Southeastern Adds Capacity and Extra Highspeed Trains From 17 May

Southeastern is advising passengers across Kent, East Sussex and south-east London to check journey details before travelling as a revised timetable comes into force from 17 May.

The updated schedule introduces a range of service changes across the network, including extra trains, altered stopping patterns and adjustments to train lengths aimed at improving reliability and making better use of available rolling stock.

Among the most significant changes is the return of peak-time direct services to London Blackfriars railway station from the Medway towns and Maidstone East, restoring direct access into the City for commuters.

Additional weekday trains between Charing Cross railway station and Maidstone East are also being introduced to provide a more regular service during the afternoon and early evening. Meanwhile, extra off-peak services between London Victoria railway station and Ashford via Maidstone East will reinstate a half-hourly frequency across much of the day.

Highspeed services are also being strengthened, with more weekday and Saturday morning trains running between Canterbury West and St Pancras International to support leisure demand. Additional weekend services between Faversham and St Pancras are also being added to increase capacity during busy periods.

As part of the timetable changes, some departure times, platform allocations and train formations have also been altered in an effort to improve punctuality and overall performance across the network.

The May timetable revisions are expected to be followed by a much larger overhaul in December, with Southeastern promising what it describes as one of the biggest improvements to Metro services in south-east London for many years.

Scott Brightwell, Safety, Planning & Performance Director at South Eastern Railway, said:

“This timetable introduces more capacity on some of our busiest routes and restores direct peak-time links to Blackfriars for customers travelling from the Medway towns and Maidstone East. We’ve also added additional services across the network, including on Highspeed and Maidstone East routes, while making changes to support a more reliable railway overall. We regularly review how customers are travelling and listen to feedback about where we can improve services, capacity and connections, and these changes are part of those ongoing improvements across the network. As some departure times and stopping patterns will change, we’re encouraging customers to check their journeys before travelling.”

Passengers are being reminded that even where routes remain unchanged, train times and platform information may differ from previous timetables.

Image: Southeastern