If your travelling by train from Sittingbourne to London tomorrow (Wednesday) check the timetable before you leave the house.

Southeastern has announced that few trains will be arriving in London before 9am.

With heavy snow and ice expected overnight, Southeastern is preparing an emergency timetable to take effect from early Wednesday morning, come what may.

It is expected the revised timetable will remain in place until the end of the week.

The only trains operating as normal will be on the high speed lines and any Southeastern ticket-holders will be able to travel on them for that day at no extra charge.

A spokesman explained that even if snow did not arrive until Wednesday afternoon, Southeastern would be left having brought hundreds of thousands of people into central London and unable to take them home again.

The timetable has yet to be published but will be loaded on to National Rail Enquiries overnight.

In a statement, Southeastern said: "To help ensure we are able to run the best service possible in these weather conditions, Southeastern is implementing a revised timetable which will provide a reduced service across the Mainline and Metro networks. This will mean a limited number of trains arriving into London before 0900.

"All High Speed services will run as per the normal timetable. However the revised timetable may still be subject to possible disruption due to the weather conditions."

Tickets will be accepted on London Underground on reasonable routes.

Passengers who are registered at the Southeastern website are being advised by email and text alerts and posters will be on display at stations.

Extra staff will also be on hand at many stations to help passengers.

Southeastern suffers in icy weather thanks to the nature of the electrification system used in Kent and Sussex. Ice forms on the third rail, which supplies power to trains, and acts as an insulator.

The system was chosen in the 1920s and expanded in the late 1950s. Subsequent electrification schemes, including high speed lines, have used the more reliable overhead line system.

To check the timetable before you travel, log on to National Rail's website or call 08457 484950.

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