Network Rail has thanked passengers for their patience as services resume, following the completion of a major nine-day programme of engineering work on the line between Ashford International, Maidstone East, and Borough Green and Wrotham, which finished on Sunday night.

More than 50 projects were delivered across the route to improve reliability and resilience for passengers in Kent. Work included stabilising 1,300 yards of rock cutting near Maidstone East with new netting and bolts, upgrading drainage along a three-mile section of railway, and installing new switches and crossings at platform 3 at Maidstone East.

Engineers also renewed almost 2,286 metres of track between Harrietsham, Lenham, and Charing, added drainage at Lenham, inspected bridges between Bearsted and Ashford, maintained four miles of track, examined earthworks, tunnels and cuttings, and replaced the level crossing at Ryarsh Lane, near West Malling.

“I want to thank everyone for their patience while we carried this work on this extremely busy part of our railway.

“We completed 53 individual projects over the nine-day closure rather than during a series of disruptive weekends, all of which will help to prevent unplanned closures and delays in the years ahead.”

David Davidson, chief operating officer for the South Eastern Railway.