The pedestrian subway at Bexley railway station is to be closed permanently next week over safety fears. Southeastern Railway said the underpass, which runs beneath the tracks, would shut from Saturday 6 September following safety checks that revealed long-term risks to passengers and the railway above.
The subway supports both passenger and heavy freight services through the area, and engineers warned that repairing it would be highly complex, disruptive and costly. Passengers will instead use a new footbridge and lifts, opened in 2024 as part of a £6m investment to make the station fully step-free.
David Davidson, Southeastern’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We’re really sorry for the inconvenience caused by closing the subway. Our engineers carefully considered whether it could be repaired. Unfortunately, because the structure also supports the busy railway line above…the work would have been highly complex, disruptive, and extremely costly. Closing the subway is the safest and most practical step we can take for our customers.”
The operator stressed there was no immediate safety risk and that the subway would remain open until early September. Once sealed, the entrances will free up more space on the platforms. Staff will also be on hand to help passengers, with London-bound trains stopping further along the platform to align with the lifts and stairs.
The closure forms part of a wider package of upgrades at the station, including new platform surfacing and replacement lighting to be carried out between November and 2026.
- Early August – Site setup begins
- 6 September – Subway closes and works begin
- Early / mid-September – Demolition and service diversions
- Late September – Subway infill
- November – Subway works complete
- November to May 2026 – Platform resurfacing and new lighting
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