Rail users are being warned of a four-day closure as work takes place to try and prevent track being hit by landslips.
The line between Paddock Wood and Maidstone West will close between Thursday, October 31 to Sunday, November 3 inclusive to allow Network Rail engineers to carry out workk between Wateringbury and East Farleigh stations.
They will be constructing a 20-metre long sheet pile wall along the railway line near Teston on the Medway Valley line.
It means services between Paddock Wood and Strood will start and end at Maidstone West. There will also be no trains calling at East Farleigh, Wateringbury, Yalding or Beltring during the work.
Network Rail says the wall will stop soil and debris from reaching the track in the event of a landslip caused by flooding or heavy rain.
While the work is taking place, refurbishment work will also take place at East Farleigh station and its signal box while worn rail will be replaced at Maidstone West.
Buses will replace trains between Paddock Wood and Maidstone West.
David Davidson, Network Rail’s Kent route director, said: “It’s important that we identify the sites prone to landslips to ensure that we keep passengers safe.
“Some of the slopes, or cuttings, on either side of our tracks, need to be strengthened by improving drainage or adding stronger materials to the slope itself, such as the sheet pile wall at Teston.
“We know there’s never a good time to close the railway, but with the work, we expect to improve resilience of the line as we come into the autumn. Please plan ahead and check your journey with nationalrail.co.uk.”
Scott Brightwell, train operator Southeastern’s operations and safety director, added: “We fully support the need to carry out this prevention work at a site more prone to the risk of landslips, which can lead to debris on the track and significant unplanned disruption.
“We will be running replacement buses to all the stations between Paddock Wood and Maidstone West over the four days of the line closure, as well as from Tonbridge on Sunday. Please check before you travel and thanks in advance for bearing with us while this essential work is carried out.”
The line between Tonbridge, Paddock Wood and Ashford International is also closing next Sunday, November 3, for routine maintenance work.
