Work on railways set to cause Easter disruption

Thameslink, Southern and Southeastern trains are due to be impacted

Train services in south London will be disrupted over the Easter weekend due to a major programme of railway upgrades, Network Rail has said.

A railway junction at Battersea will be rebuilt, a new signalling system in Lewisham will be installed and new track will be laid on the Bromley North branch line.

Network Rail urged passengers to plan ahead for the Easter period, with Thameslink, Southern and Southeastern trains all due to be affected.

David Davidson, Network Rail's Kent route director, said: "While we are reminding people to plan ahead and check their journey, more than 90% of the network is open and trains are running."

The work means Southeastern trains to and from London Victoria will be diverted to London Cannon Street, London Charing Cross or London Blackfriars from 18 to 21 April. Brixton station will also be closed.

A reduced Southern service will run between London Victoria and Clapham Junction and East Croydon, with no trains calling at Battersea Park towards London Victoria.

Trains which usually run between London Victoria and London Bridge will also not be in service, nor will trains between London Bridge and Epsom.

Rail services between London Victoria and Littlehampton, Eastbourne and Reigate will also be affected.

On 20 and 21 April, trains on the Bexleyheath line in southeast London will not run.

And from 18 to 21 April, buses will replace trains between Grove Park, Sundridge Park and Bromley North.