Line closure between Ashford and Borough Green & Wrotham

Our engineers delivered a major package of essential upgrades between Ashford and Borough Green & Wrotham from Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May 2026

What work took place?

During the nine-day closure, engineers completed several significant projects:  

• We worked on two rock cuttings either side of Maidstone East station. At Maidstone East Grammar School rock cutting and embankment, the London side of Maidstone, we renewed more than 1,300 yards of the cutting.  This included installing new rock netting and bolting to stabilise the slopes and reduce the risk of rockfalls. At the country end of the Wheeler Street tunnel, we also undertook stabilisation works of the rock cutting and embankment.  
• At the Wheeler Street tunnel, we overhauled drainage, up to and through, the 420 metres of the tunnel, part of over three miles of overall drainage improvements through Maidstone East station. Effective drainage is critical to protecting signals, track and other infrastructure from water damage. This section of line is historically prone to landslips, including one in May 2024 just outside the tunnel.  
• New switches and crossings were installed at Maidstone East Bay platform 3. Switches and crossings allow trains to change track and are vital for running a network.   
• Renewed 420 yards of ballast, sleepers and track at Harrietsham and laid two thousand yards of new rail between Lenham and Charing for smoother journeys.   
• At Lenham we also installed 550 metres of new drainage to improve long term resilience.  

To make the most of the extended access, we also delivered a series of complementary works, including:  

• Bridges examined at Bearsted, Wheeler Street Tunnel, Hollingbourne, Harrietsham, Lenham, Charing and Ashford.  
• Maintenance of over four miles of track between Borough Green and West Malling.  
• Earthworks examinations on tunnels and cuttings across the route.  
• Replaced the level crossing at Ryarsh Lane near West Malling.   

When did the work take place?

From Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May 2026.   

Why was the work needed?

The work will improve the long-term reliability and resilience of key infrastructure along the line, helping to prevent disruptive failures and unplanned closures in the years ahead.  

The Ashford–Maidstone East corridor has seen several incidents of weather related ground movement in recent years. Many rock cuttings on this part of the network are more than 150 years old, and do not provide the same resilience as modern engineered slopes.   

While a nine-day closure is significant, completing these works in a single block avoids repeated weekend disruption and ensures the route remains safe and reliable into the future. 

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please visit our contact us page or telephone our 24-Hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41.