Following on from Network Rail’s announcement regarding rail closures across the country over the 2025 Christmas season, the railway infrastructure company has already announced its first closures in early 2026.

One of the first major engineering projects of 2026 is a nine-day closure of Dartford Junction during the Winter Half-Term week, Saturday 14th February to Sunday 22nd February.

Passengers looking to buy tickets in advance with Southeastern or Thameslink are being reminded to bear this in mind when booking tickets online and to allow extra time to complete their journeys.

Buses will replace trains between Gravesend and Dartford, covering for train services that usually run via Crayford, Barnehurst and Slade Green. They will also serve North Fleet, Swanscombe, Greenhithe and Stone Crossing.

During the nine-day closure, the whole of Dartford Junction is to be re-laid in a £10m project which will involve replacing points and crossings, work on the track foundations and lineside drainage, along with relaying 400 yards of track between Slade Green and Dartford.

The stations that will be closed while this work is undertaken will also see some light maintenance as part of the project. It has already been announced that Dartford station will improve its accessibility for all by receiving tactile paving.

The works are part of plans to offer more reliable journeys in the Dartford area, which sees a lot of services per day, making Dartford Junction one of the busiest in the Southeast.

In preparation for the engineering works, there will also be a weekend closure on Saturday 7th – Sunday 8th February and on Sunday 1st March and Sunday 5th April 2026.

Information relating to bus replacement timetables and ticket acceptance on other services will be released at a later date.

These engineering works will not affect Southeastern Metro services that operate on the Sidcup, Bexleyheath and Woolwich route, though the times these and other Southeastern trains run are subject to change.

Thameslink services will be reduced to an hourly shuttle between Rainham and Gravesend. Thameslink trains will not run between Plumstead and Gravesend.

Southeastern’s Highspeed trains are not affected by these engineering works and will run as normal.

“The work at Dartford Junction, where 650 trains pass every day, is a vital investment in the long-term resilience and efficiency of one of the busiest junctions of our network.

“We’ve deliberately chosen the half term to minimise disruption, when schools are on holiday and fewer people are commuting. To make the most of the time available, we’ll also carry out additional improvement work to deliver even more benefits for passengers, including installing tactile paving at Dartford station.

“We understand this will have a significant impact and we’re working hard to ensure passengers are fully informed about the closure so that they can make their alternative travel arrangements.”

David Davidson, Chief Operating Officer for the South Eastern Railway