Southeastern has announced that it will be running an extra 220 trains through London and Kent starting this December.

The train provider operating in Kent and London has confirmed that it will be adding further services to its timetable from December 15 over the busy Christmas period.

The changes will involve adding an additional 44 services per weekday to certain lines, totalling in 220 services per week.

It is hoped that these journeys will “increase capacity” along their routes, as well as improving access to the Elizabeth Line via Abbey Wood station, and providing a link to New Cross and Cannon Street stations.

What is happening?

The improvements will include 12 additional Cannon Street services running at peak times on the Woolwich and Sidcup Lines.

More trains are also set to run at peak times between London Victoria and Orpington via Herne Hill, in a bid to offer a full ‘turn up and go’ metro service.

Evening services are also set to run from Charing Cross to Maidstone East and will be extended to Ashford International.

Here’s the full breakdown:

Woolwich line

The 12 additional Cannon Street Rounder services will run via Greenwich and Sidcup in both directions during morning and evening peak times, stopping at all stations except Lewisham.

More services will also run between Slade Green and Cannon Street via Woolwich at peak times.

Woolwich Dockyard, Erith and Belvedere will also have six trains an hour at peak times, and there will also be eight trains an hour at peak times at Charlton, Woolwich Arsenal, Plumstead, Abbey Wood and Slade Green.

Trains between Abbey Wood and Dartford trains will run at 15-minute intervals.

Bexleyheath and Sidcup lines

Trains on weekdays from Dartford to Charing Cross will depart 11 minutes earlier at 5:12am.

An additional 6:27am service will also run between New Cross and Cannon Street via Bexleyheath and Greenwich, calling at all stations on weekdays.

An extra 5:05am service from Dartford to Charing Cross will also run on weekdays with a 32-minute gap, calling at all stations via Sidcup and Lewisham.

London Victoria to Orpington via Herne Hill

Extra trains will run from Monday to Friday during off peak and evenings, with four trains running per hour at 15-minute intervals.

Four trains will run an hour into London Victoria between 6:03am until 11:33pm.

Four trains will run every hour from Victoria between 5:57am and 11:27pm.

High Speed – Dover Priory to London St Pancras

A high speed service will run at the earlier time of 5:54am from Dover Priory to St Pancras on weekdays.

Medway Valley - Strood to Tonbridge

The 7:33am and 8.05pm Strood to Tonbridge services will start a minute earlier, with additional dwell time at New Hythe and Aylesford to accommodate school pupils.

Ramsgate to London Charing Cross

The 8.44am Ramsgate to Charing Cross service will run at 8.42am, calling additionally at Chartham and Chilham.

London Charing Cross to Ashford International via Maidstone East

The 9.29pm and 10:29pm London Charing Cross to Maidstone East trains will run to Ashford International on weekdays, calling additionally at Bearsted, Hollingbourne, Harrietsham, Lenham and Charing.

Customers are being advised to check routes before travelling in December, as the timetable undergoes adjustments while the services are being implemented.

Scott Brightwell, Southeastern’s Operations and Safety Director said: “As part of our commitment to building a better, more reliable and sustainable railway we continually monitor passenger demand and listen to stakeholder feedback. With this timetable change in December we are providing more services and opportunities to travel by train.

“Demand has been increasing steadily over the last few years and we are responding by adding 44 more services every weekday, including the introduction of additional Cannon Street ‘Rounder’ services for our Metro customers.

“In total, we will be providing 220 additional services every week, making it easier to travel for work, to see family and friends, or for education and healthcare appointments.

“Customers can check their trains times now as they are in online journey planners and full details are also available in our app and on our website.”