Southeastern will introduce a new timetable from 11 December 2022, designed to provide a simpler, more reliable train service for customers across Kent, East Sussex and South-East London.
The timetable reflects the way people now travel and includes changes that will improve overall punctuality across this part of the network. The simpler structure also means Southeastern has the flexibility to alter train services as demand changes.
The new ‘standard hour’ timetable will mean a more consistent service throughout the day, with most trains leaving stations at broadly the same time each hour, with additional trains at peak times.
From December, the following improvements will be made:
- New all-day services from Maidstone East to Charing Cross (via London Bridge), and reinstated peak time services to/from Beckenham Junction to London Blackfriars
- More morning peak services on the Ashford line
In addition, several changes will be made to Metro services within London:
- Customers on the Hayes line wanting Cannon Street, and Greenwich customers wanting Charing Cross will need to change trains at London Bridge. This will mean a platform change. However, London Bridge was re-designed specifically for this purpose, with accessible lifts to every platform
- All trains on the Hayes line will terminate at London Charing Cross
- All trains on the Woolwich line will terminate at London Cannon Street
- The above changes are being made to reduce congestion at busy junctions and improve punctuality. The services will still meet customer demand and are supplemented by trains from other operators such as Thameslink and reflect a shift of customers now using the new Elizabeth Line services
Scott Brightwell, Operations and Safety Director for Southeastern, said: “The way we all travel has changed post-pandemic, and many of our customers are now using our services differently and at varying times of the day.
“This new and improved timetable delivers a more consistent all-day service and means we’re providing trains, and space, where it’s needed most – which reflects the way people now travel.
“Our customers tell us that reliability and punctuality are their highest priorities. So, we’ve simplified routes to remove bottlenecks which will see more trains running on time, fewer cancellations, and a more reliable service.
“The simpler structure of the timetable, with most trains leaving stations at broadly the same time each hour, means we can more add more trains into the timetable as demand changes.
“As we continue to recover from the pandemic, our focus remains on providing the most convenient and reliable railway for everyone who uses it,”
The timetable improvements will ensure that more trains run on time, with fewer cancellations, meaning around 300,000 more station stops will be on time every year. It also helps Southeastern recover services from disruption more quickly. Congestion will be reduced at busy junctions such as at Lewisham, Paddock Wood and Tonbridge to improve punctuality.
Southeastern is also removing First Class on all of its Mainline trains, freeing up as many as 60 seats per day on each 12-car train, meaning an additional four million seats will be available to all customers annually.
The new timetable starts on Sunday 11 December. Train times can now be viewed in journey planners at southeasternrailway.co.uk
