Selhurst Road closes for bridge replacement and City Thameslink shuts for escalator upgrade

On 12 December 2026 the A213 stretch known as Selhurst Road will be shut to all traffic for a four‑week period, according to Network Rail. The closure runs until 10 January 2027 and includes a pedestrian ban on the section nearest the railway bridge. Selhurst railway station will stay open, but Network Rail warned that sudden closures may still affect some services.

Selhurst Road bridge works

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The bridge over Selhurst Road has served trains for 165 years and has reached the end of its serviceable life, Network Rail said in a statement reported by MyLondon. Engineers will build the replacement bridge on the existing site and then move it into place using self‑propelled vehicles between 27 December 2026 and 2 January 2027. The method was chosen because underground utility pipes prevent the use of a heavy‑lift crane.

We recognise the impact the works will have on residents, businesses, road users and our customers and apologise for the inconvenience caused.

Lucy McAuliffe, Sussex route director, Network Rail

Lucy McAuliffe added that the timing was selected to coincide with the holiday season when fewer commuters travel, aiming to minimise disruption. She also said Network Rail will provide advance notice of any particularly noisy activities.

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City Thameslink escalator replacement

City Thameslink station will cease operations from 17 May 2027 until late December 2027 while ten escalators, each about 35 years old, are removed and replaced, as reported by This Is Local London. Thameslink Railways described the escalators as increasingly unreliable after recent flooding.

Network Rail stated that a full closure is the quickest way to complete the work, and Lucy McAuliffe reiterated that the decision was not taken lightly. She said the new escalators will be safer, more dependable and fully accessible when the station reopens.

During the closure Thameslink trains will continue to run on the line but will not stop at City Thameslink. Passengers are advised to use Blackfriars station, a six‑minute walk from the south entrance and an 11‑minute walk from the north entrance. The guidance specifically warns against using Farringdon because of its high passenger volume.