Major improvement work is set to take place between Ashford International, Maidstone East and Borough Green stations from Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May, and passengers are advised to plan ahead.
Buses will replace trains for nine days while Network Rail carries out essential upgrades to improve the long‑term reliability of the line. During this time, accessible replacement buses will operate, and detailed travel advice including ticket acceptance, will be provided before the closure begins.
Rail engineers will be completing several important projects to help deliver better journeys for customers in Kent, including:
- Stabilising rock cuttings near Maidstone East station - installing new netting and bolts on 1,300 yards of track to reduce the risk of rockfalls. Similar work will take place near Wheeler Street tunnel.
- Improving the drainage at Wheeler Street tunnel - around 460 yards of drainage will be upgraded as part of over three miles of improvements through Maidstone East. This will help protect the railway from water damage and reduce the risk of landslips.
- Upgrading track and switches at Maidstone East - new switches and crossings will be installed at platform 3 to improve reliability.
- Track renewals between Harrietsham, Lenham and Charing – replacing nearly 2,500 yards of replacement track for smoother journeys. New drainage will also be installed at Lenham to reduce the flood risk.
David Davidson, Chief Operating Officer for the South Eastern Railway, said: “The Ashford to Maidstone East line is an extremely busy part of our railway, but the rock cuttings here are more than 150 years old. As a result, we are seeing an increasing number of weather and ground movement related incidents which cause delays to our customers.
“We want to fix this, and we need to do the work as quickly as possible over the nine-day closure rather than during a series of disruptive weekends.
“I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we complete these essential improvements that will help to prevent unplanned closures and delays in the years ahead.”
Additional work while the line is closed
To make the most of the time, engineers will also:
- Inspect bridges at several locations between Bearsted and Ashford
- Carry out maintenance on over four miles of track
- Examine earthworks, tunnels and cuttings along the route
- Replace the level crossing at Ryarsh Lane near West Malling
