Southeastern Autumn Leaf Fall Timetable

A message from Southeastern about their Autumn "leaf fall" service timetable:

"As you may know, autumn is a traditionally challenging time for the train operators as the combination of wet weather and leaf fall produces Teflon-like mulch on the tracks. This impacts on the train braking system and for safety reasons, obliges drivers to slow down, just as motorists need to reduce speed on icy roads

"For these reasons we extend journey times between September and December by an average of three (3) minutes to ensure that line speed allows for safe braking and minimises the risk over runs at stations. Given that line speeds have to be slightly reduced. It also allows us to maintain punctuality and give passengers greater journey certainty.

"Once the leaf fall season is over, the trains revert to their usual timings in December.

Changes which effect Folkestone stations are:

• 04 37 Dover to Charing Cross start 04 34 and run 3 minutes earlier to Sevenoaks
• 05 26 Ramsgate to Charing Cross start 05 23 and run 3 minutes earlier to Sevenoaks
• 05 29 Ashford to Charing Cross start 05 26 and run 3 minutes earlier to Sevenoaks
• 06 12 Ramsgate to Cannon Street start 06 09 and run 3 minutes earlier to Sevenoaks
• 07 16 Folkestone Central to Cannon Street start 0713 and run 3 minutes earlier to Tonbridge
• 06 45 Ashford to Charing Cross start 06 42 and run 3 minutes earlier to Sevenoaks

See the full list of all changes effective from 30 September.