'Plan ahead' for nine-day closure, rail boss says

A railway line will close for nine days over February half term for a £10m upgrade to the track, with passengers advised to plan ahead.

Network Rail said Dartford Junction was the busiest railway junction in Kent, with 650 trains passing through it each day, and work was taking place from 14 to 22 February to minimise disruption.

Replacement buses will be in operation and several stations will undergo work at the same time.

Chief operating officer for the South East David Davidson said: "We've deliberately chosen the half-term to minimise disruption as schools are on holiday and fewer people are commuting."

He added: "We will be making the most of the time available when trains are not running to carry out station refurbishments."

Davidson said the alternative to the nine-day closure would have been carrying out the work over 30 weekends, adding that would have been "much more disruptive".

Buses will replace services between Gravesend and Dartford towards Crayford, Barnehurst, and Slade Green.

Services will run as normal into London along the Sidcup, Bexleyheath and Woolwich routes.

Preparatory work will take place on 7 and 8 February, and follow-up work is scheduled for 1 March and 5 April, with closures also planned on those dates.

Junction improvements include renewing "points" - the moveable sections of track that allow trains to change direction - and laying new track.

Station improvements include new tactile paving at Dartford station, replacing damaged fencing at Stone Crossing and refurbishing the accessible toilet at Greenhithe.

Swanscombe station will be deep-cleaned, and Northfleet will have new LED lighting, with additional customer information screens.

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