Lines reopened: disruption between Gravesend and Strood expected until 18:30 

Route(s) affected

Between Luton and Rainham (Kent)

Description

Lines have reopened following a fault with the signalling system between Gravesend and Strood. Trains may still be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised.

Disruption is expected until 18:30.

Southeastern services are no longer impacted by this disruption.

Customer advice:

This will affect your journey if you are travelling on Thameslink services between Luton / London and Rainham (Kent). There is a slightly reduced service on these trains in both directions as a result of this incident.

It may now be faster to wait for the next scheduled service towards your destination but you can continue to use your ticket on the alternative services listed below to continue your journey.

If you are travelling now, we recommend allowing at least 30 minutes more time to arrive at your destination.

Ticket acceptance on alternative routes:

You can use your ticket at no extra cost on the following alternative services:

• Alternative Thameslink services

• Southeastern Railway services between London and Rainham on any reasonable route, excluding High Speed services

• London Underground services via any reasonable route towards your destination

Planning your journey:

Please check journey planners and station information boards before you travel, and allow extra time to reach your destination.

You can view live departure boards and the live map of the network to see if your journey has been affected.

You can also use the Thameslink app to find up-to-date travel information.

Can you tell me more about this incident?

Earlier today, the signals in this area developed faults and this prevented trains from running safely. However, thanks to the response from Network Rail engineers, all lines are now open and trains are on the move once more.

Railway signals warn drivers when they need to stop. Normally, a green light means the track is clear, while yellow signals warn of a red light ahead, helping drivers slow down safely.

Signalling follows "fail-safe" principles. If a signal cannot change properly, it defaults to red, even if the track is clear. This causes delays as trains must wait for instructions.

Check before you travel:

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

For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility and bicycle information, please use our Rail Replacement Services page.

You can find the pick-up and set-down location of rail replacement services by checking station signage or by searching for your station on our Find a Station page.

Please be advised that replacement vehicles may be busier than usual, and you should allow extra time for your journey.

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.