Line closure between Ashford and Borough Green & Wrotham

Our engineers will deliver a major package of essential upgrades between Ashford and Borough Green & Wrotham for a nine-day railway closure from Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May 2026

What work is taking place?

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

• We are working 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 will renew more than 1,300 yards of the cutting.  This includes 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 are also undertaking stabilisation works of the rock cutting and embankment.  
• At the Wheeler Street tunnel, we will overhaul 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 will be installed at Maidstone East Bay platform 3. Switches and crossings allow trains to change track and are vital for running a network.   
• Renewing 420 yards of ballast, sleepers and track at Harrietsham and laying two thousand yards of new rail between Lenham and Charing for smoother journeys.   
• At Lenham we will also install 550 metres of new drainage to improve longterm resilience.  

To make the most of the extended access, we will also deliver 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.  
• Replacing the level crossing at Ryarsh Lane near West Malling.   

When is the work taking place?

From Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May 2026.   

How will this work affect me? 

During the closure, accessible rail replacement buses will operate throughout the route.

Buses will run:

• Borough Green & Wrotham – Maidstone East station car park A, calling at all stations except East Malling (3 buses per hour; approx. 40 minutes).
• Maidstone East station car park A – Ashford International, calling at all stations (2 buses per hour; approx. 57 minutes).
• A minibus will operate between West Malling and East Malling.

Passengers travelling to/from East Malling who require Passenger Assistance should contact Southeastern’s Accessible Travel Team on 08007 834 524, on WhatsApp send #Assist to 07866 002960 or use the station help point.

Passengers are advised to check before travelling and allow extra time for their journeys. 

Car parks

Car parks at the closed stations may have reduced capacity where work on the line is taking place. Some station car parks may be busier than usual.

Borough Green & Wrotham station car park is expected to be very busy during the closure, as people drive to the station to connect with train services. We recommend arriving early. An alternative car park is available nearby on Western Road, around a five-minute walk from the station – Western Road car park, Borough Green – Find a car park – Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

At Maidstone East, part of the station car park will be used to support the engineering works, meaning fewer spaces will be available before and during the closure. Between Monday, 18 May, and Wednesday, 20 May, the lower end of the station car park will be unavailable as we begin installing welfare.

From Thursday 21 May until Sunday 31 May (inclusive), half of the station car park will be unavailable.

At Barming station, until 9 June inclusive, there will be reduced car parking capacity (accessibility spaces are not affected). Customers are advised to use either Maidstone East or West Malling stations for parking as an alternative. Barming Car Park season ticket holders may use Maidstone East or West Malling car parks at no extra cost. This is to allow for essential upgrade works taking place.

At Lenham and Charing station, there will be reduced parking from the Friday 22 May to Monday 1 June. Approximately half of the car parks will be available for use.

Using your car park season ticket

Your season ticket will be valid for free parking at any APCOA-managed Southeastern station car park across the network during the closure and before if car parks are being taken to support engineering work.

This means you can choose to start your journey from another station that best suits your travel plans, with no additional parking charge.

Why is 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.