Line closure through Maidstone East for nine days in May
Accessible buses will replace trains between Ashford International, Maidstone East and Borough Green & Wrotham for nine days from Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May.
Network Rail engineers are carrying out a number of improvements along the route to deliver better journeys, including track replacement, embankment support, and new drainage.
You can find out more about how this line closure affects services and any further line closures in our planned engineering work page.
Train services during the closure
No trains will run via Maidstone East.
Trains that usually run between London Victoria/London Charing Cross and Ashford International via Maidstone East will only run to Borough Green & Wrotham.
Travel and Ticketing Advice
We’re committed to keeping you informed well in advance so you can plan with confidence. Please allow extra time for your journey, especially during peak hours, as there may be queues for replacement buses.
If this engineering work will affect your journey you may wish to review the available ticket options between now and then to ensure you have selected an option which suits your plans and journey requirements.
View all of our ticket types and options.
Compensation for ticket holders, including season tickets, will continue to be available under the industry standard Delay Repay scheme. Under this scheme you may be eligible to claim compensation if your journey is delayed by 15 minutes or more against the revised timetable.
Visit our Delay Repay compensation page to find out more.
Thank you for bearing with us while we complete these essential repairs.
Ticket acceptance during the closure
If you normally travel from the stations between Ashford International and Borough Green via Maidstone East your tickets will be accepted on the routes below:
- Medway Valley line between Tonbridge, Paddock Wood and Snodland
- From Ashford International to London terminals via Tonbridge
- From Sittingbourne to Rochester towards London
Tickets will not be accepted on the Highspeed services from Ashford International.
- We are sorry but our highspeed services are very busy at peak times and we are unable to accept other route tickets at no extra cost. To use these trains, please buy a ticket that is valid on highspeed.
Replacement bus service
The bus replacement services will run as follows:
- Borough Green & Wrotham and Maidstone East calling at all stations except East Malling (3 buses per hour and journey time approx. 40 minutes)
- Maidstone East and Ashford International calling at all stations (2 buses per hour and journey time approx. 57 minutes)
- A minibus will run between West Malling and East Malling
If you are travelling to or from East Malling and have additional assistance requirements then please contact the Southeastern accessible travel team, send #Assist to 07866 002960 on WhatsApp or use the help point at the station so we can ensure appropriate transport is available for you.
You can check bus times by using our journey planner.
Getting between the stations and the replacement buses
The replacement bus stops are as close to the station entrances as possible. You can check the location of all the replacement bus stops on the download maps that are available below:
Are the replacement buses accessible?
- All of our replacement buses can be used by customers who have accessibility requirements.
- If you require assistance for your journey during the closure please call our assisted travel team on 08007 834 524. Find out more about booking assisted travel.
- Find out more information about the facilities on our replacement bus services.
You can check other buses routes from the affected stations by clicking the links below:
What are the alternative parking options?
When the line and stations are closed APCOA car park season ticket holders (monthly and over) can use our APCOA car parks, subject to availability.
Car parks at the closed stations may have reduced capacity where work on the line is taking place. Some station car parks may be busier than usual.
You can find more information about parking facilities on our car parking page.
Where can I find help at the stations if needed during the closure?
- There will be Southeastern and agency support staff at the stations to assist customers. If no staff are available, then please use the Help Points at the stations.
Which of the stations that are open have toilet facilities?
- Ashford International – accessible, stoma-friendly toilets on platforms and open during staffing hours.
- Borough Green and Wrotham – accessible, stoma-friendly toilet in booking hall and open during staffing hours.
You can check all the facilities available at each station on the station information page.
What improvement work is taking place?
Infrastructure
- Stabilising rock cuttings near Maidstone East station - installing new netting and bolts on 1,300 yards of track to reduce the risk of rockfalls. Similar work will take place near Wheeler Street tunnel.
- Improving the drainage at Wheeler Street tunnel - around 460 yards of drainage will be upgraded as part of over three miles of improvements through Maidstone East. This will help protect the railway from water damage and reduce the risk of landslips.
- Upgrading track and switches at Maidstone East - new switches and crossings will be installed at platform 3 to improve reliability.
- Track renewals between Harrietsham, Lenham and Charing – replacing nearly 2,500 yards of replacement track for smoother journeys. New drainage will also be installed at Lenham to reduce the flood risk.
You can find more details about the work taking place on the Network Rail website.
Why are you closing the line for nine days in a row rather than over a series of weekends?
We have carefully planned this work to take place over nine days rather than over a number of weekends to reduce the total amount of time when journeys are changed and delivers the reliability benefits more quickly.
The timing of the closure coincides with the May half-term in Kent when fewer people use our trains for work or education, and there may be more flexibility with travel plans. There are also more replacement buses available during the school holidays.
Ashford International to London St Pancras
