Selhurst Road will close beneath its railway bridge for almost a month over Christmas and New Year while engineers replace the Victorian structure. The closure will affect both vehicles and pedestrians, although Selhurst station is expected to remain open.
On 3 November, Network Rail set out plans to shut the section under the bridge from 8am on Saturday 12 December 2026 until 5pm on Sunday 10 January 2027. The road forms part of the A213 through Croydon. The existing bridge, built in 1861, is to be removed and a replacement assembled on site and moved into position.
Access during the closure
There will be no vehicle or pedestrian access beneath the bridge during the closure. People will still be able to reach properties on either side using segregated, signed walking routes, but those routes will not provide a way through underneath the bridge.
Edith Road will also close to vehicles for the same period. Pedestrian access there will be maintained. Network Rail says it is working with Croydon Council, the emergency services and other local partners on access arrangements and information for the community.
Residents, businesses and road users should check for further local information as the work approaches, rather than assume that a particular diversion or vehicle access route has been confirmed.
Why the bridge is being replaced
Network Rail says it has repaired the bridge several times, but that it has reached the end of its serviceable life. Replacing it is intended to maintain a reliable route for passenger and freight trains and reduce the need for future maintenance on the old structure.
Engineers plan to use self-propelled modular transporters to remove the existing bridge and install its replacement. These remotely controlled vehicles are designed to carry and position very heavy structures. Network Rail says underground utility pipes beneath the road mean a conventional heavy-lift crane cannot safely be used for the installation.
The alternative method requires a longer road closure, the infrastructure owner says. It has chosen a single extended period around Christmas and New Year rather than a series of weekend closures spread over many months. The organisation says road traffic and rail passenger numbers are typically lower during the holiday period.
The most intensive phase is scheduled for 27 December to 2 January, when the old bridge will be removed and the new one put in place. Some activities, including the removal and installation, will continue around the clock. Network Rail has apologised for the disruption and says it will seek to minimise noise and give advance notice of particularly disruptive work wherever possible.
Rail passengers and wider investment
Network Rail says Selhurst station will remain open during the works. That does not mean every train will run to its usual timetable: passengers travelling over Christmas and New Year are being advised to check their journeys in advance. Changes to services on days when Crystal Palace play at home are to be communicated closer to the time.
The bridge replacement sits within a wider programme of railway upgrades across the Sussex route. Network Rail says it is investing £900 million between 2024 and 2029 across the route, including £90 million for replacing or refurbishing structures. Those are programme figures, not a stated cost for the Selhurst bridge alone.
For questions about the works, Network Rail’s national helpline is 03457 11 41 41. The closure and installation dates are planned dates, so travellers and people needing access locally should look out for further updates.
Featured image: AI-generated illustration.
