Off-peak rail services reduced for maintenance

From 09:40 to 15:00, only one train per hour will run in each direction between Tonbridge and Ashford International

Off-peak rail services on the Southeastern mainline will be reduced from Monday to Friday to allow for extra maintenance inspections during daylight to take place.

From 09:40 BST to 15:00, only one train per hour will run between Tonbridge and Ashford International.

Passengers at Paddock Wood, Marden, Staplehurst and Headcorn will all see one train per hour instead of two, heading towards both the Kent coast and the capital.

Southeastern said that Westenhanger, Sandling, Folkestone West, Folkestone Central and Dover Priory stations would maintain their hourly service, although timings will differ by approximately 30 minutes.

Southeastern, which owns the sections of track, said the closures would give workers more time in-between trains to carry out a greater number of maintenance inspections in daylight hours.

It added that it helped to improve efficiency and supported better performance, and that cost saved from reducing overnight work could be reinvested into further improvements across the network.

'Check before you travel'

It is the first of three weekly reductions in trains on the Southeastern mainline over the next six months.

Three other routes (Maidstone East - Ashford International, Sheerness-on-Sea - Sittingbourne and Strood - Tonbridge) will also see reduced services at off-peak times during the next six months to allow for daytime maintenance to take place on different sections of track.

Scott Brightwell, Southeastern's safety, planning and performance director, said: "I want to thank our customers for bearing with us while we carry out this essential work to deliver better journeys.

"A small number of changes have been made to our timetable in the quieter, off-peak periods, so please plan ahead and check before you travel."