A new autumn timetable is being introduced across Kent by Southeastern.

From Sunday, October 12, some trains will depart slightly earlier or later to ensure services continue running safely and on time during the seasonal conditions.

Southeastern says the changes are necessary as around 50 million leaves are expected to fall across its network this autumn, creating slippery conditions that can make it harder for trains to start and stop safely.

The operator has joined forces with Network Rail to deliver a combined timetable and maintenance plan designed to reduce disruption and keep passengers moving with confidence.

David Davidson, chief operating officer for Southeastern, said: “We know how important it is to keep our trains running on time, whatever the weather. Autumn is an extremely challenging period as millions of leaves can make the tracks as slippery as black ice.

“By bringing track and train together, we’re able to do even more to keep services safe and punctual - from using specialist leaf-busting trains to introducing modified 4x4 ‘Sand Rovers’ that treat the tracks to improve grip.”

Specialist trains fitted with high-pressure water jets will operate continuously from Tonbridge depot to remove debris from the rails.

Drones and high-definition cameras mounted on trains will also be used to identify and target areas most affected by leaf contamination.

The autumn timetable will run until December 13 and aims to improve reliability by preventing late-running trains from causing further delays at key junctions.

Passengers are being urged to check before they travel using online journey planners or at stations, as a number of services will be retimed or have minor stopping pattern changes.

Full list of Southeastern autumn timetable changes:

Metro services

06.50 Gravesend–Cannon Street and 07.39 & 08.09 Dartford–Cannon Street (via Charlton and Blackheath) will not call at St Johns on weekdays.

17.24, 17.54 & 18.24 Cannon Street–Dartford (via Blackheath and Charlton) will not call at St Johns on weekdays.

Bexleyheath line

Victoria–Gravesend trains will start up to 3 minutes earlier, removing the need to skip Falconwood and Welling stops.

Hayes line

Hayes–Charing Cross trains retimed to remove need to skip Eden Park and New Beckenham.

Off-peak & weekend services from Hayes–Charing Cross start 2 minutes earlier; Charing Cross–Hayes arrive 2 minutes later.

Grove Park, Bexleyheath & Sidcup lines

Three morning and three evening peak trains will omit St Johns to ease congestion.

Morning: 1 of 9 services removed (0700–0759) and 2 of 9 (0800–0859).

Evening: 2 of 8 (1700–1759) and 1 of 8 (1800–1859) removed.

Medway Valley line

Early Strood–Paddock Wood trains retimed to improve connections to St Pancras (based on customer feedback).

Maidstone East line

Trains retimed to reduce knock-on delays; off-peak & weekend Sevenoaks–Charing Cross trains slightly earlier.

Grove Park line (off-peak/weekend)

Sevenoaks–Charing Cross via Grove Park services run earlier between Orpington and Lewisham to maintain all stops and improve reliability.

Bromley South line (Victoria–Orpington weekdays)

West Dulwich: 09.12–14.12 & 19.12–22.12 services will not call.

Sydenham Hill: 09.27–14.27 & 19.27–22.27 services will not call.

Penge East: 09.42–14.42 & 19.42–22.42 services will not call.

Kent House: 09.57–14.57 & 19.57–22.57 services will not call.
Each station will now have 3 trains per hour instead of 4.

Bromley South line (Orpington–Victoria weekdays)

Kent House: 10.04–14.04 & 19.04–22.04 services will not call.

Penge East: 10.20–14.20 & 19.20–22.20 services will not call.

Sydenham Hill: 10.34–14.34 & 19.34–22.35 services will not call.

West Dulwich: 10.50–14.50 & 19.50–21.50 services will not call.
Each station will have 3 trains per hour instead of 4.

Hastings line

04.45 Tonbridge–Charing Cross starts 6 mins earlier.

05.29 Hastings–Cannon Street & 07.20 Hastings–Charing Cross start 5 mins earlier.

05.46 & 07.50 Hastings–Charing Cross start 4 mins earlier.

05.15 Hastings–Charing Cross, 05.17 & 05.46 Tunbridge Wells–Charing Cross start 3 mins earlier.

06.46, 07.47, 08.20 & 08.50 Tunbridge Wells–Charing Cross start 2 mins earlier.

07.17 Tunbridge Wells–Charing Cross starts 1 min earlier.

Weekend Hastings–Charing Cross trains: first two services 3 mins earlier.

Mainline via Ashford & Tonbridge

04.30 Dover–Cannon Street & 06.42 Ramsgate–Charing Cross start 4 mins earlier.

05.30 Ashford–Charing Cross, 04.50, 05.35 Ramsgate–Charing Cross & 06.28 Dover–Charing Cross start 3 mins earlier.

06.15 Ashford–Cannon Street, 06.43 Ashford–Charing Cross & 07.12 Ashford–Cannon Street start 2 mins earlier.

07.16 Ashford–Cannon Street starts 1 min earlier.

Chatham Mainline

Dover–Victoria via Faversham trains up to 8 mins earlier between Dover & Sittingbourne; Victoria–Dover trains arrive up to 8 mins later between Faversham & Dover.

05.00 Gillingham–Victoria & 04.25 Ramsgate–Victoria start 4 mins earlier.

05.25 Ramsgate–Victoria, 05.49 & 06.13 Faversham–Cannon Street, 05.00 & 05.28 Faversham–St Pancras, and 05.20 Broadstairs–St Pancras start 3 mins earlier.

06.02 Ramsgate–Cannon Street starts 2 mins earlier.

Early Sheerness–Sittingbourne and Tonbridge–Strood services also start earlier to maintain London connections.

Highspeed services (via Ashford)

04.55 Ramsgate–St Pancras (Canterbury West), 04.50 Ramsgate–St Pancras (Dover), 05.45 Dover–St Pancras, 05.40 Margate–St Pancras (Canterbury West), and 06.07 Sandwich–St Pancras (Dover) start 3 mins earlier.

Weekends: first five Ramsgate & Dover–St Pancras services start 3 mins earlier.

06.15 Margate–St Pancras (Canterbury West) starts 2 mins earlier.

Passengers can view the full amended timetable on Southeastern’s website, journey planners, or at local stations.