£28m Hither Green upgrade reaches major construction milestone

A major accessibility upgrade at Hither Green station in south-east London has reached a key milestone after all three spans of a new footbridge were lifted into position across the railway tracks. The installation took place on Saturday 2 May 2026 using 500-tonne and 750-tonne cranes, as part of a £28m improvement programme funded by the Department for Transport to provide step-free access from street level to the platforms for the first time.

The new bridge will connect all six platforms with new station entrances on Fernbrook Road and Springbank Road. The wider scheme also includes four 16-person lifts, new staircases, a link passageway between platforms 4 and 5, upgraded CCTV, a public announcement system, customer information displays, ticket vending machines and Oyster card readers.

The lift operation was complex because the bridge spans six railway lines at a busy junction station built across a wide, split-Y-shaped embankment. Installing the bridge in sections helped reduce disruption while allowing the main structure to be positioned safely during the early May bank holiday works.

Once complete, the project will significantly improve station access for disabled passengers, people with reduced mobility, those travelling with luggage or pushchairs, and everyday commuters. Hither Green station handles around three million entries and exits each year, as well as about half a million interchange journeys, making the upgrade an important investment in inclusive transport infrastructure.