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Wednesday 8 May 2024

Network Rail completes track upgrades in Kent and Sussex over the early May Bank Holiday

Region & Route:

Southern

Passengers and nearby residents set to benefit from smoother journeys

Teams were busy across Kent and Sussex routes over the long weekend, protecting the railway from landslips and repairing key infrastructure.

Track refurbishment works were undertaken between Sole Street, Strood and Rainham, with engineers carrying out track maintenance, clearing vegetation and inspecting track and structures along the railway, carrying out drainage works at the same time.

Just south of Otford station the finishing touches were made to a new footbridge linking public footpaths in the area, so that a foot crossing can be closed, reducing the risk of accidents.

Work was also carried out on railway embankments between Redhill and Tonbridge, and between Sevenoaks and Paddock Wood, some of which was in preparation for work that will take place later this year.

Between Barnham and Havant junction engineers cleared vegetation, undertaking inspections on the track and structures along the track, as well as routine track maintenance.

Engineers also made repairs to Bletchingley Tunnel, between Nutfield and Godstone stations. Constructed in the early 1840s, it’s over 1,300 yards long and every so often, abseiling inspections are conducted to assess its condition.

At West Sutton, Network Rail’s engineers reinstated the cutting to support our lineside neighbour’s garden and boundary, having previously installed a sheet pile wall to stabilise the cutting and protect passengers from delays caused by falling soil and debris reaching the track.

Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s Sussex route director, said: “Our engineers worked hard across a number of sites over the long weekend to complete a range of important maintenance and upgrades to keep the railway running safely and reliably.

“We were able to complete a large amount of work simultaneously, which was far less disruptive to passengers than it would have been at any other time. I’d like to thank people for their patience and understanding while we did this work.”