Key workers in Kent are being advised to check before travelling over the May Bank Holiday Weekend as upgrade work takes place to make sure the railway is reliable.

Buses will replace trains on Saturday 9th May 2020 between Tonbridge and Ashford International, and also Maidstone West. This is to allow engineers to complete essential track maintenance work.

Trains will not run from London Charing Cross, or London Waterloo East on Sunday 10th May 2020, this is due to track maintenance on the London Charing Cross railway bridge.

Trains will be replaced by rail replacement buses between Sevenoaks, Paddock Wood and Tunbridge Wells. This is to allow rails and sleepers to be replaced, as they are worn out and require replacement.

Improvement work will also be completed at Paddock Wood and Marden. The work at the stations includes canopy and platform repairs.

Switches and crossings at Gillingham will be refurbished, with new sleepers installed, to make sure that the junction continues to operate reliably.

Fiona Taylor, Kent Route Director, said “While the majority of the railway remains open to freight and critical workers, essential maintenance and improvement work to ensure the railway runs reliably now and in the future means that buses will replace trains on some routes. We urge people to follow Government advice and only use public transport if they have to. For those who do need to travel, please plan ahead and check your journeys in advance.”

Southeastern Train Services Director, Scott Brightwell, said “Southeastern teams will keep trains running for people who can’t work from home and still have to travel. When essential maintenance and upgrade work needs to be completed over weekends or the bank holiday, and some trains cannot operate, we’ve made alternative travel arrangements. Tickets will be accepted via reasonable routes, and we are providing buses between some stations.”

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