Where trains will not run in Kent over Easter weekend

Passengers are being urged to ‘plan ahead’

Trains will not be running along multiple major Kent routes over the long Easter weekend, with stations set to close and replacement buses in operation instead. Southeastern and Network Rail have urged passengers to “plan ahead” as scheduled engineering will impact journeys along the coast, as well as via Ashford International and Tonbridge.

Between Good Friday (April 3) and Easter Monday (April 6), buses will replace trains between Herne Bay and Ramsgate due to works closing all lines. Crews will be installing more than 820 yards of new track at Margate station and completing maintenance of the St Peter’s Road railway bridge in Broadstairs.

Meanwhile, track repairs and drainage works will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday at the Hildenborough cutting on the Chislehurst to Orpington/Tonbridge line to reduce the risk of disruption from flooding. As such, rail replacement buses will serve journeys between Orpington and Tonbridge calling at Sevenoaks and Hildenborough, and between Orpington and Sevenoaks calling at all stations.

Stations including Sevenoaks, Hildenborough and Dunton Green will be shut on both days for the work to be carried out. Maintenance works are planned between Ashford International and Dover Priory on Sunday, including repairs to the points at Saltwood Junction, work on the electric ‘third’ rail and the installation of new rails through the Shakespeare Tunnel.

Passengers are advised that a Saturday timetable will be in operation on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday, except where the engineering works are taking place. See below for the full details on all of these works.

Southeastern engineering works – Easter weekend 2026 (Friday, April 3 to Monday, April 6)

Buses to replace trains between Herne Bay and Ramsgate – Friday to Monday

Engineering work is taking place between Herne Bay and Ramsgate, closing all lines. Trains will be impacted as follows:

• Sole Street Line: Trains between London Victoria and Ramsgate via Chatham will only run between London Victoria and Herne Bay.
• Highspeed via Gravesend: Trains between London St Pancras International and Ramsgate via Faversham will only run between London St Pancras International and Herne Bay and will run at different times than usual.
• On Friday, Saturday and Monday the 10.50am and 5.50pm London St Pancras International to Faversham trains, and the 9.30am and 4.30pm Faversham to London St Pancras International trains will not run.
• Highspeed via Ashford International: Trains between London St Pancras International and Margate via Canterbury West will only run between London St Pancras International and Ramsgate.

Accessible replacement buses will run between:

• Herne Bay and Ramsgate, calling at all stations
• Herne Bay and Ramsgate, calling at Birchington-on-Sea, Margate and Broadstairs
• Margate and Ramsgate, calling at Broadstairs only

Rail replacement buses between Orpington/Otford and Tonbridge/Sevenoaks – Saturday and Sunday

Works will be taking place between Orpington and Tonbridge, closing some lines. The following trains will be affected:

Southeastern

Saturday:

• Hastings Line: Services between London Charing Cross and Hastings will only run between London Bridge and Hastings and run non-stop between London Bridge and Tonbridge, using an alternative route via Redhill which will take approximately 30 to 40 minutes longer than usual. A portion of coaches will be detached at Tonbridge to run between Tonbridge and Ashford International.
• Paddock Wood Line: One train per hour will run between London Charing Cross and Ramsgate via Maidstone East and Canterbury West. On arrival at Ashford International a portion of coaches will be attached/detached to run between Ashford International and Dover Priory. Additional trains will run between Tonbridge and Ashford International, and will be attached/detached to trains running between London Bridge and Hastings at Tonbridge.
• Maidstone East Line: Services which usually run between London Charing Cross and Maidstone East will not run. Please use the diverted London Charing Cross to Ramsgate services which will stop additionally at Swanley, Otford, Borough Green and Wrotham, West Malling and Maidstone East.
• Trains between London Victoria and Ashford International will stop additionally at Eynsford and Shoreham.
• Grove Park Line: Trains between London Charing Cross and Sevenoaks will only run between London Charing Cross and Orpington.
• Additional trains will run between London Charing Cross and Orpington.

Sunday

• Hastings Line: Services between London Charing Cross and Hastings will only run between London Bridge and Hastings and run non-stop between London Bridge and Tonbridge, using an alternative route via Redhill which will take approximately 30 to 40 minutes longer than usual. A portion of coaches will be detached at Tonbridge to run between Tonbridge and Ashford International.
• Paddock Wood Line: One train per hour will run between London Charing Cross and Ramsgate via Maidstone East calling additionally at Otford.
• Trains between London Charing Cross and Dover Priory will not run because of further engineering work between Ashford International and Dover Priory.
• Additional trains will run between Tonbridge and Ashford International.
• Maidstone East Line: Trains between London Victoria and Ashford International will stop additionally at Eynsford and Shoreham.
• Grove Park Line: Trains between London Charing Cross and Sevenoaks will only run between London Charing Cross and Orpington.
• Additional trains will run between London Charing Cross and Orpington.

Accessible replacement buses will run between:

• Orpington and Tonbridge, calling at Sevenoaks and Hildenborough
• Orpington and Sevenoaks, calling at all stations

The following stations will be closed all weekend and will only be served by replacement buses:

• Hildenborough
• Sevenoaks
• Dunton Green
• Knockholt
• Chelsfield

Thameslink

Trains which usually run between London Blackfriars or London Victoria and Sevenoaks will instead run to and from Orpington, calling additionally at Petts Wood. Rail replacement buses will run between Otford and Sevenoaks, and your tickets will be accepted on Southeastern trains at no extra cost between Bromley South and Otford.

Amended 12.30am London Charing Cross to Gravesend via Sidcup service – end of Saturday service

Engineering work is taking place between Dartford and Gravesend, closing some lines. The 12.30am (end of Saturday service) London Charing Cross to Gravesend via Sidcup service will only run between London Charing Cross and Dartford. Change at Dartford for a connecting Thameslink train to Gravesend.

Buses to replace trains between Slade Green/Sidcup and Gravesend – Sunday

Engineering work is taking place in the Dartford area, closing all lines. Services will be impacted as follows:

Southeastern

• Woolwich Line: Trains from London Cannon Street to Slade Green via Greenwich and Woolwich Arsenal will run normally but will be extended to Barnehurst.
• Trains from Slade Green to London Cannon Street via Greenwich will run at different times than usual.
• Bexleyheath Line: Trains from London Cannon Street to Slade Green via Bexleyheath will run from London Cannon Street to Crayford via Bexleyheath.
• Services from London Victoria to Dartford will run between London Victoria and Slade Green via Bexleyheath.
• Trains towards London Victoria will only run between Barnehurst and London Victoria.
• Trains from Slade Green to London Cannon Street via Bexleyheath will start at Barnehurst.
• Sidcup Line: Trains between London Charing Cross and Gravesend via Sidcup will not run. Services from London Charing Cross to Dartford via Sidcup will run between London Charing Cross and Barnehurst via Sidcup.
• Trains from Dartford to London Charing Cross via Sidcup will start at Crayford.

Accessible replacement buses will run between:

• Barnehurst and Dartford
• Crayford and Dartford
• Slade Green and Gravesend

The following stations will be closed, and will only be served by accessible buses:

• Dartford
• Stone Crossing
• Greenhithe for Bluewater
• Swanscombe
• Northfleet

Thameslink

No Thameslink services will run between Plumstead and Gravesend. A revised service will run between Luton and Plumstead and between Gravesend and Rainham.

Tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on Southeastern trains between London Bridge and Slade Green/Barnehurst, and on Southeastern rail replacement buses between Slade Green/Barnehurst and Gravesend. Paper rail tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on Elizabeth line trains between Farringdon and Abbey Wood.

Rail replacement buses between Lewisham and Hayes – Sunday

Engineering work is taking place between Ladywell and Hayes, closing all lines. Trains between London Charing Cross and Hayes will not run. Accessible replacement buses will run between Lewisham and Hayes, calling at all stations and additionally at Beckenham Junction to connect with alternative trains to and from London Victoria.

Buses to replace trains between Ashford International and Dover – Sunday

Works will be taking place between Ashford International and Dover Priory, closing all lines. The following trains will be impacted:

• Highspeed via Ashford International: Trains between London St Pancras International and Ramsgate via Dover Priory will only run between London St Pancras International and Ashford International.
• Additional trains will run between Dover Priory and Ramsgate.
• Paddock Wood Line: Trains between London Charing Cross and Dover Priory via Tonbridge will not run. Additional trains will run between Tonbridge and Ashford International, and trains between London Charing Cross and Ramsgate via Canterbury West will run via Maidstone East because of further engineering work at Sevenoaks.

Accessible buses will run between:

• Ashford International and Dover Priory, calling at Folkestone West and Folkestone Central only
• Ashford International and Dover Priory, calling at all stations except Westenhanger
• A minibus will run between Sandling and Westenhanger

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