As usual, Christmas trains are to be heavily reduced. This is despite the possibility of serious overcrowding, increasing the risk of infection by COVID (and flu). We are particularly concerned that trains will be busy on Wednesday 23rd (last reliable day for very long journeys) and Thursday 24th (early finishing) during pre-Christmas period, as well as on Sunday 27th, when engineering works will involve our trains being diverted to and from Victoria and Cannon Street (with increased usage of the Tube). The lack of any Boxing Day service will add to the pressure on services on the 27th.
We urge Southeastern to ensure that routes into and out of London have a minimum of 10, 11 or 12 carriages (depending on restrictions on train lengths due to short platform lengths and similar considerations) in order to allow passengers to take appropriate social distancing measures.
Below is a summary of the service Southeastern has announced:
| Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 December | The current reduced timetable will be operating |
| Thursday 24 December | The current reduced timetable will be operating but with an early finish – last trains from London at around 21:00 |
| Friday 25 December | No services will run |
| Saturday 26 December | No services will run |
| Sunday 27 December | Amended Sunday timetable with trains diverted to Cannon Street and Victoria |
| Monday 28 December | A reduced timetable will be operating with trains diverted to Cannon Street and Victoria |
| Tuesday 29 December | A reduced timetable will be operating with trains diverted to Cannon Street and Victoria |
| Wednesday 30 December | A reduced timetable will be operating |
| Thursday 31 December | A reduced timetable will be operating There will no no additional late night services from London |
| Friday 1 January | A reduced timetable will be operating and some trains will be diverted to Victoria (including all Paddock Wood-London services) |
| Saturday 2 January | A reduced timetable will be operating and some trains will be diverted to Victoria (including all Paddock Wood-London services) |
| Sunday 3 January | A reduced timetable will be operating and some trains will be diverted to Victoria (including all Paddock Wood-London services) |
If you do travel, please let us know about your experience so we can continue to give appropriate feedback to Southeastern.