Class 375 at Tonbridge Image: Southeastern :::
It’s been announced by train operator Southeastern it will be launching an improved timetable to provide a better and more reliable service for customers across Kent, East Sussex and south-east London on 2 June 2024.
The changes are driven by feedback from customers, and will mean less waiting time on platforms, improved punctuality, more carriages on the busiest trains and additional services to reduce crowding.
As one of the biggest and busiest rail operators, providing more than 125 million journeys last year, it’s hoped the improvements will help encourage further growth as it works to become a better, more reliable, and sustainable railway.
Scott Brightwell, Southeastern’s Operations & Safety Director, said:
“We’re delighted more people are using our railway and I’m excited to be able to provide customers with an improved timetable and a more reliable service.
“Through analysing travel data, and listening to feedback, we’ve made changes that provide more space on our busiest trains and added additional services to parts of the network that have seen the largest growth.
“Our new timetable also supports local economies with extra and longer trains to the coast this summer to make it easier for customers to explore the great destinations across the network.”
The new timetable starts on Sunday, 2 June and customers are encouraged to check their journey times.
The new timetable is now available on the Southeastern App and journey planner. Click here for a more detailed summary of the changes.
Some of the key changes:
Metro
- Better spacing of trains on the Greenwich, Sidcup and Bexleyheath lines means less time waiting on platforms and improves connections with other services.
- Albany Park will have four trains per hour all day with direct services to and from Lewisham.
- Additional trains from Cannon Street to Ramsgate via Greenwich, Dartford and the Medway Towns make it easier to travel to the coast between June and September.
- Services between Victoria and Dartford via Bexleyheath are extended to Gravesend. This means Gravesend and Greenhithe will have a direct service to Denmark Hill, making it easier to travel to King’s College Hospital.
- Further changes are planned for the December timetable on the Greenwich and Sidcup lines, including the reintroduction of rounder services. There will also be additional services between Victoria and Orpington. Further details will be shared closer to the time.
Mainline
- Two additional services from Charing Cross to Ashford International via Maidstone East at 16:59 and 17:59, providing Bearsted, Hollingbourne, Harrietsham and Charing with a direct service in the evening peak for the first time.
- Doubling the number of off-peak services at Thanet Parkway to two trains per hour.
- Better connections on the Medway Valley Line at Strood and Tonbridge.
- Better spacing of trains at Tunbridge Wells means less time waiting on platforms, and an additional three services to Charing Cross between 09:00 and 10:30 on weekdays.
- Longer trains to Hastings and the Kent Coast at weekends and additional late-night services from Margate on Fridays and Saturdays to support events at Dreamland.
Highspeed
- Some trains to and from the coast will be longer to provide more space at busier times during the summer.