Summer specials
Enjoy even more of the great south east this summer!
We are proud to serve the south east and its wonderful attractions throughout the year but with so many beautiful beaches and coastal areas on our doorstep we know the summer is a particularly great time to get out and explore.
To make that even easier and to encourage everyone to leave their car at home, we are running extra 'summer special' services from June through until the end of the summer holidays in September.
To help you plan your trip, we have created this handy guide to show the extra services and additional capacity that will be available throughout the summer.
And remember – there's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing!
Extra services
London Victoria to and from Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate and Broadstairs
On Saturdays the 09.10, 10.10 and 11.10 services from Victoria will run to Ramsgate instead of Dover Priory, calling at Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate and Broadstairs.
This is in addition to the direct services to Ramsgate that depart at 08.40, 09.40 and 10.40.
Extra return services to Victoria from Ramsgate will run at 17.28, 18.28 and 19.28, calling at Broadstairs, Margate, Herne Bay and Whitstable.
There are also direct services to Victoria departing Ramsgate at 17.53, 18.53 and 19.53. On Sundays there will be two additional trains from Victoria to Ramsgate at 10.10 and 11.10, returning at 17.31 and 18.31 that run via Bromley South and the Medway towns such as Rochester and Chatham.
Cannon Street via Woolwich Arsenal and Dartford to Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate and Broadstairs
During the school holidays on weekdays and Sundays there will be a direct service at 09.32 from Cannon Street to Ramsgate via Woolwich Arsenal and Dartford connecting more stations in South East London and Kent directly to the coast at Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate, Broadstairs & Ramsgate.
On Saturdays two direct services will run from Cannon Street to Ramsgate via Woolwich Arsenal and Dartford calling at Whitstable, Herne Bay, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.
Please note that when the Blackheath tunnel reopens on Monday 12 August these direct Cannon Street services to Ramsgate will run via Lewisham, Blackheath, and Charlton rather than via Greenwich.
Longer trains
We are running longer trains to the Kent coast, and to Hastings at the weekends. Including on our Highspeed services from London St Pancras.
Dreamland in Margate
We have also been working in partnership with Dreamland in Margate to put on a number of extra late-night services across Kent and back up to London to support their fabulous events programme over the summer.
From Margate to the Medway Towns
Monday to Thursday: 23.05 to Gillingham (also runs Friday and Saturday)
Friday: 23.35 to Rochester
Saturday: 23.35 to Gillingham
From Margate towards Canterbury West
Monday to Thursday: 22.49 to Ashford (also runs Saturday)
Friday: 23.10 to Ashford
Saturday: 23.30 to Ashford
From Margate towards Dover Priory
Friday: 23.18 to Ashford
Saturday: 23.18 to Ashford
Visit Folkestone: FREE summer holiday bus service from our stations to the Harbour Arm
A FREE summer holiday bus shuttle service is running to the seaside from our two stations in Folkestone from Saturday 20 July through to Sunday 1 September.
It is operated by Crosskeys and runs in a circular route between Folkestone West, Folkestone Central and the stunning Harbour Arm.
It will run every 30 minutes between 10.00 and 20.00. Customers can hop on and hop off all along the route, with no charge to use the service.
The full timetable and route maps are available on the Crosskeys website.
You can also check out our Folkestone page for more things to do.
Great destinations
Visit our Kent destinations page to find out more about Broadstairs, Margate and Whitstable, as well as many other great places to visit in Kent. You can also check out our East Sussex destinations page if you want to explore Hastings and St Leonards.
Don't delay plan you trip today
Online journey planners are up to date for the summer season.