An extra train has been added to the high-speed rail service in a bid to serve the Dover and Deal commuters.

From Monday, a HS train that will attach to another train in Ramsgate will leave Dover Priory at 6.45am and call at Martin Mill, Walmer, Deal and Sandwich before travelling via Ashford and onto St Pancras for 8.42am.

An evening service will leave St Pancras International at 5.50pm and go via Ashford - arriving at Dover Priory at 7.43pm.

It will call at Sandwich, Deal, Walmer and Martin Mill after detaching from a Margate service in Ramsgate.

This new loop has been introduced following the deep cracks that have formed in the sea wall between Dover and Folkestone.

The delays started on Christmas Eve and workers have since been on-site repairing the wall and the tracks.

In a statement, Southeastern said: "Network Rail engineers have been shoring up the wall with boulders ahead of announcing a detailed plan to fix the complex problem."

To accommodate the changes, the 6.24am from Faversham to Dover will start from Ramsgate at 7.12am.

The 7.16am Margate to St Pancras will start back from Faversham at 6.40am and stop at all stations to Ramsgate and depart from Ramsgate at 7.28am as scheduled via Canterbury West to St Pancras.

This service will call at Margate at 7.12am, and Broadstairs at 7.18am - four minutes earlier than usual.

It will make an additional stop at Dumpton Park at 7.21am.

Passengers are advised to check their journeys before they travel.

Richard Dean, train services director at Southeastern said: “We are doing everything we can to make it easier for our passengers to travel and would like to thank them for bearing with us as we work to provide the best service we possibly can while the sea wall remains damaged.

“This new high speed service will help passengers in Dover, Deal and the surrounding area get to and from work easier.

"Our passengers are asking for a direct service and we’re pleased to be able to now provide it.

"If we could add more trains we would, but we simply do not have the trains or the available train crew to do so, and would therefore have to take from somewhere else which could affect a great deal more people.”

Charlie Elphicke, Dover and Deal MP said: "It is greatly welcome there will be a direct service from Dover & Deal to St Pancras. I hope this will help get people to work on time.

"The failure of the sea wall has caused real problems and we are all focused on getting it repaired as soon as possible."

• A public meeting will be held tonight at The Bohemian in Beach Street, Deal, at 8.30pm.