Kent train services over Christmas and New Year

Many train services across Kent will be altered during the festive period, rail operators say.

From Saturday, fewer services than usual will run as the rail network gets ready for the Christmas and New Year period.

Network Rail often uses holiday periods to do large-scale engineering works, when fewer people are commuting to and from work.

We take a look at the rail services in Kent that operators say they will be running over the next two weeks.

• 21 December: On Southeastern, all routes are open, and a normal Saturday timetable will run. However, Thameslink services between Luton and Rainham will only run between London Bridge and Rainham (Kent).
• 22 December: Southeastern says a normal Sunday timetable will be in operation but buses will replace trains between Dover Priory and Ramsgate, and Sevenoaks and Paddock Wood/Tunbridge Wells. Thameslink services between Luton and Rainham will only run between London Bridge and Rainham.
• 23 December: A Saturday timetable will be in operation across all routes, and some extra trains will run.
• 24 December: A Saturday timetable will be in operation across all routes, and some extra trains will run. But, services across the network will finish earlier, with no trains running after approximately 22:00 GMT.
• 25 December: No services will run in Kent on Christmas Day.
• 26 December: No services will run in Kent on Boxing Day.
• 27 December: Southeastern will operate a Saturday timetable across all routes, with some extra trains running. Thameslink services between Luton and Rainham will only run between London Bridge and Rainham, and services between Sevenoaks and London Blackfriars will be diverted to London Victoria.
• 28 December: Southeastern has said all routes are open, and a normal Saturday timetable will run. But, Thameslink services between Luton and Rainham will only run between London Bridge and Rainham, and services between Sevenoaks and London Blackfriars will be diverted to London Victoria.
• 29 December: A normal Sunday timetable will be in operation on Southeastern, but buses will replace trains between Margate and Minster. Thameslink services between Luton and Rainham will only run between London Bridge and Rainham, and services between Sevenoaks and London Blackfriars will be diverted to London Victoria.
• 30 December: A Saturday timetable will be in operation across all routes, and some extra trains will run.
• 31 December: A Saturday timetable will be in operation across all routes, and some extra trains will run. Southeastern will run additional services into the early hours of 1 January from London Charing Cross, London Bridge and London Victoria, but London Waterloo East will be closed from 23:30 GMT.
• 1 January: Southeastern will operate a Sunday timetable, but buses will replace trains between Folkestone Central and Deal, Canterbury East/Dover Priory and Sevenoaks/Maidstone East and Ashford International.
• 2 & 3 January: A Saturday timetable will be in operation across all routes, and some extra trains will run.
• 4 January: All routes are due to be open, and a normal Saturday timetable will run.
• 5 January: A Sunday timetable will be in operation but buses will replace trains between Greenwich and Dartford (via Sidcup), Lewisham and Orpington, Swanley and Borough Green & Wrotham, and Canterbury West/Deal and Ramsgate.

Passengers who need to check their journey in more detail, including to see how other train operator's services are affected, can use the National Rail journey planner tool.

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