Passengers in Kent are being advised to plan ahead for travel as major engineering work begins.

The works between Ashford International, Maidstone East, and Borough Green will be taking place from Saturday, 23 May, to Sunday, 31 May.

The track closure allows engineers to carry out improvement works on the Ashford-Maidstone corridor, as well as tie for maintenance after weather-related wear and tear on the line.

During this nine-day closure, replacement buses will be operating to ensure accessible travel while Network Rail engineers carry out vital improvement works. Full travel advice, including ticket acceptance, will be available in advance.

Upgrades in the area by Network Rail are aimed at making improvements to the passenger and community experience. This includes: 

• Rockfall protection near Maidstone East and Wheeler Street Tunnel, with new netting and bolts over 1,300 yards of track.
• Drainage improvements along three miles of track.
• Track and switch upgrades at Maidstone East for smoother and more reliable operations.
• Track renewal of almost 2,500 yards of track.
• Bridge inspections
• Replacement of the Ryarsh Lane level crossing

“The Ashford to Maidstone East line is an extremely busy part of our railway, but the rock cuttings here are more than 150 years old. As a result, we are seeing an increasing number of weather and ground movement related incidents which cause delays to our customers.

“We want to fix this, and we need to do the work as quickly as possible over the nine-day closure rather than during a series of disruptive weekends.

“I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we complete these essential improvements that will help to prevent unplanned closures and delays in the years ahead.”

David Davidson, Chief Operating Officer for the South Eastern Railway.