Southeastern to introduce additional train services from December

A rail operator serving Kent, East Sussex, and London has detailed the services that will be incorporated into its new timetable, which is set to commence in December. Southeastern announced in July that the revised schedule, effective from December 15, will feature an extra 220 trains operating weekly, comprising 44 new services each day. These additions include two evening trains that currently run from London Charing Cross to Maidstone East, which will be extended to Ashford International. These extended services will also include new stops at Bearsted, Hollingbourne, Harrietsham, Lenham, and Charing. Morning passengers departing from Chartham and Chilham will also benefit from a new service at 09.11 GMT and 09.14, respectively, bound for London Charing Cross, thereby eliminating a previous one-hour gap between services. Additionally, there will be 12 extra peak-time trains, operating during both morning and evening periods, on the Greenwich and Sidcup routes. Beyond their existing routes into London Bridge and London Cannon Street, these services will now also call at Abbey Wood, enhancing access to the Elizabeth Line and connections to Central London, Maidenhead, Reading, and Heathrow Airport. On the Orpington – London Victoria route, a service will now run every 15 minutes on weekdays, transforming it into a “turn up and go metro” style service. This increased frequency will be in effect between approximately 06:00 and 23:30. Other minor adjustments to services include the 05:48 Dover Priory – London St Pancras service departing three minutes earlier at 05:45. Furthermore, both the 07.33 and 08.05 Strood to Tonbridge trains will depart a minute earlier and incorporate additional dwell time at New Hythe and Aylesford, to allow schoolchildren more time to alight services. Scott Brightwell, Southeastern’s operations and safety director, commented: “With this timetable change, we are providing more services and opportunities to travel by train.“The new services will make it easier to travel for work, to see family and friends or for education and healthcare appointments.”