Direct trains to the Kent coast from south east London stations begin next month
Get your bucket and spades at the ready as Southeastern have confirmed that direct trains from various stations in south east London on the Woolwich line will run directly to various Kent coastal towns from the end of next month.
This year trains run via Greenwich and initially commence on weekends from Saturday 30 May.
Trains leave Cannon Street at 8:18am and 9:18am with a typical timetable seeing services call at all stations to Dartford before heading through north Kent reaching Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.
There’s two return journeys starting from Ramsgate at 16:46 and 17:46.
Journey times
A typical journey from Greenwich to Whitstable takes 1 hr 50 minutes. Abbey Wood to Margate takes around 1 hr 45 mins. From east London it’s a quick trip to Abbey Wood on the Elizabeth line then a change onward.
In previous years the service has fluctuated between running through Lewisham then onto Charlton or via Greenwich. In the past couple of years Blackheath tunnel work seemed to be the reason it switched back to Greenwich, where it has stayed for this year.
From the start of school summer holidays in July a coastal train will run directly from various south east London stations along the Woolwich line, operating on a daily basis.
If it’s like previous years there may be some decently priced advance tickets, and kids can also travel for £2 return.
Makes it reasonable to introduce extra trains heading down to the Kent coast (Ramsgate, Margate, Dover Priory and Folkestone Central) especially in the summer.
I thought direct trains meant no changes , I can’t find any train that doesn’t involve a change travelling from Greenwich to Margate
Check the link. Direct trains with no changes on weekends start from 30 May (excluding days with engineering work).
Southeastern should still order new trains to replace the Class 465 and Class 466 that are already getting old and some have gone for scrap. I do believe that whoever wins the bid to manufacture brand new trains for Southeastern and to use them on most of their routes across Kent, Southeast London and East Sussex. I think it’s about time that new trains should be ordered for Southeastern.
Many passengers who use Southeastern want better reliable service and not having to deal with constant delays and cancellations. Same with those who rely on other train operators including c2c, Greater Anglia (including Stansted Express), London Northwestern Railway (WM Trains), TSGN (Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (including Gatwick Express). South Western Railway, Great Western Railway, Heathrow Express, Elizabeth Line, London Overground, LNER, Avanti West Coast and Chiltern Railways. That should invest more money on improving their rail services in and out of London. Before Great British Railways takes over in 2027.
On Southeastern, kids travel for £1 return off-peak