Lewisham station sees new ticket gate line open to ease crowding

Plans to reduce overcrowding at Lewisham station has seen a new ticket gate line open with the closure of another beside Platform 1.

Previously a gate line was located a short distance from the platform which would see dozens of passengers bunched up when trying to exit whilst others attempted to enter.

That’s now gone with a new set of gates positioned closer to the DLR and other gate lines serving the station.

There’s a few temporary barriers to remove in the vicinity but the gates are operational to tap in and out.

It’ll come in handy when major developments in the area are occupied.

Lewisham Gateway’s second phase is repaired and hundreds of residents move in. The block can be seen above and saw 450 residents having to depart when a flood knocked out electrics across the site.

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A cinema is also set to open alongside a gym and other shops with late 2026 given as a target for some units to open.

Forthcoming passenger growth

Back up on platform one and another major development site is visible at a retail park. Sports Direct vacated the site with only Matalan still trading.

In the foreground is Lewisham bus stand. If the Bakerloo line extension is ever built a station would be located here with oversite development possible.

The building on the left is the Vita development. That actually includes provision for a new entrance to Platform 1 to avoid walking all around beneath a bridge and then uphill to the current station.

However the entrance is not planned to be fitted out anytime soon, so while the new gate line will help with crossing on platforms it doesn’t shorten walks from the many developments on this side of the station.

Platform 4

It’s a similar story on the other side of the station at Platform 4.

A former entrance is now closed and padlocked.

A major new development has been built with space to permit a new entrance – again ensuring passengers don’t need to walk around to the current station front.

Network Rail and Lewisham Council have been in discussions about funding but no agreement has yet been made, with little news since April 2025.

Thousands of homes have been built on that side of the station including Lewisham tallest tower as well as the nearby redevelopment of two estates.

In future the Tesco supermarket also looks set to be redeveloped.

So to sum up, the new entrance gate line will certainly help with crowding when a train arrives and disperses dozens of passengers on platform 1 but it’s not as substantial an improvement compared to new entrances at platform 1 and 4 which would offer quicker access to and from many new developments assisting many thousands of new homes in the town.

Now we wait to see if Network Rail and Lewisham council come to any agreement.