Passengers warned as Blackheath tunnel closes for 10 weeks of repairs

Blackheath railway tunnel was closed on Sunday for repair work which will last 10 weeks, with passengers urged to plan ahead due to diversions.

The 175-year-old tunnel, which is prone to leaks and water damage, will be closed between Blackheath and Charlton  until July 27 as the rail network undertakes £10million of repairs.

Services from Dartford to Cannon Street – via Charlton and Lewisham – will run instead via Greenwich, stopping additionally at Westcombe Park, Maze Hill, Greenwich, and Deptford. 

This offers the option to travel on the DLR from Greenwich to Lewisham, adding around seven minutes to journeys. 

There will be no rail replacement buses but passengers will be able to travel on selected Transport  for London bus routes at no extra cost. 

A taxi can be provided for customers with accessible needs for travel between Blackheath and Charlton.

Speaking for the Southeastern-Network Rail Alliance, David Davidson, Network Rail’s Kent route director, said: “We know there’s never a good time to close the railway, and that changes to services for a 10-week period is a long time. These essential repairs will improve the safety and operation of the tunnel. 

“We are carrying out the repairs over a series of 10-week closures because working in cramped and narrow tunnels is incredibly difficult.

“If traditional weekend working was used engineers would spend at least 50 per cent of a weekend bringing materials and plant in and out of the tunnel, leaving limited time for actual work. 

“I want to thank customers for bearing with us during the closure, during which there are a number of alternative travel options.”

Brickwork along the one-mile-long tunnel, which opened in 1849, is affected by the freezing and thawing of rainwater which filters through the ground into the tunnel. 

While the tunnel is safe, the leaks and very wet conditions inside it damage track and electrical equipment, causing delays and speed restrictions. 

Over the last year, faults in the tunnel have been the cause of around 1,000 minutes of delay to Southeastern passengers. 

Network Rail will replace thousands of bricks and install a new tunnel lining to stop water leaking into the tunnel.

Drainage systems will be rebuilt and essential track work carried out, including the removal of waterlogged sections of track that cause bumpy train rides for customers.

This follows a 10-week closure in 2024, when engineers cleaned soot from the tunnel lining, carried out detailed surveys and replaced thousands of bricks to stop water leaking into the tunnel and damaging the railway.

Pictured top: Inside the Blackheath Tunnel (Picture: Network Rail)