Direct Kent coast Southeastern trains from the Woolwich line are back this summer

It’s that time of year again to check journey planners and see if Southeastern trains will be running to Kent coastal resorts from the Woolwich line.

And what do you know, yes they are.

From June trains are running direct and unlike last year it appears they’re heading through Greenwich again rather than Lewisham. A 10-week closure of the Blackheath rail tunnel could well be why.

Trains will run to Ramsgate and call at Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate and Broadstairs.

Assuming engineering works havn’t curtailed services (the first date I checked in June didn’t have any) they’ll be two services operating in the morning.

All stations along the Greenwich line are served including Woolwich Dockyard, Belvedere and Erith. People may have even started moving into new homes near Woolwich Dockyard by the summer and get to use them.

These direct trains will also serve Abbey Wood of course so of use now to those who can reach that station on the Elizabeth line.

Arrive from say, Canary Wharf, switch platforms then you can be in Whitstable in 1 hour and 24 minutes to give one example.

It saves heading into central London anyway which may appeal to some. Some may even want to give it a go from west of the capital who would prefer to pass through central London rather than reach Cannon Street or London Bridge.

Weekend trains begin in June and as yet there doesn’t appear to be weekday services.

In previous years these have run from the start of the school holidays around mid July.

It could be they simply aren’t loaded into timetables yet. I’ll contact Southeastern to find out more information.