Gravesham MP Adam Holloway was given a tour around Gravesend railway station to learn more about the £19 million reconstruction work taking place over the next year.

Mr Holloway was shown around the site and had the project detailed to him by engineers from Spencer Rail, the company appointed by Network Rail to carry out the work.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “Early preliminary works are taking place at Gravesend station and hoardings will soon be put up ahead of building a new, fully accessible footbridge and longer platform.

“We are working closely with Southeastern to accommodate the improvements and the project is on time to be completed in May 2014.”

The station’s platform will be extended to allow for longer 12-car trains, a new footbridge will be built, and lifts installed to provide step-free access to all platforms.

Part of the works will include a 15-day closure over Christmas and New Year, from December 22 to January 6. This is needed to complete the track layout changes and station construction work.

Network Rail said it is working with Southeastern to minimise the impact the improvement work will have on passengers’ journeys.

Mr Holloway said: “Of course we don’t want the station closed over Christmas – and it will cause profound inconvenience – but to be honest, given the amount of work involved, I am surprised that it will only be shut for this period.

“The team dealing with redevelopment seem extremely competent, so I am optimistic that they will manage the inconvenience as well as it can be managed; we shall see.”

He added: “On the design, it is much, much better than what it was originally meant to be, partly thanks to the meetings we held up in parliament a year ago with Network Rail and local heroes Zoe Draper and Roger Steer.

“But it is still not traditional enough for my taste. Apparently the conservation officer at Gravesham council initially asked for a more “modern” design for this Victorian station”.

Southeastern was initially hesitant about the proposed track layout, though this has now been resolved.

A spokesman said: “We’ve worked closely with Network Rail to resolve any initial concerns we had about the functionality of the new track layout.”

Information about alternative travel arrangements will be published as soon as it is available, likely to be after the summer season.