Sevenoaks station in Kent is to have its lifts replaced.

The station’s current lifts have become unreliable, and work on replacing them will start on Wednesday 16 July.

Phase 1 of the work will take until early October, and involves replacing the lifts to the car park, concourse and platforms 3 and 4.

Phase 2 will start in late October and finish in March next year. This phase will involve the replacement of the lifts that serve platforms 1 and 2.

Passengers make over 3.1 million journeys through Sevenoaks each year, making it one of the busiest stations in Kent.

While the work is being carried out, Sevenoaks station will remain open to passengers. However, step-free access will be limited.

Southeastern is urging passengers to speak with station staff for information about alternative routes. or to contact Southeastern’s and Thameslink’s assisted travel teams.

The replacement of the station’s lifts forms part of a wider programme of improvements around Southeastern’s network, which the operator expects to be finished by March 2026.

The operator has recently completed works to improve accessibility at another one of its stations, Herne Bay.

Southeastern is reassuring passengers that the work will ultimately improve their travel experience and will particularly benefit passengers with reduced mobility.

The operator is reminding passengers to check for updates and plan their journeys in advance during the lift renewal. Passengers can check for up-to-date information on the national rail website.

Last month, Network Rail Kent Route and Southeastern formed a joint leadership team known as South Eastern Railway, in an effort to improve the efficiency of the railway.

“We understand this work may cause inconvenience, and we’re very sorry for the impact it will have on some customers’ journeys, particularly those who need step-free access. However, the current lifts at Sevenoaks station need to be replaced so that we can continue to ensure that customers are able to access the station without needing to use the stairs.

“We thank our passengers for their patience and cooperation as we work to deliver a more reliable and accessible station.”

David Davidson, chief operating officer for the South Eastern Railway