Significant improvements have been made to rail capacity in Kent after a £19 million upgrade to Gravesend station was completed. 

Thanks to the creation of a new platform, as well as the lengthening of existing ones, 12-car trains will now be able to call at the station.

This means more commuters travelling in and out of London will be able to board trains at the stop - the work forms part of a plan to roll out 12-car trains to stations in the south-east London metro area. 

Fiona Taylor, Network Rail's route managing director for Kent, stated passengers are going to notice the benefits of the upgrade straight away.

"The new platforms are an important part of boosting capacity in Kent and will be able to accommodate longer trains which will provide more space and seats for passengers," she added.

Network Rail deliberately carried out the work over the Christmas period, as it is traditionally the quietest time of the year.