Medway Valley line improvements
Engineering works are taking place at Teston, East Farleigh station and Maidstone West station between Thursday 31 October and Sunday 3 November
The line will be closed between Paddock Wood and Maidstone West, with buses replacing trains. Please plan ahead and check before you travel.
What work is taking place?
A 200m sheet pile wall will be built along the railway line near Teston. This is approximately 1km from East Farleigh station on the Medway Valley line.
The wall will stop soil and debris from reaching the track in the event of a landslip. These are often caused by flooding or heavy rain.
East Farleigh station and the signal box were both built in 1844. To make the best use of the time, both will be repainted and refurbished when the line is closed. Worn rail will also be replaced, with brand new rails at Maidstone West.
When is the work taking place?
Thursday 31 October to Sunday 3 November (inclusive).
How will this work affect me?
When work is taking place, services between Paddock Wood and Strood will start and stop at Maidstone West.
Bus replacement services
Accessible replacement bus services will operate between:
- Paddock Wood and Maidstone West, calling at all stations (Thursday to Saturday)
- Tonbridge and Maidstone West (Sunday)
Check your journey with your train operator and National Rail before you travel:
Why is the work needed?
Landslips can cause a lot of disruption and cause delays. A train can’t swerve to avoid debris on the line. So when there’s debris on the tracks after a landslip, we’ll often need to re-route services. This is why the work at Teston is crucial to prevent future delays.
Get in touch
if you have any questions, please call our dedicated 24-hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 or visit our contact us page.