CONFIRMED: Southeastern services will resume on Bexleyheath line tomorrow
8PM UPDATE: Southeastern have confirmed that tests were successful and services on the Bexleyheath and Eltham line will resume tomorrow.
UPDATE: The test trains have been successful, and the line through #Barnehurst will be open for the first trains tomorrow. Until then:
🚌: Buses replace trains between Lewisham and Dartford via Bexleyheath
🎟: Ticket acceptance on Tube/Bus/DLR/Thameslink pic.twitter.com/RhzdFXz4SG— Southeastern (@Se_Railway) February 17, 2019
ORIGINAL: Network Rail and Southeastern are to conduct testing this evening after work almost completes to shore up an embankment after the fourth landslip in four years in Barnehurst.
Work is due to be complete by 5pm before commencing testing of trains with reopening due for tomorrow morning.
Southeastern came in for criticism last week for the low frequency of replacement bus services once Ensign Bus begun operations. TfL buses were reportedly extremely busy and were passing stops without stopping in places due to being full. Granted, it’s not easy to draw up a fleet of replacement buses at short notice (no company keeps dozens on standby).
I myself saw evidence of poor services yesterday when a four-car train pulled up and was being used on other Dartford lines (eight is normal on a Saturday without disruption). The service not only had to cater for passengers normally travelling on the Bexleyheath line but a Charlton game at the Valley (on football for a fiver day when attendance jump at least 5,000) and those heading to Ikea and shops.
