TRAINS passing through Slade Green are being delayed and cancelled this morning (January 4) due to “urgent repairs”.

The repairs were reported by Southeastern rail at around 5.04am today.

Disruption to services is expected throughout the day as repairs will be completed overnight.

Trains will be diverted through alternative routes, or can be cancelled at short notice, according to Southeastern rail.

Southeastern rail said the services from London Bridge towards Slade Green will be blocked until the end of the day.

Passengers are being asked to use London buses and DLR as an alternative.

Slade Green passengers who want to travel to Dartford can use the 428 bus and also the 89 bus to Lewisham.

Southeastern rail tweeted (@se_railway): “Because of urgent repairs required on the railway, services through #SladeGreen will be disrupted.

“No trains can run away from London through the station, and other services towards London will be disrupted as a result. Updates to follow soon.

“You can use your tickets on London Buses and DLR services at no extra cost to help you complete your journey this morning, while staff work to carry out urgent repairs to the railway at #SladeGreen.

“Services through #SladeGreen are being disrupted, which is affecting services across the Woolwich, Bexleyheath and Sidcup Lines this morning.

“Trains are being delayed and may be diverted or cancelled at short notice.

“The line through #SladeGreen away from London will remain closed this morning while urgent repairs are carried out.

“Trains will be diverted via alternative routes or may be cancelled at short notice.

“Trains to London can run, but may still be disrupted

“The line through #SladeGreen away from London will remain closed this morning while urgent repairs are carried out.

“Trains are diverted via alternative routes or cancelled at short notice.

“Tickets will be accepted on local buses.

“@NetworkRailSE have shared the following images of the damage to the rail and lineside equipment at #SladeGreen.

“So that the London bound line can stay open, repairs will not start until after rush hour and will take two hours to complete.

“Disruption is expected until 12:00.

"We have been informed that repairs cannot be completed today and will now be done overnight.

"The line from London Bridge towards #SladeGreen via Woolwich is blocked until the end of the day.

"Services towards London via Woolwich can still run."

Network Rail Kent and Sussex also tweeted (@NetworkRailSE): “Sorry to say one line is blocked at #SladeGreen after this blown rail joint was found.

“We have a plan to cut it out and replace it, but it means the country-bound will be closed while the work is done, with @Se_Railway and @TLRailUK diverted via Bexleyheath and Sidcup.

“The joint is part of the signalling system and keeps two electric circuits apart in the rails.

“If electricity jumps the gap (for a variety of reasons) the result is what you see.

“The solution is a new joint, which is what we’re working on now, and we’re so sorry for the disruption.”

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