We have a plan for winter created in partnership with Network Rail which enables us to keep trains running while they manage the effects of winter weather on the tracks, points and signal equipment.

Part of the plan means that on days when we expect the weather to be at its worst, Network Rail instruct us to put in place either a Winter Weather Timetable, or Severe Winter Weather Timetable depending on the weather forecast. These are short-term timetable changes and different to the usual timetable change in December.

On rare days when weather is forecast to be extremely bad with roads and rails impassable, there will be no train service running, but together with Network Rail we will do all we can to avoid this situation to clear tracks and keep trains moving. 

The Winter Weather Timetable is likely to run during ice and light snow which freezes around the electric rail, preventing trains from drawing power. On Mondays to Fridays an enhanced Saturday service with additional Peak services will run. Saturdays and Sundays will also have an amended service. Trains will leave at different times and won’t split and attach, meaning that you may need to change trains.

The Severe Winter Weather Timetable is likely to run during heavier snow. Trains will leave at different times, many services will be less frequent, and some stations will be closed. We recommend you avoid travelling. 

Our plans are based on expert weather forecasts, but even the experts get it wrong sometimes. We aim to give you as much notice as possible if the timetable needs to change. But we know how frustrating it can be if the weather turns out better than forecast.

The day before we change the timetable, we have to make sure all our trains are moved to the right sidings and depots overnight and our train crew all know where they’re supposed to be and when. Once these plans are in place, and we’ve provided clear travel advice to our passengers, we stick to the plan so you can be sure which trains will be running and when.

Winter weather often affects different places in different ways – so some of our network might be blanketed with snow and ice while other areas have none at all. And while it may look clear where you are, our trains often need to travel from places where conditions are much worse, or were earlier in the day.

We make sure the night before that our trains and people are in the right places for the Winter Weather timetable that’s running. We can’t change the timetable part-way through the day, as none of the trains or people would be in the right places, and it would cause serious disruption.  So once these plans are in place, and we’ve provided clear travel advice to our passengers, we stick to the plan so you can be sure which trains will be running and when.

During the Winter Weather Timetable, Southeastern services will not call at Crofton Park or Ore. 

During the Severe Winter Weather Timetables, Southeastern services will not call at these stations - 

Because ice and snow insulates the electric rail and prevents trains from drawing power, we’ve planned services to be at least two ‘units’ (two trains joined together, made up of varying carriage lengths). Each unit connects to the third rail, so if one is having trouble drawing power, the other one should still be able to, and the train can keep moving. This means some trains will be longer than usual, and some will be shorter, but they should run more reliably in the winter weather.

We hold a daily call with Network Rail in winter to ensure that we can react to differing weather conditions. On the daily call, Network Rail advise us if weather is forecast to be particularly bad, and that we need to put in place either the Winter Weather or Severe Winter Weather Timetable.

The Winter Weather timetable is likely to run during ice and light snow and the Severe Winter Weather timetable is likely to run during heavier snow.

The more times trains stop and start in ice and snow, the more likely it is that they won’t get enough power to get going again, and by running the winter timetables, we enable trains to stop and start less which means they are less likely to get stuck. 

The Winter Weather and Severe Winter Weather Timetables that will run on days when the weather is forecast to be particularly bad are on our website now, so you can plan for the changes.

We aim to give you a minimum of 24 hours’ notice that the timetable will change. But we’ll also let you know that we may be changing the timetable 4 days’ in advance if we can, to give you time to plan.

We’ll let you know in advance on our website that we’re changing the timetable. On the day, departure screens on platforms will show the services that are running, and announcements will be made.

Tweet us to find out about your service @Se_Railway #SEwinter 

When the mercury plummets, even the lightest shower of rain or dusting of snow can freeze and become compacted on the rails, insulating the electric rail and preventing trains from drawing power or being able to move with any speed. And in the worst cases, it prevents them from being able to move at all.

Snow and ice also causes points - which allow trains to move between tracks - to freeze solid, or get jammed with compacted snow. When this happens, trains can’t safely run over them.

The couplers that join carriages together can also become iced up, making it difficult to join them together, or split them apart, and reducing the number of trains we have available.

The more times trains stop and start in ice and snow, the more likely it is that they won’t get enough power to get going again, and by running the winter timetables, we enable trains to stop and start less which means they are less likely to get stuck. 

If one of the Winter Weather Timetables is implemented, some stations won’t have a service. If you can’t travel as a result, then you can apply for a full refund as an abandoned journey. If you decide to travel, but from a different station, you’ll be entitled to Delay Repay based on the advertised timetable and if your journey was delayed by 30 minutes or more.

We’ll make contact with the other train company to try and arrange for you to be able to use the tickets on a different day. If that’s not possible then you’ll be entitled to a full refund of your tickets and if you incur any additional costs please send these to customer services who will consider any reasonable claims.

If the train you intended to travel on is cancelled or delayed and you decide not to travel, that’s known as an ‘abandoned journey’. You can return your unused ticket to the original retailer or Train Company from whom it was purchased, and receive a full refund with no administration fee charged.

This applies to all tickets, including tickets that are usually non-refundable (such as Advance), and also applies if you have begun your journey but are unable to complete it due to delay or cancellations and return to your point of origin.

As there is a planned timetable in place, and to manage the numbers of people travelling, on the days when this timetable is running (unless your ticket is valid for high speed) then you will not be able to use your ticket to travel on the high speed service.

When we run one of the Winter Weather Timetables, we won’t offer alternative transport as part of the timetable plan, and so would not refund a taxi fare.

However, we do consider claims for a taxi fare refund on a case by case basis, and each case reviewed on its own merits. Please contact our Customer Services team explaining why you took a taxi and remember to attach a copy of your taxi receipt and your train ticket.