Dartford railway station

Railway station in Kent, England

Dartford

Dartford

Location of Dartford in Kent

Location| Dartford
Local authority| Borough of Dartford
Grid reference| TQ543743
Managed by| Southeastern
Station code(s)| DFD
DfT category| C1
Number of platforms| 4
Accessible| Yes
Fare zone| 8
National Rail annual entry and exit
2019–20|  4.659 million[1]
– interchange|  0.333 million[1]
2020–21|  1.485 million[1]
– interchange|  0.105 million[1]
2021–22|  3.153 million[1]
– interchange|  0.210 million[1]
2022–23|  3.991 million[1]
– interchange|  0.404 million[1]
2023–24|  4.498 million[1]
– interchange|  0.312 million[1]
Key dates
30 July 1849| Station opened
Other information
External links|

* Departures
* Facilities

Coordinates| 51°26′51″N 0°13′09″E﻿ / ﻿51.4475°N 0.2193°E﻿ / 51.4475; 0.2193
London transport portal
Station clock of Dartford's 19th century station building (1895)

Dartford railway station serves the town of Dartford in Kent, England. It is 17 miles 12 chains (27.6 km) down the line from London Charing Cross. Train services from the station are operated by Southeastern and Thameslink. Southeastern also manages the station. Dartford is a major interchange station in the North Kent region of the Southeastern network. Ticket barriers control access to the platforms.

Dartford Railway Station has become the busiest station in Kent with an annual passenger usage of 4.62 million in 2018/19. Between 2018 and 2019, use of the station increased by 11%, a much higher rate than other stations across Kent. More people use Dartford railway station than Ebbsfleet International and all the other stations in the Borough put together.

The station is where three lines from London meet:

* the North Kent Line, via Woolwich Arsenal
* the Bexleyheath line
* the Dartford Loop Line via Sidcup.

Westbound services normally terminate at London Charing Cross, London Cannon Street (both via London Bridge), London Victoria and, for Thameslink trains, Luton and Bedford. Services from London also continue through Dartford to Greenhithe (for Bluewater) to terminate at Gravesend, Strood, Rochester or Gillingham. Thameslink trains terminate at Rainham.

Many of the terminating services at Dartford form London bound services, but the remainder will be stabled and maintained at Slade Green Depot approximately two miles west on the North Kent Line. There are several sidings to the east of the station where terminating trains can be stabled until such time as needed to return to Dartford to form London bound services or until drivers are available to return the train to Slade Green Depot.

## History

[edit]

The first station was opened here by the South Eastern Railway. It extended its North Kent Line from Gravesend on 30 July 1849, taking the line from there to London. The original station building had an Italianate design; this was replaced by a glass and metal ticket office complex in 1972. A footbridge leads across the line to the two island platforms.

Replacement of the 1972 station building was approved in 2011,[2] with enabling works started late that year, and major works commenced in mid-2012. The new building was completed in November 2013.[3]

## Future development

[edit]

In the future, Dartford station may form part of a Crossrail extension line, linking to Canary Wharf, London Paddington station, Heathrow Airport and Reading.[4]

## Trivia

[edit]

In 1961, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards met by chance at the station, going on to be the core writing team of the Rolling Stones. There is a plaque on the London-bound platform to commemorate this fact.[5][6][7]

Dartford railway station gained a lot of attention due to the high numbers of people travelling using this line, mistakenly not knowing that Oyster cards were not valid, and there was evidence of being approached by staff and receiving penalty fares.[8] In September 2015 Transport for London extended the London fare zones to add Dartford to zone 8, thus allowing Oyster and Contactless payment methods to be used there.[9]

## Services

[edit]

Services at Dartford are operated by Southeastern and Thameslink using Class 376, 465, 466, 700 and 707 EMUs.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:[10]

* 4 tph to London Charing Cross via Sidcup (2 of these run direct and 2 run via Lewisham)
* 1 tph to London Charing Cross via Bexleyheath
* 2 tph to London Victoria via Bexleyheath
* 2 tph to London Cannon Street via Woolwich Arsenal and Lewisham
* 2 tph to Luton via Woolwich Arsenal and Greenwich
* 4 tph to Gravesend (2 of these call at all stations and 2 call at Greenhithe only)
* 2 tph to Rainham via Chatham

Additional services call at the station during the peak hours.[10]

During the morning peak, additional services call at this station, trains to London Charing Cross via Bexleyheath are increased to 2tph. Additional trains run via Greenwich & Sidcup from Gillingham and Strood. Additional Sidcup services run non-stop between New Eltham & London Bridge, missing Mottingham, Lee, Hither Green and Lewisham.

During the evening peak, additional services call at this station to Strood and Gillingham via Bexleyheath & Sidcup respectively.

The station receives additional services after 22:00 as trains that would have run to Slade Green (loop) via Bexleyheath or Greenwich, from London Cannon Steet, are diverted to Dartford. Additionally, after this hour all trains via Sidcup call at Lewisham.

All platforms 1-4 are bi-directional and services may be altered subject to operational circumstances, during normal operating hours of service Platform 4 is used for services down North Kent; Southeastern services terminating at Gravesend and Gillingham, and Thameslink Services terminating at Rainham. Platform 3 is also the first alternate preference if necessary. During most hours Platform 3 is used for terminating and returning trains to London Cannon Street via Woolwich Arsnl and Lewisham. Platforms 1, 2 and 3 are used for terminating and returning trains to London Charing Cross via Bexleyheath or Sidcup, and the aforementioned services returning from Rainham and Gravesend to destinations such as Kentish Town, Bedford, Luton, Charing Cross and London Victoria.

Preceding station  |  National Rail | Following station

|
|

Crayford |  | Southeastern

Dartford Loop Line

|  | Stone Crossing

Terminus

Slade Green

| | Thameslink

North Kent Line

| |

Stone Crossing

| Southeastern

North Kent Line

| |

Greenhithe

Barnehurst

| | Southeastern

Bexleyheath line

| | Terminus

## Connections

[edit]

London Buses routes 96, 428 and 492, Arriva Kent Thameside routes 414, 477 and 480, Fastrack routes A, AZ and B and Go-Coach routes 429, D1 and D2 serve the station.[11][12][13]

## Concessionary and electronic ticketing

[edit]

### Oyster and contactless bank cards

[edit]

Dartford entered the TfL zonal Oyster/contactless system on Sunday 6 September 2015, in Zone 8. Whilst season tickets, daily capping and contactless weekly capping are set at standard Zone 8 levels, single fares from Dartford are lower than "standard" Zone 8 fares.[14]

This followed Southeastern agreement to seek to bring Oyster/Contactless PAYG to Dartford by 31 January 2016 as part of the 2014–2018 franchise extension.[15]

## Passenger representation

[edit]

Dartford Rail Travellers' Association[16] campaigns for improvements across the seven railway stations in the Dartford area – Dartford, Stone Crossing, Greenhithe for Bluewater, Swanscombe, Ebbsfleet International, Longfield and Farningham Road. The group operates through social media on Facebook and Twitter.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Estimates of station usage". Rail statistics. Office of Rail Regulation. Please note: Some methodology may vary year on year.
2. ^ "Dartford station upgrade plans revealed : Southeastern". Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2016.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
3. ^ "Dartford Station, UK investment delivers a better railway for passengers | News | Breaking Travel News". breakingtravelnews.com. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
4. ^ "Abbey Wood to Hoo Junction – Crossrail". crossrail.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 January 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
5. ^ "Rolling Stones plaque 'disgusts' Bill Wyman". BBC News. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
6. ^ Victor Bockris, Keith Richards: The Unauthorised Biography – Page 21, 2002, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-8868-4
7. ^ Christopher Sandford, Keith Richards: Satisfaction – Page 174, 2004, Carroll & Graf Publishers, ISBN 0-7867-1368-2
8. ^ "Passenger angry at fine for not knowing he could not use Oyster card at Dartford station (From News Shopper)". newsshopper.co.uk. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
9. ^ "Oyster cards and contactless payment now work in Dartford train station". kentonline.co.uk. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
10. ^ a b Table 52, 200, 201, 212 National Rail timetable, June 2024
11. ^ "Dartford and Thameside Network Map". Arriva Southern Counties. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
12. ^ "Fastrack Network Map: August 2020". Arriva Southern Counties. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
13. ^ "Buses from Crayford and Dartford" (PDF). Transport for London. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
14. ^ "National Rail Adult fares" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
15. ^ "FRANCHISE AGREEMENT – SOUTH EASTERN" (PDF). 10 September 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
16. ^ "Dartford Rail Travellers' Association – Campaigning for improvements to rail transport serving the 7 stations in the borough of Dartford". Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dartford railway station.

* Train times and station information for Dartford railway station from National Rail
* Photograph of station building

* v
* t
* e

Railway stations in Kent

London Charing Cross to Gillingham|

* Dartford
* Stone Crossing
* Greenhithe
* Swanscombe
* Northfleet
* Gravesend
* Higham
* Strood
* Rochester
* Chatham
* Gillingham

Other alternative routes from London to Dartford via Sidcup and via Bexleyheath.

London Victoria to Ramsgate
via Chatham|

* Swanley
* Farningham Road
* Longfield
* Meopham
* Sole Street
* Rochester
* Chatham
* Gillingham
* Rainham
* Newington
* Sittingbourne
* Teynham
* Faversham
* Whitstable
* Chestfield & Swalecliffe
* Herne Bay
* Birchington-on-Sea
* Westgate-on-Sea
* Margate
* Broadstairs
* Dumpton Park
* Ramsgate

London Victoria to Dover
via Chatham|

* Swanley
* Farningham Road
* Longfield
* Meopham
* Sole Street
* Rochester
* Chatham
* Gillingham
* Rainham
* Newington
* Sittingbourne
* Teynham
* Faversham
* Selling
* Canterbury East
* Bekesbourne
* Adisham
* Aylesham
* Snowdown
* Shepherds Well
* Kearsney
* Dover Priory

London Victoria to Ashford
via Maidstone East|

* Eynsford
* Shoreham
* Otford
* branch line to Sevenoaks via Bat & Ball
* Kemsing
* Borough Green & Wrotham
* West Malling
* East Malling
* Barming
* Maidstone East
* Bearsted
* Hollingbourne
* Harrietsham
* Lenham
* Charing
* Ashford International

London St Pancras to Paris & Brussels
High Speed 1|

* Ebbsfleet International
* Ashford International
* Also London to Faversham via Ebbsfleet & Chatham, and to Dover & Ramsgate via Ashford

London Charing Cross to Dover
via Tonbridge|

* Dunton Green
* Sevenoaks
* Hildenborough
* Tonbridge
* Paddock Wood
* Marden
* Staplehurst
* Headcorn
* Pluckley
* Ashford International
* Westenhanger
* Sandling
* Folkestone West
* Folkestone Central
* Dover Priory

London Charing Cross to Hastings|

* Dunton Green
* Sevenoaks
* Hildenborough
* Tonbridge
* High Brooms
* Tunbridge Wells

London Bridge to Uckfield|

* Edenbridge Town
* Hever
* Cowden
* Ashurst

Ashford to Ramsgate
via Canterbury West|

* Ashford International
* Wye
* Chilham
* Chartham
* Canterbury West
* Sturry
* Minster
* Thanet Parkway
* Ramsgate

Dover to Margate|

* Dover Priory
* Martin Mill
* Walmer
* Deal
* Sandwich
* Thanet Parkway
* Ramsgate
* Dumpton Park
* Broadstairs
* Margate

Redhill–Tonbridge|

* Edenbridge
* Penshurst
* Leigh
* Tonbridge

Sittingbourne to Sheerness-on-Sea|

* Sheerness-on-Sea
* Queenborough
* Swale
* Kemsley
* Sittingbourne

Ashford to St Leonards
Marshlink|

* Ashford International
* Ham Street
* Appledore

Strood to Paddock Wood
Medway Valley Line|

* Strood
* Cuxton
* Halling
* Snodland
* New Hythe
* Aylesford
* Maidstone Barracks
* Maidstone West
* East Farleigh
* Wateringbury
* Yalding
* Beltring
* Paddock Wood

Heritage railways

East Kent Railway|

* Shepherdswell (EKR) (Adjacent to Shepherds Well)
* Eythorne

Kent & East Sussex Railway|

* Tenterden Town
* Rolvenden
* Wittersham Road

Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway|

* Hythe
* Burmarsh Road
* Dymchurch
* St Mary's Bay
* Warren Halt
* New Romney
* Romney Sands
* Dungeness

Spa Valley Railway|

* Tunbridge Wells West

* v
* t
* e

Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Southeastern routes

Southeastern routes serving this station

Metro via
Bexleyheath|

* London Victoria
* Denmark Hill
* Peckham Rye
* Nunhead
* London Charing Cross
* London Waterloo East
* London Cannon Street
* London Bridge
* New Cross
* St Johns
* Lewisham
* Blackheath
* Kidbrooke
* Eltham
* Falconwood
* Welling
* Bexleyheath
* Barnehurst
* Slade Green
* Dartford

Metro via
Abbey Wood|

* London Charing Cross
* London Waterloo East
* London Bridge
* Deptford
* Greenwich
* Maze Hill
* Westcombe Park
* Lewisham
* Blackheath
* Charlton
* Woolwich Dockyard
* Woolwich Arsenal
* Plumstead
* Abbey Wood
* Belvedere
* Erith
* Slade Green
* Barnehurst
* Crayford
* Dartford
* Greenhithe
* Gravesend
* Higham
* Strood
* Rochester
* Chatham
* Gillingham

Metro via Sidcup|

* London Charing Cross
* London Waterloo East
* London Bridge
* New Cross
* St Johns
* Lewisham
* Hither Green
* Lee
* Mottingham
* New Eltham
* Sidcup
* Albany Park
* Bexley
* Crayford
* Slade Green
* Dartford
* Stone Crossing
* Greenhithe
* Swanscombe
* Northfleet
* Gravesend
* Higham
* Strood
* Rochester
* Chatham
* Gillingham

Stations in italics are served on limited occasions, at peak hours or on Sundays only.

* Govia
* National Rail
* Thameslink
* Great Northern
* Southeastern
* Southern
* Gatwick Express

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