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Latest News
This section of our site gives all of our latest news and press releases on changes and improvements to Southeastern train services as well as articles on the transport industry as a whole.
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09 Jul 2026Sara Pascoe launches free reading activities for kids across UK train network this summer
- Free reading packs available on trains and at stations, helping keep children entertained on journeys this summer
- Thousands of packs for ages 4–11, making train travel an easy, low-cost way to support reading and family time
- Supports families facing summer boredom and cost pressures, with many parents looking for simple ways to keep children engaged
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02 Jul 2026Southeastern sets out social mobility impact report ‘On Track to Opportunity’ as data reveals sharp inequalities across the South East
- New data reveals sharp inequalities across the South East
- Report from publicly owned Southeastern and The Purpose Coalition sets out how the railway is supporting communities with connectivity, investment, jobs and partnerships
- Report comes as Rail Industry launches Social Mobility Programme to positively impact thousands of lives every year by opening more opportunities
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29 Jun 2026Major London stations close as railway carries out £20m upgrade this summer
- Essential £20m upgrade to replace ageing track and strengthen structures, improving safety and reliability for customers
- Upgrades bring major changes for 22 days this summer, with no Southeastern trains at Charing Cross or Waterloo East and services diverted across London
- Plan ahead and check before you travel, as timetables, service frequency and first and last train times will change
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25 Jun 2026Southeastern extends advice to avoid non essential travel as extreme heat continues across Kent and the South East
- Advice to avoid non‑essential travel now extended to Friday 26 June due to continued high temperatures
- High risk of disruption with services subject to short‑notice changes and longer journeys
- Additional staff, water and support in place to help customers who need to travel to do so as safely as possible
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23 Jun 2026Southeastern urges customers to only travel if absolutely necessary during record heatwave
- Met Office red weather warning in place with extreme temperatures
- Customers are being urged to only take essential train journeys to, from or within areas affected by extreme heat
- Southeastern and Network Rail are putting additional staff, water and support in place to help customers travel as safely and comfortably as possible
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14 May 2026
Southeastern delivers May timetable improvements with more capacity on busiest routes
- New timetable from 17 May brings more frequent services, extra space and better connections
- Peak Blackfriars services reinstated and additional highspeed and Maidstone East services introduced to improve capacity and boost choice
- Customers urged to check before they travel as some times, stopping patterns and train formations will change to improve performance
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13 May 2026
Charing Cross and Waterloo East to close for 22 days for £20m railway upgrade
- A planned 22‑day closure (26 July–16 August 2026, plus additional weekends) will enable a £20m programme of essential upgrades at London Charing Cross and Waterloo East.
- Engineers will replace life‑expired track and carry out platform, drainage and bridge repairs to improve reliability and reduce future disruption.
- No trains will serve either station during the works, with services diverted to Victoria, Cannon Street and Blackfriars, and tickets accepted across alternative routes.
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11 May 2026Community projects share £200,000 Southeastern fund
- Grants up to £50,000 awarded to 14 community projects across south east London, Kent and East Sussex
- Southeastern's Customer and Community Improvement Fund targets social mobility and inequality
- Fund has now supported 38 projects worth £700,000 since launching three years ago
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07 May 2026THREE WEEKS TO GO: Buses replace trains between Ashford and Borough Green & Wrotham for nine days as major improvement work takes place
- Nine-day closure from 23 to 31 May between Ashford International, Maidstone East and Borough Green & Wrotham, with buses replacing trains
- Essential engineering works to improve long-term reliability, including track renewals, drainage upgrades and stabilising ageing rock cuttings
- Customers advised to plan ahead and allow extra time, with accessible replacement buses operating throughout the closure
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30 Apr 2026Southeastern first in UK to automate real-time timetable change updates for every train
- Southeastern introduces automated system to deliver station-by-station, train-by-train planned timetable change information
- New technology gives customers better and more timely access to information
- System to be made available to other train operating companies across the network