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Sunday 16 Apr 2023

Kent: Tunbridge Wells to Hastings line reopens following completion of reliability upgrades

Region & Route:

Southern

| Southern: Kent

Train services on the line between Tunbridge Wells to Hastings have resumed this morning (Sunday 16 April) after Network Rail successfully completed planned upgrades to help improve the reliability of the busy commuter and leisure line.

Over a nine-day period while the line was closed, Network Rail’s engineers worked night and day completing a range of vital upgrades to support the safe and reliable running of services for decades to come.

Inside Mountfield Tunnel near Robertsbridge, the existing track slab – a concrete block which supports the track, conductor rail and tunnel structure – which was built in the 1970s has been replaced after 50 years of wear a tear.

A new track slab, reinforced with four tonnes of metal bars, has been installed plus 900 metres of new, specially coated track specifically designed to withstand tunnel environments.

Elsewhere on the line, engineers worked tirelessly to complete a number of other vital upgrades, surveys, monitoring, and general maintenance to support the reliable running of the railway.

Nearly five kilometres of new track has been laid at Robertsbridge (2160m) and at Crowhurst (2592m) while at Frant, sections of reinforced concrete wall have been built to prevent trees and soil reaching the tracks.

On sections of the line near Snape Wood, 230 five-metre-long soil nails have been driven into the cutting with 600m2 of wire mesh to stop material falling onto tracks below.

Originally built by the Victorians in the 1850s, the age and in particular the geography of this line has required regular repairs and upgrades to maintain its reliability. The line is built through hilly and challenging terrain and flanked by steep embankments which, coupled with extreme weather, has contributed landslips in the past.

This is the third and final extended line closure as part of a two-year programme of work which, now complete, will make this line more resilient and services more reliable for the 100,000 customers that travel on this line each week.

Fiona Taylor, Network Rail’s Kent route director, said: “It’s really pleasing our teams have completed this vital upgrades and handed back the line on time as planned.

“Our engineers have worked really hard these past nine days completing a wide range of improvements including laying new track, installing soil nails and wire meshing to shore up embankments and built reinforced concrete walls to prevent material falling onto the track and disrupting services.

“There is never a good time to shut the railway but completing the work in an extended closure means that we avoid causing more disruption to customers by having to close the railway over a series of weekends.

“I would like to thank customers and local residents for their patience and understanding while we have completed these essential works.”

Scott Brightwell, Southeastern’s operations and safety director, said: "We want to thank all our customers for their patience and understanding while Network Rail carried out this vital work over the last week.

"Now that the work’s finished, our customers will return to an improved railway on this part of our network.”