Monday 28 October 2013

Buses will run between Greenhithe and Gravesend through to Strood as rail passengers face 15-day closure over Christmas and New Year, from December 22 to January 6.

Rail journeys from Higham through to Northfleet could be extended by nearly an hour when 15 days of work is carried out at Gravesend train station.

Rail journeys from Higham through to Northfleet could be extended by nearly an hour when 15 days of work is carried out at Gravesend railway station.

Gravesend train station
by Thom Morris
tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk

Southeastern has announced that engineering works will start on December 22 and run until January 5. All lines will be closed and no trains will run between Northfleet and Higham.
Rathmore Road in Gravesend will also be closed whilst £19 million of work is carried out at Gravesend train station.

The station’s platform will be extended to allow for longer 12-car trains, a new footbridge will be built, and lifts installed to provide access to all platforms. A third platform will also be added. Part of the works will include a 15-day closure over Christmas and New Year, from December 22 to January 6.

This is needed to complete the track layout changes and station construction work. An additional platform will also be fitted. Buses will run between Greenhithe and Gravesend through to Strood.

Customer relations manager for Southeastern Alison Nolan said: “The work at Gravesend is critical for us to be able to increase capacity and run longer trains on the network, but we know the work to make this happen will result in some inconvenience for our passengers.

“We’ve spent a great deal of time working together with Network Rail, Transport for London and local bus operators to develop a range of alternative travel arrangements for customers during this time.

"We’ve written directly to our customers to give advanced notice of these plans and to enable people to plan their travel this Christmas,” she said.

CG version of how the station will look once completed
Network Rail’s route managing director for Kent Fiona Taylor said: “Gravesend station will be vastly improved and the reconstructed platforms will mean longer trains can be accommodated, providing more seats for passengers.

“It is a complicated project which requires the station to be closed for 15 days to carry out the work to the track and station.

"We recognise that this will cause some disruption to passengers’ and we have timed the work to take place over what is traditionally a less busy time on the railway.
"We are working closely with Southeastern to minimise the impact as much as possible and I am confident the long-term benefits to passengers will outweigh the short-term disruption.”


Gravesend train station


1 comment:

  1. Southeastern's alternative travel plans for customers during Gravesend station closure over Christmas.

    12:04pm Monday 28th October 2013 in News By Khaleda Rahman

    SOUTHEASTERN have released alternative travel arrangements for customers during the 15-day closure of Gravesend station over Christmas and New Year.
    From December 22 until January 6, replacement bus services will run at Gravesend, Strood, Greenhithe, Meopham, Maidstone West and Ebbsfleet International.

    A special high speed service will operate from Faversham to St Pancras International via Canterbury West and Ashford International.

    Customers boarding Cannon Street and Victoria-bound services can complete their journey on London Underground between Victoria, Embankment, Kings Cross and Cannon Street stations free of charge.

    A free Fastrack bus service is available at Gravesend with any valid Southeastern ticket for connecting services at Ebbsfleet and Greenhithe and on local bus routes.
    Southeastern reported its website received more than a thousand page views in a day following the release of their travel advice.

    The station’s closure is to allow a £19m upgrade of facilities to be carried out. The year-long project will allow for longer 12-car trains to pass through and a new platform and footbridge with lifts is to be built. Work is due to begin next month and improvements finished in May 2014.

    Alison Nolan, customer relations manager for Southeastern said: "We've spent a great deal of time working together with Network Rail, Transport for London and local bus operators to develop a range of alternative travel arrangements for customers during this time.

    “We’ve written directly to our customers to give advanced notice of these plans and to enable people to plan their travel this Christmas."

    Fiona Taylor, Network Rail’s route managing director for Kent, said: "It is a complicated project which requires the station to be closed for 15 days to carry out the work to the track and station.

    “We recognise that this will cause some disruption to passengers' and we have timed the work to take place over what is traditionally a less busy time on the railway.
    “We are working closely with Southeastern to minimise the impact as much as possible and I am confident the long-term benefits to passengers will outweigh the short-term disruption."

    To help you plan your journey, visit the Southeastern website.

    ReplyDelete

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