Changes to rail services in Kent this weekend
12:51, 22 November 2019
updated: 13:50, 22 November 2019
Kent rail passengers are being advised to check before they travel this weekend.
On both Saturday and Sunday, engineering work is taking place between Ashford and Ebbsfleet, and Ashford and Canterbury West.
This means Southeastern highspeed and Eurostar trains will not stop at Ashford and there will be changes to several main line services listed below.
Changes to services on Saturday, November 23:
- St Pancras to Margate via Canterbury West trains will depart five minutes earlier than scheduled and will terminate at Ebbsfleet
- St Pancras to Dover Priory via Ashford trains will terminate at Ebbsfleet
- St Pancras to Dover Priory via Strood and Faversham trains will terminate at Ramsgate
- Victoria to Canterbury West via Maidstone East trains will depart 10 minutes earlier than scheduled and terminate at Ashford International, with replacement buses to Canterbury West
- Victoria to Ashford via Maidstone East trains will depart 10 minutes earlier than scheduled
Changes to services on Sunday, November 24:
- St Pancras to Margate via Canterbury West trains will not run
- St Pancras to Ramsgate via Dover Priory trains will terminate at Ebbsfleet with replacement buses between Ebbsfleet and Ashford
- St Pancras to Dover Priory via Strood and Faversham trains will terminate at Ramsgate
- An additional hourly train service will operate between Victoria, Bromley South, Maidstone East and Ashford; connecting with replacement buses between Ashford and Canterbury West. Also, there will be an extra hourly service between Canterbury West and Margate
- Charing Cross to Ramsgate via Canterbury West trains will instead start from Cannon Street, and diverted to call at Folkestone West, Folkestone Central, Dover Priory, Martin Mill, Walmer, Deal, Sandwich and Ramsgate
- Charing Cross to Dover Priory via Ashford trains will instead start at Cannon Street
- Victoria to Canterbury West via Maidstone East trains will terminate at Ashford with a replacement bus to Canterbury West
Changes to timetables may also be seen between December 26 and 29 to replace switches and crossings on the railway.
Services between Dartford and St Johns via Sidcup will be affected on December 29 and between Dartford and Lewisham via Grove Park and Sidcup on January 1, due to works on a major signalling upgrade in the area.
Network Rail route director for Kent, Fiona Taylor, said: "The work we are doing at Ashford this weekend and over Christmas will mean a better, more reliable railway for passengers when complete.
"The railway is quieter at Christmas which is why we do our major work then, but we appreciate it’s still a busy time for people visiting family and friends so please check before you travel."
The vast majority of the rail network in Kent will be open for business over Christmas and New Year, but passengers are advised to continue to check before they travel as there will be some changes.
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