As Network Rail and Southeastern welcome passengers back to the rail network over the late August Bank Holiday, major routes to Kent and East Sussex beaches are open for business.
However, passengers in places including Lewisham and Sevenoaks are being advised to check their journeys, as there are refurbishment and upgrade projects taking place in these areas.
Network Rail and Southeastern have planned the works carefully so that passengers can continue to travel to holiday destinations.
Among the projects engineers will be carrying over the holiday are track renewals in the Lewisham area, further strengthening of the vulnerable earthworks in the Barnehurst area, refurbishing the line between Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, and the re-railing of one of the platforms at Sevenoaks station. As a result of the Sevenoaks work on Saturday and Sunday, trains from London to Hastings and Tunbridge Wells will be diverted via Redhill, and will take slightly longer.
Network Rail Kent route director Fiona Taylor, said: “Over 95% of our network is operating as usual this bank holiday as people get out and about as the country continues to unlock. Since Covid, we’ve seen weekend travel recover much faster than weekday journeys, in some cases even busier than before.
“I’m really pleased that by working closely with Southeastern, our main route to the beaches of Margate and Broadstairs is open, with high speed trains for Folkestone running as normal and trains for Hastings diverted via a different route.
“That said, we’re still carrying out a limited number of works which will impact some passengers so I’d urge those travelling to check their journeys before they set off.”
Scott Brightwell, Train Services Director at Southeastern, said “We want people to travel with us over the holiday weekend and visit some of the great destinations on our network.
“We do have essential improvement work taking place in a small number of locations, where buses will run instead of trains, but this shouldn’t add too much time to your journey. As always do check before you travel.”
On Saturday, there will be replacement bus services between Sevenoaks and Orpington and New Cross, Lewisham, Bexleyheath and Dartford with some Hastings trains diverted via East Croydon.
On Sunday and Monday, there will be replacement buses between New Cross, Lewisham, Bexleyheath and Dartford as Victoria to Dartford trains won’t be running on that day with Hayes trains running to Charing Cross only.
Passengers should also follow the latest Coronavirus guidance and make space, wash hands and wear a face covering.
Photo credit: Network Rail
