Network Rail has pledged to keep Stone Crossing railway station permanently staffed late at night to prevent passengers having to take a detour through a dark and overgrown footpath.

The station’s level crossing is regularly closed due to a lack of staff despite Network Rail coming under fire from Dartford MP Gareth Johnson (Con) and Mayor of Dartford Cllr John Burrell (Con), who chairs Stone Parish Council.

Increased man hours were introduced in September after complaints that the station was only being staffed from 5am until 5pm, but there have been recent early closures due to a combination of staff sickness and annual leave.

Stone councillors Jonathon Hawkes (Lab) and Mandy Garford (Lab) have pushed Network Rail to ensure such inconveniences do not befall passengers again and have been given assurances that measures are being put in place to improve the situation.

Cllr Hawkes said: “It’s a big issue for local people. Stone Crossing is closing early too often and the alternative route suggested for passengers when it’s closed was simply unusable and unsafe as it was overgrown and unlit.

“Network Rail had also given a commitment to keep the crossing open until the last train and they need to keep that promise.

“I’ve raised these concerns with Network Rail and while we’ve still got a long way to go to resolve all the issues, I’m pleased we are making some progress.”

The overgrown vegetation on the alternative footpath has now been cleared and Network Rail insisted it was committed to solving the staffing issue to ensure the crossing remained open in the evenings.

In the mean time, security staff will be tasked with escorting people down the footpath if they do not feel safe doing so alone.

Cllr Mandy Garford, who represents Stone Village, said: “The alternative route was not safe and it meant the station was effectively out of bounds for many people when the crossing was shut.

“There are still issues with people with restricted mobility being able to use the alternative route at all and that’s why it’s important that Network Rail deliver on their promise of a new footbridge over the station.”

MP Mr Johnson has described the recurring problems as “unacceptable” and said that leaving the crossing unmanned was dangerous for commuters.