Services have returned to normal after urgent repairs on a train track caused major disruption yesterday (June 25).

All lines were closed between Sittingbourne and Gillingham railway stations after a fire caused significant damage to signalling cables at Rainham on Tuesday (June 24).

Commenting yesterday (Wednesday), David Davidson, Network Rail’s chief operating officer at South Eastern Railway, said: “We would like to say sorry to all our customers affected by the disruption to our service.

“Our engineers have been working tirelessly overnight and throughout the day to repair the damaged cabling caused by a lineside fire at Rainham which has been more difficult to repair than first thought.”

Services were unable to stop at Chatham, Gillingham, and Rainham.

A full-service is now running.

Services were running between Gillingham and London Victoria, but at a reduced frequency.

Replacement buses were in place between Sheerness-on-Sea and Sittingbourne, and between Sittingbourne and Gillingham.

Trains between Ramsgate and Dover Priory and London Victoria via Canterbury East were not running between Sittingbourne and London Victoria.

High-speed services between Faversham and London St Pancras International were cancelled, as well as some Sheerness line services.

People were able to use their existing tickets on Arriva buses through the Medway towns, Stagecoach bus route X3, the Fastrack route B between Gravesend and Ebbsfleet and the London Underground.

People could also travel on Thameslink services between Gillingham, Rochester, and Farringdon, and on the Elizabeth line between Abbey Wood and Farringdon at no extra charge.