South London train disruption to last nine days

The works will take place in the Crystal Palace area

Trains in south London will be disrupted with little to no service for nine days, Network Rail has warned.

The rail operator urged passengers in the Crystal Palace area to plan ahead during upgrade works from 24 August to 1 September.

It will be carrying out a "major track upgrade", replacing 1,500m (about 4,900ft) of track, five sets of switches and crossings and moveable rails.

No Southern Railway trains will run at West Norwood, Gipsy Hill, Birkbeck and Beckenham Junction stations during the works.

It added that no trains will run to or from Crystal Palace from 24 to 26 August.

The work will also impact trains at stations from Streatham Hill to Norwood Junction and Sydenham, with a reduced Southern service through Peckham Rye, East Dulwich, North Dulwich, Tulse Hill, Norwood Junction and West Croydon stations, it said.

Passengers will be able to use their tickets on London Underground, London Overground and London Buses.

There will be no Southern trains at West Norwood, Gipsy Hill, Birkbeck and Beckenham Junction stations for nine days

'Reduce delays'

Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s Sussex route director, said the work would "help reduce train delays and improve passenger journeys".

“We're advising people to plan ahead and use London Buses, London Underground or alternative National Rail services," she said.

"Please check before you travel and thanks for bearing with us while this essential work is carried out."

Passengers were asked to check train times on the National Rail website and plan alternative routes on the Transport for London website.