Timetables

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Customers across south-east London, Kent and East Sussex will benefit from more frequent services, improved connections and extra capacity when Southeastern introduces its new timetable on 17 May.

The changes include additional capacity to London with the restoration of peak-time trains to London Blackfriars via the Medway towns and Maidstone East, as well as additional weekday services between Charing Cross and Maidstone East.

On highspeed, there will be additional services between Canterbury West and St Pancras on weekdays and Saturday mornings, providing a more consistent half-hourly service.

This May timetable is the first step in a bigger transformation. In December, customers across south east London will see one of the biggest improvements to Metro services in years.

Further information on the improvements coming in May are immediately below. Further information for December’s improvements are at the foot of the page and more detail will follow on these in the coming months.

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Direct peak-time services restored to London Blackfriars

Morning peak arrivals at Blackfriars include:

• 0652 Maidstone East – Blackfriars, calling at Barming, East Malling, West Malling, Borough Green & Wrotham, Otford, Swanley, St Mary Cray, Bromley South and Elephant & Castle
• 0730 Gillingham – Blackfriars, calling at Chatham, Rochester, Meopham, Longfield, Swanley, Bromley South and Elephant & Castle

Evening peak returns include:

• 1710 Blackfriars – Rochester
• 1744 Blackfriars – Maidstone East (Services will be formed of 8 car Class 377 Electrostars.)

More services on the Maidstone East line

Charing Cross – Maidstone East (Monday - Friday):

• Additional shoulder-peak trains provide a half-hourly afternoon service between 15:30 and 20:30.
• Including 1559 & 1959 Charing Cross – Maidstone East, and 1644 & 1844 Maidstone East – Charing Cross.

Victoria – Ashford via Maidstone East (Monday–Friday):

• 1028 Ashford – Victoria
• 0925 & 1025 Victoria – Ashford
• Updated stopping patterns increase frequency at key stations, including St Mary Cray, East Malling, Barming, and Kemsing, providing:
  • 3 trains per hour at St Mary Cray
  • 2 trains per hour at East Malling and Barming
  • A consistent hourly service at Kemsing

More Highspeed services at busy times

Weekdays & Saturdays:

• Additional Canterbury West – St Pancras services at 0954 & 1054, attaching to existing Ramsgate services at Ashford.
• 1604 St Pancras – Dover lengthened to 12 carriages as far as Ashford.

Saturdays:

• Highspeed strengthened to half-hourly at the busiest times with additional services between St Pancras and Faversham.
• 0832, 1032 & 1132 Faversham to St Pancras
• 0950, 1150 & 1250 St Pancras to Faversham
• 1532 & 1732 Faversham to St Pancras
• 1650 & 1850 St Pancras to Faversham

Sundays:

• Additional Highspeed trains support a half-hourly pattern at the busiest times.
• 1632 & 1732 Faversham to St Pancras
• 1750 & 1850 St Pancras to Faversham

Summer enhancements for coastal travel

The summer timetable will run from May until Sunday 6 September, including:

• Additional services between Victoria and Dover/Ramsgate, calling at Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate and Broadstairs.
• Strengthening of trains to 12-car formations on North Kent coast routes at peak leisure times.
• Two direct Cannon Street – Ramsgate services on Saturdays via Greenwich and Dartford.
• Extra Victoria – Ramsgate trains on Sundays.
• Direct weekday school summer holiday services from Cannon Street to the coast via Greenwich and Dartford.

Supporting Thanet’s evening economy and Dreamland events

• 2315 Margate – Gillingham added on Fridays and Saturdays.
• 2316 Ramsgate – Rochester (2335 from Margate) lengthened to 8-car formation.