Hundreds of Kent rail passengers could face major disruption over the May Bank Holiday because of repair work .

Trains to and from London will be disrupted on Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4, and will be subject to time changes and, in some cases, replacement bus services.

The work, part of Network Rail’s £10bn improvement programme, is described as essential.

Iain Coucher, Chief Executive of Network Rail, said: “Our message to passengers is to check before you travel. We’ll be working closely with the train operating companies and National Rail Enquiries to provide the very latest information both online, via help-lines and at stations.”

Worst affected will be Kent passengers wanting to use Liverpool Street, Waterloo and Euston because of work to extend the East London line near Liverpool Street.

The disrupted routes in Kent will be from London’s mainline stations to Swanley, Maidstone East, Ashford International, Chatham, Sittingbourne, Faversham, Canterbury East, Dover and Ramsgate.

Replacement bus services will operate between the following locations

• Orpington and Swanley calling at St Mary Cray.

• Otford and Swanley calling at Shoreham and Eynsford.

For more information visit

www.nationalrail.co.uk/maybankholidays