Our team is working hard to keep your journey running smoothly
Autumn brings a few extra challenges for the railway, and while we work hard all year to prepare, we still need to take some extra precautions to keep trains moving safely.
Our Autumn timetable will be in operation from 11 October to 12 December which includes a small number of changes to some services. Making these changes can help prevent trains arriving late at key junctions and allows you to better plan your journey.
Details about these changes, and how they may affect you, can be found on our timetables page.
You can also check your online journey planner as these are now up to date.
During autumn half term (24 October – 1 November), we'll be carrying out a major programme of works between Tonbridge and Wadhurst and buses will replace trains.
You can find out more information on our dedicated Tonbridge to Wadhurst line closure page.
Speed restrictions affecting our routes
At present, journeys on some of our routes are taking longer due to speed restrictions – particularly along routes to Hastings and Ashford via Tonbridge. There are a range of reasons why speed restrictions need to be imposed on the railway but at the moment many of them are due to our track being affected by dry soil conditions.
You might hear this being called 'soil moisture deficit'. This is caused by long lasting hot and dry weather conditions, such as those we saw over this summer's unprecedented heatwaves, drying out the clay soil that much of our railway is built upon. This can cause the ground beneath our tracks to shrink slightly.
Our teams are closely monitoring these areas and, while work is carried out, some trains are running at reduced speeds to maintain safe and reliable journeys. We are constantly monitoring conditions along our routes and as ground conditions improve, and the necessary work is completed, trains will be able to return to normal speeds again.
We know these delays are frustrating, but we will do everything we can to provide you with the most accurate, up to date information about your train service. Our app and website journey planners show the latest status for each train, and you can also contact us on social media on X, Bluesky or WhatsApp.
Here to keep you moving
From leaf-busting machines to strengthening our protection against landslips and flooding, we're working hard to mitigate against the effects of autumn weather in Britain.
When crushed by train wheels, autumn leaves create a thin, slippery layer on the rails that can be as hazardous as black ice. With less grip available, trains need more time to accelerate and brake safely.
We're investing in the right equipment to ensure our operational teams have effective tools to help keep trains running safely. Here are just some of the things we're doing to keep our railway running reliably during the autumn months:
- Managing hundreds of miles of trackside trees and bushes all year round
- Running special leaf-busting trains throughout autumn to clean the rails and improve grip
- Using our ‘Sand Rover’ 4x4 vehicles to treat the track and improve grip in areas most affected by seasonal conditions
- Using AI-powered technology and cameras to help identify railhead contamination more quickly
- Improving our flood detection systems with more cameras and water level sensors at locations where flash flooding could be a risk
- Upgrading drainage at locations most at risk of flooding
Ashford International to London St Pancras
