50 million leaves fall onto our train tracks every autumn. When mixed with rain and squashed by train wheels, they form a slippery layer on the rails like black ice. On days or weeks when rails are most slippery, we need to introduce a different timetable on some routes.
Our drivers need more time to stop and start the trains as the wheels have less grip on the tracks. These timetable changes give us the extra time we need to drive the trains safely.
Rail conditions are expected to be at their worst from Monday 1st to Friday 5th November and Southeastern will be running a revised Off-Peak metro timetable on these days.
For more information and to plan your journey, please visit southeasternrailway.co.uk/autumn
Check before you travel:
You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner
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If you would like to follow this incident on Twitter, please use #SEAutumn
Compensation:
You may be entitled to compensation if you experience a delay in completing your journey today. Please keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.
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