Better Journeys

We know a bit of good news goes a long way, however big or small it may be. So, we wanted to let you know that we're continuing to make improvements across our network.

From sprucing up our trains and many of our stations to make your journey nicer, to improving the network to minimise delays.

Little by little, we’re investing in making your journey with us better.

We’re working with Network Rail to deliver £306m of investment across the South East to help keep your trains on time

As part of our Alliance with Network Rail, we’re working together to deliver their investment of £306m in renewing and enhancing the rail infrastructure across our network during 2025.

This investment will help to keep trains on time and is one of many projects within our Alliance to improve the network and minimise delays.

New Safeguarding Ambassadors are looking after the most vulnerable people on our network to help keep everyone safe

Our Safeguarding Ambassadors are found across the network and help to protect vulnerable children and adults at risk on the railway.

Our efforts to provide a safe railway for our customers and colleagues has been formally recognised by the British Transport Police (BTP), with full accreditation for the industry wide ‘Safeguarding on Rail Scheme’.

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Better metro

How we’re improving journeys on our inter-city London routes.

Move more freely with improved accessibility across some stations on our network

Get around easier in one of our two new lifts at Plumstead station. The lifts are now open following completion of the £4.6m accessibility project, and more stations are lined up for improvements.

Hither Green and Shortlands stations will also become easier to use following the installation of new lifts at each station.

And at Charlton, Dunton Green, Albany Park, Beckenham Junction and New Cross, we’re installing new or replacement handrails as part of our ongoing commitment to making our stations as accessible as possible, with automatic doors also added to the waiting room at Charlton.

We’re committed to improving accessibility in a variety of ways, and have launched a series of upgrades to our app and online journey planner to make it easier to plan accessible journeys. This includes a step-free journey planner as well as an in-app Passenger Assistance booking tool.

New track cameras prevented up to 400 hours of delays on our metro routes last year, and more are coming this year

As part of our Alliance work with Network Rail, we’ve trialled the use of thermal imaging cameras on some of our Metro trains. 

These special cameras check the infrastructure along the track for potential issues, meaning faults can be fixed before they cause delays. More cameras are being fitted this year, meaning even more prevention of delays.

Experience a better journey as we deep clean many stations across the network

We’re carrying out a £2 million programme of station improvements at over 100 stations this year, including deep cleaning.

Albany Park, Barnehurst, Beckenham Junction, Belvedere, Bexley, Bexleyheath, Bickley, Brixton, Bromley North, Catford Bridge, Charlton, Chelsfield, Chislehurst, Clockhouse, Crayford, Deptford, Eden Park, Elmers End, Elmstead Woods, Eltham, Erith, Falconwood, Hayes (Kent), Herne Hill, Kent House, Kidbrooke, Knockholt, Ladywell, Lee (London), Lower Sydenham, Maze Hill, Mottingham, New Beckenham, New Eltham, Penge East, Petts Wood, Plumstead, Shortlands, Slade Green, St Johns, St Mary Cray, Sundridge Park, Swanley, Sydenham Hill, Welling, West Dulwich, West Wickham, Westcombe Park and Woolwich Dockyard will all benefit from deep cleaning of the station.

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Better mainline

How we’re improving journeys on our Kent routes.

Newer trains are arriving on our Maidstone East route this year

Our fleet upgrade continues with the introduction of improved trains on our Maidstone East route this year, which will mainly be used to replace the older Networkers.

The newer trains will help provide a more reliable service and a better experience with air conditioning, at-seat plug sockets, and improved onboard information.

All 13 trains will enter passenger service before December 2025.

Find out more about our train improvement programme.

Move more freely with improved accessibility across some stations on our network

Get around easier in one of our two new lifts at Herne Bay station. In partnership with the DfT, this £6 million scheme will make the station much easier to use. The lifts are planned to open in spring 2025.

And at Hastings and St Leonards, we’re adding automatic doors to the waiting rooms as part of our ongoing commitment to making our stations as accessible as possible.

Margate has also become the first station to have a state-of-the-art Changing Places toilet installed, which will open up travel opportunities to people who otherwise may not have been able to travel by train.

A railway for nature

We want to have a long-term positive impact on the biodiversity that we manage, and already have many station gardens to create welcoming environments for you, our local communities, and of course biodiversity, which is all the different kinds of life you’ll find in one area that work together to maintain balance and support life, like animals, plants, and fungi.

We’re aiming for a net gain in biodiversity across our estate by 2035, and so over the past year we’ve been working with the Kent Wildlife Trust on our plans.

To start with, our work will focus on improving biodiversity at 10 stations and depots that are close to important habitats for wildlife. We’ve carried out an ecological audit of local habitats close to our stations and identified the focus areas of Swale, Swanscombe, Headcorn, Cuxton, Chilham, Tonbridge, Ashford, Dover, Ramsgate and Gillingham.

Experience a better journey as we deep clean many stations across the network

We’re carrying out a £2 million programme of station improvements at over 100 stations this year, including deep cleaning.

Aylesham, Barming, Battle, Bearsted, Birchington-on-Sea, Borough Green, Broadstairs, Canterbury East, Charing, Crowhurst, Deal, Dover Priory, Etchingham, Eynsford, Farningham Road, Faversham, Folkestone Central, Folkestone West, Frant, Greenhithe, Harrietsham, Hastings, Headcorn, Herne Bay, High Brooms, Higham, Hildenborough, Kearsney, Lenham, Longfield, Maidstone East, Maidstone West, Marden, Margate, Meopham, Newington, Northfleet, Otford, Paddock Wood, Pluckley, Queenborough, Rainham (Kent), Ramsgate, Robertsbridge, Rochester, Sandling, Sandwich, Sheerness On Sea, Shepherds Well, Sittingbourne, Snodland, St Leonards Warrior Square, Staplehurst, Stone Crossing, Stonegate, Strood, Sturry, Swanscombe, Teynham, Thanet Parkway, Wadhurst, Walmer, West Malling, West St Leonards, Westgate-On-Sea, Whitstable and Wye will all benefit from deep cleaning of the station.

Have a better experience from start to finish with a fresh lick of paint and repairs

We’re carrying out a £2 million programme of station improvements at over 100 stations this year, including painting and repairs. And some stations, like Chilham, Kemsing, Queensborough, Sturry and Westenhanger will also be getting new waiting shelters too.

Ashford International, Canterbury West, Chatham, Gillingham, Gravesend, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells will all be freshly painted.

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Better highspeed

How we're improving highspeed journeys between Kent and St Pancras International.

Stay connected with new at-seat USB ports coming soon on highspeed trains

Look forward to a full interior refresh of our highspeed trains as part of our £27m upgrade including new carpets, new seats, power sockets at your seat for mobiles and laptops, enhanced LED lighting, more CCTV, and a change to the layout that will make it easier to get around. The full refresh is due to complete in 2025.

Find out more about our train improvement programme.