Hither Green station Access for All improvements

We’re installing a new footbridge with four new lifts and staircases. The creation of two new entrances will provide step-free access between platforms.

As part of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) nationwide Railway Access for All (AfA) strategy, we’re installing a new footbridge spanning across all six platforms with four new 16-person lifts and staircases. The creation of two new accessible station entrances at Fernbrook Road and Springbank Road will provide you with an accessible route throughout the station and to and from platforms at Hither Green station.

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Project timeline

Enabling work began in November 2024. Construction will start in March 2025, and is expected to be completed in Autumn 2027.

What work is taking place?

The work includes:

  • Installation of a new linear footbridge
  • Installation of four new lifts and staircases
  • Creation of two new accessible station entrances at Fernbrook Road and Springbank Road.
  • Widening of platform 1 and platform 6
  • New link passageway connecting platforms 4 & 5
  • Installation of CCTV, public announcement systems (PA) and customer information screens (CIS)
  • Fencing, landscaping, replanting and reinstatement of the nature reserve

This project is being managed by Network Rail, with the construction work being delivered by our supply chain partner and principal contractor BAM Nuttall Ltd.

Sheet Piling work – Springbank Road and Fernbrook Road

We will need to close Springbank Road and Fernbrook Road to install the sheet piles required to retain the embankment while we create the opening for the new entrance.

The indicative road closure periods are below:

  • Springbank Road starts from Monday 17 February 2025 to July 2025
    New temporary pedestrian road crossings will be placed either end of the works.
  • Fernbrook Road indicative closure period starts from May 2025 to October 2025
    New temporary pedestrian road crossings will be put in place.
    TfL bus diversions have been agreed and will be implemented.

Please note: Dates may be subject to change, but we will keep you updated. Road closures are required to provide a safe working area for embankment piling works for the new station entrance. All parking bays within the designated road closure will be suspended for the duration of the closure period.

The roads will be closed at weekends as our large piling equipment and cranes will need to remain in place for the duration of the works. Due to their physical size, they must remain situated within the road closure area during non-working times.

Piling can be noisy for those living nearby and you may experience some noise and vibration during these times, but every effort will be made to minimise the impact of our work as much as possible.

When is the work taking place?

The enabling work, which include de-vegetation and the removal of trees to facilitate the construction of the new structures, started in November 2024.

In January 2025, we started diverting existing railway assets and preparing for the commencement of the main construction work which will start with piling in early March 2025.

We will start constructing the foundations for the new footbridge in Spring 2025. The steelwork installation for the new footbridge is expected to start in Autumn 2025 with the lifts opened to passengers by Autumn 2027.

Most of our work will take place Monday to Friday during daytime hours 07:30 – 18:00 and will not affect train services.

Due to the nature of our work, there may be occasions where we have to work overnight or during weekends, including when trains are not running and the station is closed. To minimise disruption this will be completed during existing planned maintenance closures of the railway and we will endeavour to keep any disturbance to a minimum.

Upcoming weekend line closures

  • 01:25 Sunday 16 March 2025 to 02:50 Monday 17 March 2025
  • 01:25 Sunday 13 April 2025 to 02:50 Monday 14 April 2025
  • 01:25 Saturday 24 May 2025 to 02:50 Tuesday 27 May 2025 (May Bank Holiday)
  • 01:25 Sunday 29 June 2025 to 02:50 Monday 30 June 2025

There will be a requirement to utilise line closures beyond these dates and we will keep you updated on all future railway closures to support the project.

There will be rail replacement bus services operating from Springbank Road as usual during railway closures.

Delivering the highest standards of safety is paramount to our work and keeping people safe on and around the railway is at the heart of everything we do. As a result of this, some work will need to be carried out while trains aren’t running during the night and at weekends.

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How will this work affect me?

Station access

During the construction period, access to the station via the subway entrance and staircase entrance off Springbank Road will continue as normal. However, access may be restricted at times to facilitate the construction work, in which advance notice will be provided.

Road closures

We will need to close both Springbank Road and Fernbrook Road to facilitate the sheet piling activities. There will be a diversion route in place, as shown below, to navigate around the road closure that has been agreed with Lewisham Council.

There will be a parking bay suspension and footway closure in place for the duration of the main construction activity adjacent to the work on both roads.

We will also need to close the road for specific weekends when carrying out lifting operations with a crane. Advanced notification will be published nearer the time with the diversion routes in place.

We understand the impact that our activities may have on the local community, and we can assure you that our teams are briefed on working responsibly. We will endeavour to keep any noise to an absolute minimum, though some disturbance may be unavoidable due to the nature of our work.

Why is the work needed?

Hither Green station is served by Southeastern and is a key interchange for passengers travelling on the South Eastern Main Line. The station sees around three million entries and exits a year as well as around half a million interchanges.

These planned upgrades are critical for further improving accessibility on the railway in south east London and Kent. Currently, passengers with accessibility requirements who need to interchange at Hither Green either must go into central London, change and then come back out again; or take a bus/taxi to Lewisham. Once complete, these upgrades will remove this issue, considerably reducing the time and inconvenience for those passengers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get in touch

For more information email communityrelationssouthern@networkrail.co.uk, call our National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 quoting Hither Green Access for All Project, visit our contact us page, or follow us on X @NetworkRailSE.