had withdrawn their interest due to their development of a site at the nearby St Peters' Street complex instead. In November 2012, initial plans for the regeneration of Maidstone East Station were submitted to Maidstone Borough Council to determine whether an Environmental Impact Assessment was required. MBC concluded in December 2012 that due to the additional road traffic, an assessment would be appropriate. Plans include a new railway station, new large foodstore, other retail units, bar, cafe, commuter and retail parking (approx 1100 spaces) and associated landscaping. The proposed plan involves the demolition of the existing station ticket office, a disused hotel/bar, retail units opposite County Hall and the adjacent former Royal Mail sorting and enquiry office. Accidents The station has been the site of two accidents involving freight trains. In the first, on 17 July 1967, a slow-moving westbound train passed a signal at danger and ran into the rear of a stationary passenger train at the up platform causing damage to both trains but only interrupting services for a few hours. The second, on 6 September 1993, was more significant. At 02:02, a freight derailment occurred. A train, comprising 15 goods wagons was travelling from Dover to Willesden hauled by a Class 47 locomotive 47 288, when, due to excessive speed, the locomotive's rear bogie derailed in the tunnel approaching Maidstone East. The train was travelling at when the speed limit was . The locomotive ended up on its side on the track. Several wagons left the track, running into signals, platforms and buildings, and spilling their load of 900 tons of steel cable. The driver subsequently failed a breathalyser test. The station remained closed for only a short period as a result of the accident. Services All services at Maidstone East are operated by Southeastern using and EMUs. The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is: 1 tph to (stopping) 1 tph to London Charing Cross (semi-fast) 1 tph to During the peak hours, the station is served by an additional hourly service between London Victoria and Ashford International. On Sundays, the semi-fast services to London Charing Cross do not run. See also Maidstone Barracks railway station, on the Medway Valley Line Maidstone West railway station, on the Medway Valley Line References Sources External links Kentrail.co.uk - Maidstone East Railway stations in Kent DfT Category C1 stations Former London, Chatham and Dover Railway stations Railway stations