A section of Kent’s railway line between Paddock Wood and Maidstone West will close for four days from October 31 to November 3 to allow for essential landslip repairs, Network Rail announced. During this closure, buses will replace trains to maintain transportation services, with half-hourly departures matching the usual train schedule. The line from Maidstone West to Strood will remain operational.
Repair plans include constructing a 200-meter wall near Teston, between East Farleigh and Wateringbury, designed to prevent soil and debris from spilling onto the tracks in the event of a landslip. Additional repairs will also take place, including repainting the signal box at East Farleigh and replacing worn rails at Maidstone West.
Network Rail has scheduled the closure to coincide with the school half-term, a period with reduced travel demand. Affected stations without train service include Beltring, Yalding, Wateringbury, and East Farleigh. Southeastern rail customers with parking season tickets at closed stations can use alternative parking facilities at Paddock Wood or Maidstone West.
On November 3, the line between Ashford International and Tonbridge will also close, resulting in no train service through Paddock Wood station. Travelers can access updated bus schedules on Network Rail or Southeastern’s journey planner.
