Engineering works will be taking place along several busy routes
As we approach the first weekend of 2026, passengers have been advised to plan ahead as a number of busy Kent train stations are set to close for engineering works. On Sunday (January 4), different maintenance and upgrade projects around the Southeastern network will impact travel in and beyond Kent, forcing major stations to shut.
Throughout the day, buses will replace trains between Tunbridge Wells and Battle due to works closing all lines between the stations. Therefore, trains will only be able to run between London Bridge and Tunbridge Wells.
Additional trains will run between Battle and Hastings. Replacement buses will be in operation between Tunbridge Wells and Battle calling at Wadhurst and Robertsbridge, and between Tunbridge Wells and Battle calling at all stations.
Also on Sunday, works will be taking place between Gravesend and Strood, closing all lines. Services between Dartford, Ebbsfleet, Gravesend and Strood, Gillingham and Maidstone West will be impacted.
Key stations including Greenhithe for Bluewater, Gravesend, Strood and Maidstone Barracks will shut all day and be served by replacement buses only. These works and closures also coincide with the ongoing suspension of Southeastern services to and from London Charing Cross and Waterloo East, further details on which can be found here.
See below for the full details on the works impacting Kent trains this Sunday.
Southeastern engineering works – Sunday, January 4
Buses to replace trains between Tunbridge Wells and Battle
Engineering work is taking place between Tunbridge Wells and Battle, closing all lines. Trains will only be able to run between London Bridge and Tunbridge Wells.
Additional trains will run between Battle and Hastings. These trains will run to/from London Bridge because of further engineering work.
Accessible replacement buses will run between:
- Tunbridge Wells and Battle, calling at Wadhurst and Robertsbridge
- Tunbridge Wells and Battle, calling at all stations
The following stations will be closed all day, and will only be served by accessible buses:
- Frant
- Wadhurst
- Stonegate
- Etchingham
- Robertsbridge
Rail replacement buses between Dartford/Ebbsfleet International/Gravesend and Strood/Gillingham and Maidstone West
Engineering work is taking place between Gravesend and Strood, closing all lines. Services will be affected as follows:
Southeastern
- Highspeed via Gravesend: Trains between London St Pancras International and Ramsgate via Faversham will only run between London St Pancras International and Ebbsfleet International.
- Sidcup Line: Trains between London Charing Cross and Gravesend will not run. Additional trains will run between Dartford and Sidcup because of further engineering work.
- Medway Valley Line: Trains between Paddock Wood and Strood will only run between Paddock Wood and Maidstone West.
Accessible replacement buses will run between:
- Ebbsfleet International and Strood, calling at Gravesend only
- Dartford and Gillingham, calling at all stations except Higham
- Gravesend and Maidstone West, calling at all stations except Higham
- A minibus will run between Gravesend and Strood, calling at Higham
The following stations will be closed all day and will only be served by replacement buses:
- Stone Crossing
- Greenhithe for Bluewater
- Swanscombe
- Northfleet
- Gravesend
- Higham
- Strood
- Cuxton
- Halling
- Snodland
- New Hythe
- Aylesford
- Maidstone Barracks
Thameslink
- No Thameslink trains will run between London Bridge and Rainham
Ticket acceptance
Tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on Southeastern trains between London Bridge and Dartford, and Rochester and Rainham, and on Southeastern rail replacement buses between Dartford and Rochester.
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