Rail replacement buses will be running in a number of areas
14:55, 15 Jan 2026
Multiple busy Kent train stations will close for part of the coming weekend as engineering works are completed around the Southeastern network. On Sunday (January 18), key lines will be subject to closures and alterations including between Sittingbourne and Medway, and between Tonbridge and Ashford/Maidstone.
There will be no trains via Sittingbourne on Sunday due to planned works between Gillingham and Faversham closing all lines. Stations including Rainham, Sittingbourne, Teynham and Sheerness-on-Sea will be closed all day and served by rail replacement buses only.
Elsewhere, works will be carried out at Paddock Wood for the entirety of Sunday, closing all lines. As such, rail replacement buses will run between Tonbridge and Headcorn calling at all stations, Headcorn and Ashford International calling at all stations, and between Tonbridge and Maidstone West calling at all stations.
Finally, there will be no Southeastern services at London Cannon Street or via Greenwich on Sunday. Planned works mean that London Cannon Street, Deptford, Greenwich, Maze Hill, Westcombe Park, St Johns and New Cross will be closed all weekend.
Other key stations, including Slade Green, Woolwich Arsenal and Erith will also close. Find the full details on these works and their impact on Kent trains below.
Southeastern engineering works - Sunday, January 18
No trains via Sittingbourne
Engineering work is taking place between Gillingham and Faversham, closing all lines. The following lines will be impacted:
- Sole Street Line: Trains between London Victoria and Dover Priory/Ramsgate via Chatham will only run between London Victoria and Gillingham.
- Highspeed via Gravesend: Trains between London St Pancras International and Ramsgate via Faversham will only run between London St Pancras International and Gillingham.
- Sheerness Line: Trains between Sittingbourne and Sheerness-on-Sea will not run.
Additional trains will run between:
- Faversham and Ramsgate
- Faversham and Dover
Accessible replacement buses will run between:
- Gillingham and Faversham, calling at all stations except Teynham
- Sittingbourne and Sheerness-on-Sea
- A minibus will run between Sittingbourne and Faversham via Teynham
The following stations will be closed all day and will only be served by replacement buses:
- Rainham
- Newington
- Sittingbourne
- Teynham
- Kemsley
- Swale
- Queenborough
- Sheerness-on-Sea
Buses to replace trains between Tonbridge and Ashford International/Maidstone West
Engineering work is taking place at Paddock Wood, closing all lines. Services will be affected as follows:
- Paddock Wood Line: Trains between London Charing Cross and Ramsgate/Dover Priory via Tonbridge will run hourly and be diverted between London Bridge and Ashford International to run via Maidstone East calling additionally at Otford (for connections to/from Sevenoaks) and Maidstone East. A portion of coaches will be detached at Ashford International to run between Ashford International and Dover Priory.
- Medway Valley Line: Trains between Paddock Wood and Strood will only run between Maidstone West and Strood.
- Additional trains will run between London Charing Cross and Tonbridge.
Accessible replacement buses will run between:
- Tonbridge and Headcorn, calling at all stations
- Headcorn and Ashford International, calling at all stations
- Tonbridge and Maidstone West, calling at all stations
No Southeastern services at London Cannon Street or via Greenwich
Engineering work is taking place between London Cannon Street, London Bridge and Greenwich, and some of the lines through New Cross used by services to and from London Cannon Street. Most lines will be closed. London Cannon Street, Deptford, Greenwich, Maze Hill, Westcombe Park, St Johns and New Cross will be closed all weekend.
Trains will be impacted as follows:
- Woolwich Line: Trains between London Cannon Street and Slade Green via Greenwich will not run.
- Bexleyheath line: Trains between London Cannon Street and Slade Green via Bexleyheath will not run. Trains between London Victoria and Dartford will run normally.
Accessible replacement buses will run between Lewisham and Dartford via New Cross and Greenwich. Passengers can use London Underground between Cannon Street, Charing Cross, Embankment, Waterloo, Southwark and London Bridge at no extra cost.
Customers can also use Docklands Light Railway between Lewisham and Greenwich at no extra cost. The following stations will be closed all day, and will only be served by replacement buses:
- St Johns
- Deptford
- Greenwich
- Maze Hill
- Westcombe Park
- Charlton
- Woolwich Dockyard
- Woolwich Arsenal
- Plumstead
- Erith
- Belvedere
- Slade Green
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