Southeastern has reopened the railway through Dartford after the successful completion of a major £10 million upgrade at Dartford Junction, delivered over the February half-term. The operator has thanked passengers for their patience while this essential work was carried out.
Dartford Junction – the busiest railway junction in Kent – has undergone a comprehensive renewal designed to improve long‑term reliability for customers travelling between Kent and London. The project included:
- Replacement of 10 switches and crossings (points)
- Installation of around 400 yards of new rail between Slade Green and Dartford
By concentrating the works into a planned blockade, engineers were able to target not only the junction itself but also deliver a package of station and asset improvements across the route.
Station upgrades at Dartford and along the route
To maximise the value of the planned closure, a series of station enhancements were completed:
- Dartford station:
- Repainting works to refresh the station environment
- Stepping distances between trains and platforms reduced to support safer, more accessible boarding
- Lift maintenance undertaken to improve reliability of vertical circulation
- Track improvements carried out in the nearby sidings to support day‑to‑day operations
- Stone Crossing:
- Replacement of fencing to improve boundary security and resilience
- Greenhithe:
- Refurbishment of the accessible toilet, supporting inclusive travel and accessibility standards
- Swanscombe:
- Deep cleaning to improve the customer environment
- Northfleet:
- Installation of new LED lighting for better visibility and energy efficiency
- Additional customer information screens to enhance real‑time information provision
Collectively, these works are aligned with efforts across the South Eastern network to improve passenger experience, accessibility and operational resilience at key stations.
Part of a £300m investment in performance and reliability
The Dartford programme sits within a broader £300 million investment aimed at improving performance and reliability across the Southeastern network. This sustained capital programme is focused on reducing faults, modernising infrastructure, and improving journey dependability on heavily used commuter and regional routes.
Follow‑up works are planned on Sunday 1 March and Sunday 5 April, during which replacement bus services will operate to maintain connectivity while engineers complete residual activities and final checks.
Focus on resilience at one of the network’s busiest points
David Davidson, Chief Operating Officer for South Eastern Railway, said:
“We appreciate our passengers’ patience while we completed this vital investment at Dartford Junction, where 650 trains pass each day.
“This work strengthens the long-term resilience and efficiency of one of the busiest points on our network. Scheduling the upgrade during half-term helped minimise disruption for customers.”
For rail managers and industry stakeholders, the Dartford Junction renewal is a clear example of targeted, time‑bound infrastructure interventions designed to deliver:
- Enhanced asset reliability on a high‑throughput junction
- Improved station environments and accessibility
- Reduced disruption by aligning major work with school holidays
With the line now reopened, customers on Southeastern and Thameslink services can benefit from more reliable journeys between Kent and London, underpinned by upgraded track, refreshed stations, and ongoing investment in the wider network.
Image credit: Network Rail
