Southeastern is running additional trains with extra carriages to the coast this weekend, with children able to travel for £1.

In a bid to encourage customers to “ditch their cars” and travel by train this weekend, Southeastern has announced that it will be operating a “full service” across most of the network, along with additional trans to the coast.

According to estimates by The RAC, this weekend is set to be the busiest August bank holiday on the roads in 9 years, with 19.2 million leisure journeys estimated to be taken between Friday and Monday.

But south east Londoners still looking for a day trip to the beach on this final bank holiday weekend of the year can travel with Southeastern to a number of popular beach destinations, including Whitstable, Margate and Broadstairs by direct services from Cannon Street via Woolwich Arsenal and Dartford.

Where will these trains call?

  • London Cannon Street
  • London Bridge
  • Deptford
  • Greenwich
  • Maze Hill
  • Westcombe Park
  • Charlton
  • Woolwich Dockyard
  • Woolwich Arsenal
  • Plumstead
  • Abbey Wood
  • Belvedere
  • Erith
  • Slade Green
  • Dartford
  • Greenhithe
  • Gravesend
  • Strood
  • Rochester
  • Chatham
  • Gillingham
  • Rainham
  • Sittingbourne
  • Faversham
  • Whitstable
  • Herne Bay
  • Margate
  • Broadstairs
  • Ramsgate

In addition to the extra services, Southeastern will also be adding additional carriages to services, to account for additional passengers using the services over the long weekend towards London and the Kent coast.

£1 travel for children

Adults can also save money on travel for their children under Southeastern’s ‘Kids for a Quid’ scheme, where up to four children can travel for £1 each when travelling with a paying adult.

Groups of up to nine adults can also save money on travel by booking with GroupSave, for anyone looking to travel in a large party.

Planned changes and diversion

Over the bank holiday weekend, Southeastern will be running a Saturday timetable on services on Saturday, August 24 and Monday, August 26 with a Sunday service operating on Sunday, August 25.

Whilst Southeastern has announced it will be running a mostly full service, there will be no trains running via Denmark Hill over the weekend, with services being diverted to Cannon Street via Herne Hill.

On Sunday, some early-morning services between Tonbridge and Sevenoaks will be replaced by buses.

According to data, electric rail travel makes up only 0.14 percent of travel emissions in Kent and serves as a more environmentally friendly way to travel to your favourite beach spots in the county.

Julian Moosai, Southeastern's Head of Service Delivery, said: "There are so many wonderful attractions and beautiful beaches across London and the south-east and the long weekend provides a great opportunity to explore the area by train.

"Rail travel is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel – and our extra services makes it easier to leave the car at home and avoid the queues this bank holiday."