normal service is due to resume from August 11, but Network Rail has warned that more closures will be needed in the future to finish the job.
Paper rail tickets will be accepted on buses 54, 89, 202 and 380 in the Blackheath and Charlton areas, and on the SL3 Superloop service, which links Bexleyheath and Abbey Wood. Oyster and contactless users will have to contact Southeastern to get their fares refunded, a spokesperson told The Greenwich Wire.
Passengers are also able to use the Docklands Light Railway between Lewisham and Greenwich.
David Davidson, Network Rail’s Kent route director, said: “Working consecutively over 10 weeks means we can reduce the overall disruption to passengers and give them reliability improvements sooner. The alternative would have been a year of weekend closures.
“We look to manage the impact of work on railway neighbours, carrying out any noisy activities during the day, but with the tunnel more than 20m underground any noise and vibration from the work will be minimal.
“After we’ve cleared the soot from the tunnel this summer, a full assessment of the extent of further repair work needed next year can be made.
“We’re really grateful to passengers and neighbours for their patience and are working closely with Southeastern to make sure everyone understands the changes and the impact on their journeys.”
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