Disruption between Rochester and Rainham (Kent) expected until 20:30 

Route(s) affected

Between Luton / West Hampstead Thameslink / Kentish Town and Rainham (Kent)

Description

A fault with the signalling system between Gillingham and Rainham means that trains have to run at a reduced speed. As a result, trains running between these stations may be delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised to start from / terminate at Gillingham.

This is expected until 20:20.

Customer advice:

If you are travelling between Gillingham and Rainham, you can use your normal route, but please allow an extra 15 minutes to complete your journey.

Some Thameslink services scheduled to run to Rainham will terminate early at Gillingham. To help you complete your journey between Gillingham and Rainham, your ticket will be accepted at no extra cost on any alternative Thameslink or Southeastern service running between these stations.

Planning your journey:

For help planning your journey, check live departure boards, view a live network map or see alternative route guides.

If you’re travelling within London, you can use the TfL Journey Planner.

Stay up to date on the move with Thameslink's WhatsApp channel. Live updates are available Monday to Friday, 07:00–21:00.

Can you tell me more about the incident?

At approximately 18:15, Network Rail reported a signalling fault affecting a level crossing near Gillingham.

Railway level crossings are directly interlocked with the signalling network. When a signalling irregularity occurs, the system automatically defaults to a fail-safe state: the barriers remain lowered to protect road users, while railway signals on approach are held at red to prevent trains from entering the section without manual checks.

Although trains can still run through the area, they cannot do so under automatic green signals. Drivers must bring their trains to a complete stand on approach to the crossing and contact the signaller to receive verbal permission to proceed. Drivers then pass through at caution at heavily reduced speed, which adds approximately 15 minutes to each journey and causes queueing behind.

To prevent congestion from spreading across the Thameslink network, selected trains are terminating early at Gillingham.

Network Rail telecoms and signalling engineers are attending the site to resolve the fault and restore normal automated operation.

Check before you travel:

You can check your journey using the National Rail real-time Journey Planner.

Compensation:

You may be entitled to compensation if you experience a delay in completing your journey today. Please keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.