Bexleyheath station is safely re-opened on Friday 15th January, after a landslide on Monday evening caused chaos. 

 

Daily commuters who travel from Bexleyheath station would have severely suffered from Monday evenings misfortune, as a dangerous landslide blocked the train tracks at Barnehurst. This caused hundreds of delays, as well as leaving many commuters angry and overcrowding of other lines. Network Rail confirmed the closer of trains running from Dartford to Lewisham after the landslide shortly happened after 10 PM on Monday 11th January.  

 

Network Rail and Southeastern used their social media sights to keep commuters up to date with all of the progression. Passengers were encouraged to use the hashtag #Bexleyheathline to ask any questions regarding alternative route options, refunds and progression updates.  

 

Southeastern did inform hundreds of passengers via social media that alternative options were available - as they did impose a temporary replacement bus service. Although the replacement bus services ran from Bexleyheath to other stations, many passengers were left disappointed as a ‘limited’ amount of buses were put on service. As well as this passengers were also advised to try and use alternative services, by the means of Woolwich and Sidcup. Therefore this left these line busy and overcrowded in compared to usual.  

 

Network Rail also announced that there had been a second landslide that had occurred on Wednesday 13th January and this would therefore put train cancellations back by a few days. Network rail also commented to passengers to reassure them that their engineers, were working throughout the day and night, to try and safely remove the 200 tonnes of rock, soil and tree debris that blocked the tracks.  

 

Finally after days of closer - trains running via Bexleyheath from Dartford to Lewisham were safely re-opened on Friday 15th January. This was after a tweet from Southeastern confirmed Network Rail had completed safety checks and were satisfied with the repairs.  

 

After the chaos commuters are now demanding refunds for their affected journeys - Southeastern are now advising passengers to visit their website to complete delay repay compensation forms.  

 

Holly Palmer - North Kent College.