Ahead of next year’s February half term, Network Rail is advising passengers in South East London and Kent of major engineering work planned or the Dartford area.

The work means that between Gravesend, Dartford, Slade Green, Barnehurst and Crayford, buses will be replacing services during the holiday.

The £10 million investment will see the busy Dartford Junction improved to ensure services remain reliable.

Between the 14th February and the 22nd February, and the weekend of the 8th and 9th February, 1st March and 5th April, buses will be running to allow for preparation works.

They will be upgrading 10 switches to allow trains to safely change tracks, and they will replace 400 yards of track and conductor rail between Slade Green and Dartford.

Additionally, they will be altering the platforms at Dartford to reduce the stepping distances into trains.

Further information, including departure times and travel options, will be released in the Autumn.

“The work at Dartford Junction, where 650 trains pass every day, is a vital investment in the long-term resilience and efficiency at one of the busiest sections on the South Eastern Railway network.

“We know there’s never a good time to do work like this, but we’ve deliberately chosen the half- term to minimise disruption, when schools are on holiday and fewer people are commuting. To make the most of the time available, we’ll also carry out additional improvement work at Dartford station.

“We understand this closure will significantly impact travel, and we’re working hard to ensure passengers are fully informed about its impact and the alternative travel arrangements available.”

David Davidson, Chief Operating Officer for South Eastern Railway