Kent commuters have been urged to "plan ahead" as a busy train line is set to close for multiple days during the October half term. Starting from Thursday (October 31), the Medway Valley line will shut for four consecutive days, re-opening on Monday, November 4.
Throughout this time, landslip prevention works will be taking place at Teston, East Farleigh station and Maidstone West station. As such, the line between Paddock Wood and Maidstone West will close, with trains starting and terminating at Maidstone West on these days.
Buses will replace trains along this closed section of the route to keep journeys on the move. Accessible replacement buses will run between Paddock Wood and Maidstone West, calling at all stations, from Thursday to Saturday, then between Tonbridge and Maidstone West on the Sunday.
Passengers have been urged to "plan ahead and check before they travel". Scott Brightwell, Southeastern's operations and safety director, said: "We're providing a replacement bus service when the line is closed, running twice an hour for most of the day from Thursday to Saturday, with one per hour on the Sunday.
"Online journey planners are up to date, so please check before you travel - and thanks for your patience while this essential repair and improvement work is carried out." While the Medway Valley line is closed, crews will be building a 200m sheet pile wall along the railway line near Teston, sitting around 1km away from East Farleigh station.
Its purpose will be to stop soil and debris from reaching the track in the event of a landslip, which can occur during bouts of heavy rain and flooding. Additional works will be completed while the line is shut including the repainting and refurbishment of East Farleigh station and the signal box, both of which were built all the way back in 1844.
Additionally, old and worn tracks at Maidstone West will be replaced. This is not the only set of engineering works that will impact train travel during the half term, as the Kingsferry Bridge will be closing from 10pm on Friday (October 25) to 3am on Sunday, November 3.
While the crossing between the Isle of Sheppey and mainland Kent is closed, buses will replace Southeastern trains between Sheerness on Sea and Sittingbourne. Full details on all of this can be found here.
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