Southeastern has had its contract renewed to continue running the line until June 2018.

The Department for Transport (DfT) made the announcement this morning (September 11).

Southeastern has said the contract will lead to a host of schemes which will be rolled out over the next three and a half years to improve train services and the passenger experience.

The new franchise will officially begin on October 12 and run until June 24.

Southeastern run services from Bexhill and Hastings up to London and out into Kent.

Their Sussex stations include the likes of Robertsbridge, Wadhurst and Battle.

David Brown, Go-Ahead chief executive said: “We’re pleased that the government has put its confidence in Southeastern to deliver further enhancements for passengers. The plans to be delivered offer benefits for passengers, taxpayers and the communities that we serve.

“Today’s announcement is an endorsement of our record of delivering improving train services, record investment in the route network, better customer service and strong passenger growth over the last eight years.

“In that time our stations have seen over £100 million worth of improvements, making them more accessible, safer and easier to use, and we’ve delivered the UK’s first ever domestic Highspeed service and expanded its reach to include more stations in Kent''.

Among other improvements set for the service is a new Hastings to London fast train service in the morning and evening peak and 75 extra staff to be deployed to gatelines at key stations.

An additional 170 more customer service staff will be at key stations throughout each major timetable change to help passengers with information.

He added: “There’s no doubt that the next three years will be a challenging period, with the major service changes required to accommodate the redevelopment work at London Bridge.

“This work is vital to enhance connections across London and is part of the £6.5 billion government-sponsored Thameslink Programme. The changes to the 2015 timetable will help customers make the journeys they need to throughout the duration of these works''.

“The schemes announced today have been agreed by government and our key objectives are to continue to deliver improvements for passengers, assist commuters through the period of change that the Thameslink Programme presents over the coming three years, and continue to attract and encourage new customers to use our services."