Wednesday 11 Mar 2009
BIGGER AND BETTER SERVICES FROM TUNBRIDGE WELLS
- Region & Route:
- | Southern
More seats for passengers are on the way for Tunbridge Wells commuters. Network Rail's improvement programme in the town will help increase capacity on the route between London and Hastings, and improve the reliability of trains serving the station. The project will also facilitate the introduction of an enhanced timetable in December 2009 to complement the new domestic high-speed service.
Currently 12-car trains can only serve Tunbridge Wells by combining a four-car and an eight-car service from Hastings. This procedure blocks the platforms and can result in disruption for passengers and other services. Trains formed of 12 cars from London have to terminate at either Tonbridge or Paddock Wood. This significantly limits the train frequency and restricts the capacity of services from Tunbridge Wells.
To enable this key commuter town to benefit from a 12-car service, which should relieve overcrowding and provide greater capacity for future expected passenger growth, Network Rail plans to construct a 300 metre siding off the main line which the train will pull into in order to change direction. This will be located on a site between Grove Hill and Strawberry Hill tunnels.
Andrew Munden, Network Rail’s route director for Kent, said: “This is good news for passengers. It will provide us with increased flexibility, help further improve performance and reliability, and help meet our commitments to increasing capacity.”
Notes to editors
The work will commence on 13 April 2009 and is scheduled to be completed by December 2009. Before starting work on the siding, Network Rail will prepare the site and create an access point for workers. In order to minimise disruption to train services, much of the work will be carried out during evenings and weekends. On some occasions during the works, weekend rail replacement bus services will be in operation between Tonbridge and Robertsbridge. The two tunnels at either end of Tunbridge Wells station limited options for an effective solution. After considering various ideas, it was decided to proceed with a scheme which delivers the benefits to rail users, minimises disruption for passengers and the community and offers good value for money. As part of an ongoing programme of community engagement, Network Rail has invited members of the community to attend a meeting to find out more about the project or ask any questions.Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Network Rail press office - South East route
020 3357 7969
southeastroutecomms@networkrail.co.uk
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