South Eastern Railway Launches New Timetable to Boost Services and Comfort
Passengers in South East London, East Sussex, and Kent are set to see improved rail services following the introduction of a new timetable this weekend. The changes come in response to customer feedback and growing demand, with Thursday 4 December marking the operator’s busiest day since the Covid pandemic, recording 436,000 entries and exits at London terminals.
From Sunday 14 December, South Eastern Railway will introduce a series of enhancements designed to provide more frequent services and greater comfort. Highlights include an extra 29 high-speed services per week between St Pancras and Faversham, particularly on weekday evenings, creating a half-hourly frequency, as well as additional Saturday trains during peak periods.
Evening services from Charing Cross to Dartford via Bexleyheath will also see a half-hourly frequency, while peak weekday trains from Charing Cross to Maidstone East are similarly being increased. Off-peak and evening weekday journeys from London Victoria to Ashford International via Maidstone East will also feature additional services.
Passenger comfort is being improved with longer trains on key routes. The 07:15 service from Hastings to Charing Cross and the 17:15 Cannon Street to Hastings service will expand from eight to twelve carriages. Weekend services between Victoria and Dartford/Gravesend via Bexleyheath will also increase from four to eight carriages.
Scott Brightwell, Safety, Planning and Performance Director at South Eastern Railway, said:
“These latest changes help us to meet rising demand by increasing services where they are needed most and adds extra space for more comfort at the busiest times. The modern, air-conditioned Class 377s we are bringing in to deliver better journeys is part of our wider train improvement programme, which also includes the ongoing procurement to replace our Metro fleet. Customers can check their amended services in journey planners, and the full timetables are also available on our website.”
The timetable update is part of South Eastern Railway’s ongoing programme to enhance journey quality, capacity, and reliability across the region, ensuring passengers benefit from more frequent and comfortable travel.
Image: Southeastern