Network Rail images show £10m rail work near week-long Dartford closure

Network Rail have released a number of images showing work on a major railway project near Dartford station.

The £10 million project begun on Saturday and will see now trains able to run between Dartford and London via any of the three metro lines.

Work will see new tracks and points installed. This week was chosen as its half term, with replacement buses are running between north Kent stations and those in outer London such as Barnehurst, Slade Green and Crayford.

Thameslink on the Woolwich line is running as far as Plumstead.

Loop line trains are running between lines with even some rare 12-car workings seen.

12-car trains

The Southeastern metro network lacks sufficient stock to run many 12-car trains in normal day-to-day operation.. Network SouthEast planned to operate them way back though cuts around the late 1980s and early 1990s to proposed Networker trains limited that.

Then in the 2010s Network Rail spent millions lengthening numerous platforms and upgrading power supplies, only to then see very few 12-car trains. Some stations were extended – such as Abbey Wood – only for the extended platforms to be demolished shortly after due to Elizabeth line construction.

A handful of 12-car workings did start in the late 2010s.

Any 12-car service using Networkers along the Woolwich line would have to skip Woolwich Dockyard station. Back under Network SouthEast any 12-car running would possibly have used a rudimentary system to allow selected doors to open. That’s no longer permitted.

There’s still no confirmation on any new train order that could utilise 12-car running, and without additional stabling space there’s not much chance for it.

The drop in passengers post-covid have reduced the need for 12-cars, though many stations are now into double digit annual growth again, and if you follow this site you’ll know new housing plans around statins come in thick and fast.

Next week, to give an example, plans for a new Greenwich tower look set to be approved as well as revisions to other sites in Greenwich and a new plan in Woolwich.

As for the current work, a full list of changes and what is being undertaken can be viewed here at the Southeastern website.