Train chaos in East Kent as fire breaks out near Sittingbourne tracks
Commuters faced major headaches today after a fire blazed alongside the railway between Sittingbourne and Faversham. Emergency crews scrambled to tackle the blaze, sparking serious disruption across Southeastern services.
Delays, Cancellations and Replacement Buses
A National Rail spokesperson said: “We’re really sorry to customers who have experienced disruption travelling in East Kent today. A small fire next to the track between Sittingbourne and Faversham stations has disrupted @Se_railway services, with the fire brigade attending to tackle the blaze.”
Trains were cancelled, delayed by up to an hour, or rerouted. The chaos is expected to last until 6pm. Replacement buses are now running between Gillingham and Faversham, and on routes from Faversham to Dover and Ramsgate to ease the disruption.
Compensation and Ticket Advice for Stranded Passengers
Train travellers are advised that local buses are accepting train tickets as valid fare. Anyone delayed should keep their tickets and journey details—they could be entitled to compensation.
This fiery drama has thrown East Kent’s rail network into turmoil, leaving passengers stranded and rush-hour plans in tatters.
