Bexleyheath and Eltham line closure: New bus replacement map shows passenger options
A map has been drawn up showing replacement bus services running for a week while the Bexleyheath line is closed from 15th February to the 23rd February.
The work is to upgrade support for embankments along the line, with £6.6 million to be spent. These have cause landslips in previous years halting services for lengthy periods.
Buses will link to other Metro lines to London Bridge, as seen below:
Southeastern state they will put on extra services and longer trains. It will be interesting to see how many 12-car trains will run where possible – that is to say those not stopping at Woolwich Dockyard or Charing Cross which only has half the platforms for 12-carriage trains without selective door operation installed, which Metro stock does not have.
As for buses, those in Eltham are expected to take a bus to Mottingham.
Those from Welling and Bexleyheath will have buses to Abbey Wood. Welling and Falconwood buses also run to New Eltham.
Barnehurst has buses to Slade Green.
This closure will knock out annual growth figures for the line. Last year’s closure ensured measured passenger growth at stations was below other lines. That doesn’t mean the line is seeing any less strain than others.
The rail timetable they have released shows train lengths for peak trains. Via Sidcup I think I noticed 1 additional 12 car train.
Southeastern are totally rubbish as usual. For some reason the replacement bus service from Lewisham does not serve Blackheath (except at weekends). No explanation why and totally unacceptable given that there is no alternative public bus service from Blackheath to most of the stations down the line including Kidbrooke and Eltham.
The 89 bus kind of parallels most of the Bexleyheath line with the exception of not serving Kidbrooke, Eltham and Falconwood but you can get from Blackheath to Welling, Bexleyheath & Barnehurst, but using the hoppa fare you can get the 89 to Shooters Hill Road and can either get the 286 for Eltham or the 335 for Kidbrooke
Yes but surely Southeastern should be providing a proper replacement bus service for the train service they are not providing?