From, Saturday, June 1 to Sunday, August 11, the trainline running between Blackheath and Charlton will be CLOSED.

The closures are due to Network Rail starting £10m of essential repairs to the 175-year-old Victorian-era structure of the Blackheath Tunnel.

Network Rail has confirmed that the work is needed because the one-mile-long tunnel, which opened in 1849, is prone to leaks and water damage.

Services which normally run through the tunnel will be diverted via other routes during the 10 weeks.

According to Network Rail, over the last year, faults in the tunnel have been the cause of around 1000 minutes of delay to Southeastern passengers.

Over the course of the works, Network Rail will replace thousands of bricks and install a new concrete tunnel lining to stop water leaking into the tunnel, which is said to be "crucial" for the reliable running of the railway long into the future.

To minimise disruption, services from Dartford to Cannon Street via Charlton and Lewisham will run 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, which will add around seven minutes to journeys for people who use service which normally travel through the tunnel.

The Greenwich Line will have six trains per hour in the off peak (including SE and GTR services) and seven trains per hour in the peak.

There will be a reduction of two trains per hour via Charlton and Blackheath into Cannon Street, which instead both run via Greenwich.

Other services will be diverted along the Bexleyheath line (primarily at weekends or late at night).

Direct services to Charing Cross on the Bexleyheath line are not affected.

The Bexleyheath Line will have five trains per hour in the off peak (two to Cannon Street, one to Charing Cross and two to Victoria) and eight in the peak (four to Cannon Street, two to Charing Cross and two to Victoria).

There will be no rail replacement bus service, however Network Rail are funding ticket acceptance on the 89, 54, 380 and 202 bus routes - there are between four to six buses an hour.

Customers with accessible needs can make the journey by taxi between Blackheath and Charlton at Southeastern’s expense.