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Kent trains suffer delays and disruption due to icy weather

Ice brought problems to the train network this morning, with some services delayed and others halted.

Southeastern announced just after 7.15am that trains towards London were unable to run between Maidstone East and West Malling because of ice causing power supply problems. The freeze was making it difficult to get electricity through to the third rail.

There's problems with power because of the ice. Stock photo
There's problems with power because of the ice. Stock photo

In conjunction with Network Rail, staff were trying to clear the ice to get trains moving again.

By 8.30am, a train had run through and cleared the line through West Malling, and services were running again but delayed by up to 60 minutes and subject to change.

There were also problems first thing on the line between Tonbridge and Sevenoaks. Ice again saw the serviced disrupted.

However, Southeastern managed to get a de-icer train run through to Sevenoaks and the line re-opened again between Tonbridge and Sevenoaks at about 6.40am. However, they said trains were still likely to be delayed or change routes through Tonbridge.

At about 8am, there were delays of up to 40 minutes and a warning services were "still likely to be altered at short notice".

Customers were advised to allow extra time for their journey.

Gritters were deployed on Kent's roads last night after a new weather alert was issued.

Kent County Council's Highways team said crews were heading out from 6pm to treat primary routes across Kent.

It came as a yellow warning for snow and ice was issued by the Met Office for parts of the county today, in the wake of Storm Bella.

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