Passengers travelling with Southeastern are urged to check travel plans as staff members affected by Covid.

With Covid figures surging across the country, Southeastern has opted to bring in a reduced timetable from Monday the 10th of January 2022.

The timetable changes reflect an increase in staff members impacted by Covid and Government advice for people to work from home.

Southeastern has seen passengers figures drop significantly following the Government's latest advice.

The timetable reduction is only small and represents just 7% of their services and will also offer plenty of capacity and travel options for those still needing to travel.

The changes will also mean that train services will be more reliable with the timetable reductions providing the ability to cut short notice cancellations.

David Wornham, Passenger Services Director, Southeastern, said:

“Like many other operational businesses, many of our frontline colleagues are being affected by the virus, and this, in turn, impacts the train services we can reliably operate for passengers. We've therefore decided to bring in a reduced timetable, which affects around 7% of our train services so that we can offer passengers more certainty that trains will be operating and on time.

“We'll keep the reduced timetable under constant review, alongside reacting to any updated travel advice and guidance when this is issued.”

A brief summary of Southeastern's timetable reductions beginning on Monday the 10th of January 2022 are as follows:

• There will be hourly services via Rainham, Gillingham, Chatham and Rochester to London Cannon street during peak times
• Peak-time mainline trains from Ashford International and Hastings via Tonbridge to London Cannon Street will not run
• There will be no service on the Bexleyheath line to London Cannon Street and a reduced service from Slade Green via Woolwich and Greenwich to London Cannon Street - passengers should change at London Bridge to make connections.
• Some trains between Gravesend and Dartford via Sidcup to and from Charing Cross will not run
• There will be an hourly off-peak service from Ashford International to London Charing Cross
• Off-peak London Victoria to Dover Priory services will only run between Faversham and Dover Priory
• Off-peak services from Hayes to London Charing Cross will not run
• Services have been reduced during peak times on High-Speed routes

Details of the full timetable changes will be available via online journey planners, Southeastern's website and National Rail Enquiries from Friday the 7th of January 2022.

Southeastern passengers can check their travel ahead and on the day of travel using their website https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk, or via WhatsApp (07866 002 690) or by following Southeastern on Twitter (@Se_Railway).

Southeastern staff members are working hard to make sure that passengers feel safe and confident when travelling on their services. Passengers can now check how busy a train is by using SeatFinder tools and can also take advantage of the rail industry's Book With Confidence guarantee which allows Advance tickets to be exchanged for the same journey on a different time or date, making up any difference in fare but without the need to pay extra fees.