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 | |
| Coordinates | 51°26′51″N 0°13′09″E / 51.4475°N 0.2193°E |
 London transport portal | |
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.