Rail passengers travelling from Tonbridge towards Tunbridge Wells, Wadhurst and Hastings are being urged to plan ahead as major engineering works will close the line between Tonbridge and Wadhurst from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November.
The nine-day closure, scheduled for the autumn school half-term, will see engineers carry out a programme of improvements designed to improve safety, reliability and the long-term resilience of the railway.
Rail replacement buses will operate between Tonbridge and Wadhurst throughout the closure, with longer journey times expected. On Sunday 1 November, buses will run between Tonbridge and Battle while work extends further south. An additional overnight closure will also affect services between Wadhurst and Hastings from 10.30pm on Saturday 31 October until 7am on Sunday 1 November.
The work includes renewing specialist track inside Grove Hill Tunnel, just south of Tunbridge Wells, tunnel inspections at Wadhurst, drainage and earthworks investigations near Stonegate, and maintenance and power supply upgrades at Etchingham station. Further track maintenance and inspections will take place around Robertsbridge and Mountfield.
Engineers will also use the closure to repair track affected by dry soil conditions, with the aim of removing some temporary speed restrictions and improving reliability on the Hastings line.
For passengers starting their journey in Tonbridge, services to Charing Cross, Ramsgate and Dover Priory are expected to continue as normal. However, journeys towards Redhill are also affected by separate urgent embankment repairs, so passengers should check for the latest updates before travelling.
Drivers should be aware that Tonbridge station car park is expected to be particularly busy during the closure, alongside Paddock Wood and Sevenoaks. Passengers are advised to arrive early if parking at the station and allow extra time for their journeys.
Travellers can check amended services using the Southeastern journey planner or National Rail. The amended Tonbridge to Wadhurst timetable is also available online.
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