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Hither Green resignalling

New, more reliable signalling system comes into use on lines through Hither Green

Hither Green resignalling work

Following two years of work, a new, more reliable signalling system on the Sidcup, Grove Park and Bromley North lines through Hither Green has come into use. 

The old signalling system, which controlled the movement of trains on the lines through Hither Green, had been in place since the 1970s. It was old, unreliable, difficult to maintain and source spare parts.

The new system will mean fewer faults, fewer delays and better journeys for passengers through not just Hither Green, but into Lewisham, Central London and on into Kent.   

What did we deliver?

We delivered a new, more reliable signalling system and other improvements:

  • Track circuits, which detect trains, have been replaced with 254 more reliable axle counters.
  • 58 new signals and 9 new, easier maintained signal gantries built.
  • Power supply upgraded and made more resilient.
  • Signalling improvements to provide turnback opportunities at Hither Green, Grove Park and Lee, allowing trains to turnback when there are delays or during engineering works.
  • Signal improvements at Grove Park to allow 12-car trains to stop at platform 3.
  • Signalling control of the area will be transferred to the to the state-of-the-art Three Bridges route control centre, helping to recover the service more quickly when there is an incident.
  • Deep cleaning, maintenance of closed stations, platform and canopy repairs and other improvements to give passengers additional benefits.

Station improvement work continues

Work to improve stations along the lines will continue over the next few months, as will the removal of the old signalling kit which has had to remain in place until the new system came into use.

More investment to come

Over the next few years we’re investing a record £1.25bn to upgrade track, signalling, embankments, structures, stations and depots to give passengers in Kent and South East London better journeys, with fewer delays.

£250m of that investment, which the Hither Green resignalling project is part of, is being used to tackle track and signalling delay through South East London.

The funding will tackle decades of under investment in the Kent network, replacing ageing equipment with new and more reliable technology to support improving train performance and keep people moving for decades to come.

Contact us

For more information, visit out South East Upgrade page, call our National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 or contact us on Twitter @NetworkRailSE.

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