Southeastern passengers are advised to plan ahead for significant travel alterations this week, as essential engineering work will close all railway lines between Orpington and Tonbridge on Sunday, 6 September.
Network Rail will be carrying out track maintenance and upgrades, meaning no trains will run on this section of the network for the entire day. Accessible replacement bus services will operate throughout Sunday to keep passengers moving, though journey times will be significantly longer than usual.
Rail Replacement Bus Services
To minimise disruption, Southeastern will run two distinct replacement bus routes to serve the affected stations:
- Express/Semi-Fast Service: Buses will run directly between Orpington and Tonbridge, calling only at Sevenoaks and Hildenborough.
- Stopping Service: A local bus service will run between Orpington and Sevenoaks, calling at all intermediate stations.
Passengers should note that five stations will be closed to trains all day and will rely entirely on these replacement buses: Chelsfield, Knockholt, Dunton Green, Sevenoaks, and Hildenborough.
Diverted and Retimed Train Services
For travellers heading further down the lines towards the coast, train services are being diverted via alternative routes:
- Hastings Line: Trains between London Charing Cross and Hastings will be retimed and will run non-stop between London Bridge and Tonbridge, using an alternative route via Redhill. Upon arrival at Tonbridge, a portion of the train will be attached or detached to run between Tonbridge and Ashford International via Paddock Wood.
- Paddock Wood Line: One train per hour will run between London Charing Cross and Ramsgate via Maidstone East, making additional stops at Otford and Maidstone East. At Ashford International, carriages will be adjusted to continue towards Dover Priory. Passengers travelling to stations between Paddock Wood and Ashford International should use the diverted Hastings line trains.
- Grove Park Line: Services that normally run between London Charing Cross and Sevenoaks will terminate early, running only as far as Orpington.
Advice for Passengers
If you need to travel this Sunday, Southeastern and National Rail advise checking the online journey planners before setting off, as timetables have been fully revised.
Replacement vehicles are expected to be busier than usual, and you should allow extra time to complete your journey. Station signage will direct you to the exact pick-up and drop-off points for the replacement buses at each station. Please note that full accessibility support remains available on the replacement bus routes, but standard bicycle restrictions will apply.
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