Very limited train services operating as Southeastern rail strikes in Kent leave Ashford, Dartford, Orpington and London as only major stations open
Published: 07:43, 07 May 2024
Updated: 11:53, 07 May 2024
Rail services in Kent are facing major disruption again today as train drivers hold yet another round of strikes.
Southeastern is running “an extremely limited service”, with most routes and stations closed.
Commuters are being warned to travel “only if absolutely necessary”.
It comes as drivers at 16 operating companies, including Southeastern, walk out today in a three-day strike.
Only four lines will operate in the county today, with 131 out of 165 Southeastern stations out of action.
Trains to London Bridge from Dartford via Sidcup and via Bexleyheath will run along with Orpington-Charing Cross and the high-speed service from Ashford International to St Pancras International.
The last train to Dartford will be at 7.25pm via Bexleyheath while the last service to London Bridge from Dartford will run at 6.14pm.
From Orpington to Charing Cross, the last service is at 5.46pm, and from Charing Cross to Orpington, the last train will depart at 6.40pm.
The final Ashford International-St Pancras journey will depart at 6.23pm and the returning St Pancras-Ashford International will leave at 7.15pm.
The drivers’ union Aslef is also holding a six-day overtime ban – which began yesterday (Monday) – which could disrupt or cancel more rail services in Kent.
A rolling 24-hour walkout, the union claims train drivers have not had a pay rise for five years – since April 2019 – and voted back in February to continue their industrial action in pursuit of better wages.
General secretary Mick Whelan previously said: “It is now a year since we sat in a room with the train companies and a year since we rejected the risible offer they made and which they admitted, privately, was designed to be rejected.
“We first balloted for industrial action in June 2022, after three years without a pay rise. It took eight one-day strikes to persuade the train operating companies (Tocs) to come to the table and talk.
“Our negotiating team met the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) on eight occasions – the last being on Wednesday, April 26 last year.”
A Southeastern spokesperson said: “Most of our routes and stations will be closed. There will be an extremely limited service where trains are running. Our advice to customers is to only travel if absolutely necessary.
“If you do travel, expect severe disruption, plan ahead and allow much more time for your journey.”
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Max Chesson