A person has tragically died after being struck by a train near Staplehurst railway station on Saturday night (April 19), prompting widespread rail disruption and a response from emergency services.
Emergency crews were called to the scene at approximately 9.45pm, following reports of a casualty on the tracks between Ashford and Paddock Wood. Southeastern initially cited “safety inspections” along the line, but within half an hour confirmed that a person had been hit by a train.
Rail operator Southeastern advised passengers to check for updates before travelling, as the line between Ashford and Paddock Wood was closed for several hours.
A number of rail replacement services were made available as the incident was dealt with.
If you’ve been affected by this incident or are struggling with your mental health, support is available. You can contact Samaritans free at any time on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
