Southeastern’s autumn leaf-fall timetable changes introduced

Southeastern are set to introduce timetable changes from tomorrow (Sunday 13th October) as the autumn leaf-fall season is upon us.

A revised timetable will be in operation over coming weeks. Train times will be adjusted across the network.

Some trains will leave a bit earlier but there doesn’t appear to be the regular skipping of stops we used to see. Possibly due to service reductions meaning fewer trains are generally running.

For example, Plumstead used to be skipped at times but has lost two trains per hour since 2022.

That colour scheme seen above is one of the most visible remnants of Railtrack with its very millennial font.

Network Rail will have those trains out across the network blasting pressured jets on the tracks.

Last year the company released a video showing trials to use lasers to blast away the slippery surfaces along tracks from compressed leaves.

David Davidson, Network Rail’s Kent Route Director, said:

“Autumn is a really challenging time for the railway, owing largely to the significant amount of leaf fall and wet weather.

“Our teams will be working tirelessly using our 25-strong fleet of specialist trains to treat a total of 318,000 miles of track across the Southern region – roughly 12 times around the planet – to help keep the tracks leaf and ice free so that passenger and freight services are able to continue running safely and reliably this Autumn.”

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