Dartford Junction in Kent undergoes a £10 million rail upgrade from February 14–22, causing disruptions to Southeastern and Thameslink services, with replacement buses operating.
Major Rail Upgrades at Dartford Junction in Kent
Network Rail has announced significant rail upgrades at Dartford Junction in Kent. Disruption is expected for passengers traveling across parts of southeast London and north Kent.
Dartford Junction is the busiest in Kent, with around 650 trains passing through daily. The upgrades are described as a “vital” project to improve journey reliability between London and Kent.
Details of the Upgrade
Rail engineers will conduct a £10 million track upgrade at Dartford Junction. This work aims to enhance the reliability and performance of the network.
The project includes renewing 10 switches and crossings, also known as points, which allow trains to change direction. Additionally, around 400 yards of new rail will be laid between Slade Green and Dartford.
Along with the track upgrades, a program of station improvements will occur while the railway is closed.
Closure Schedule
The main work will take place during a nine-day closure from Saturday, February 14, to Sunday, February 22. This timing coincides with the school half-term to reduce disruption.
During this period, Southeastern and Thameslink services will not operate through Dartford on certain routes. Replacement bus services will run instead.
There will also be additional weekend closures on Saturday, February 7, and Sunday, February 8, for preparation work. Further closures will occur on Sunday, March 1, and Sunday, April 5, to complete follow-up work.
Network Rail has confirmed that replacement buses will also run on these dates.
Service Changes
During the February half-term works, passengers will see significant changes to services running through Dartford.
From February 14 to February 22, accessible replacement buses will run between Gravesend and Dartford. These buses will connect passengers with Crayford, Barnehurst, and Slade Green.
Train services into London will operate as normal via the Sidcup, Bexleyheath, and Woolwich lines. However, passengers are warned to expect timetable changes and should check before traveling.
Affected Services
| Service Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Southeastern and Thameslink | No services between Slade Green, Barnehurst, Crayford, and Gravesend via Dartford. |
| Thameslink | No services between Plumstead and Gravesend; an hourly shuttle will run between Gravesend and Rainham. |
| Southeastern Metro | Services into London via Sidcup, Bexleyheath, and Woolwich will run with amended timetables. |
| Highspeed Services | Services to and from St Pancras International via Gravesend will run as normal. |
Replacement Bus Services
Replacement buses will serve the following stations:
- Dartford
- Stone Crossing
- Greenhithe for Bluewater
- Swanscombe
- Northfleet
Bus services will operate between the following stations:
- Between Gravesend and Slade Green, calling at Northfleet, Swanscombe, Greenhithe, Stone Crossing, and Dartford.
- Between Dartford and Crayford.
- Between Dartford and Barnehurst.
- Between Dartford and Slade Green.
Station Improvements
At Dartford station, new tactile paving will be installed to improve accessibility. This will reduce the stepping distance between platforms and trains.
At Stone Crossing, damaged fencing will be replaced. Greenhithe’s accessible toilet will be refurbished. Swanscombe station will undergo a deep clean, and new LED lighting and additional customer information screens will be added at Northfleet.
Network Rail confirmed that all stations affected by the closure will also be repainted.
Official Statements
David Davidson, chief operating officer for Southeastern Railway, stated, “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.”
He added, “We’ve deliberately chosen the half-term to minimize disruption as schools are on holiday and fewer people are commuting.”
Davidson emphasized, “We understand that this will be disruptive and we’re working hard to ensure passengers are fully informed about the closure so that they can make their alternative travel arrangements.”
He concluded, “By doing the work over the February half-term, we can fit everything we need to do into one nine-day closure. The alternative would be up to 30 weekends, which would be much more disruptive over a longer period.”
