Media centre

The railway between Redhill and Tonbridge will reopen for the start of service on Monday morning after Network Rail’s engineers successfully completed emergency landslip repairs at Bough Beech, near Edenbridge in Kent.

The line between Tonbridge and Redhill will be closed for at least two weeks while Network Rail undertakes urgent repairs to the embankment that carries the railway.

Southeastern customers are now able to benefit from step-free access at Petts Wood station following the completion of accessibility improvements.

From, Saturday 1 June to Sunday 10 August inclusive, the Blackheath tunnel between Blackheath and Charlton will close as Network Rail begins £10m of essential repairs to the 175-year-old Victorian-era structure. Southeastern trains which normally run through the tunnel will be diverted via other routes during the closure.

People are being warned to plan ahead as the iconic Kingsferry Bridge is set to close for two weekends and two 8-day periods this summer for emergency repairs.

Work to repair a landslip at Newington in Kent has been completed by Network Rail

The railway line between Rainham and Sittingbourne will remain closed for at least the next seven days to allow Network Rail engineers to stabilise a landslip next to the railway at Newington.

• Samaritans’ Small Talk Saves Lives campaign launches as half the nation admit to swerving someone they don’t know to avoid small talk.
• Nearly half of British adults in the Southern region avoid engaging with someone they don’t know to avoid small talk.
• 24% are worried they would say the wrong thing when engaging with someone.
• 92% of people say they don’t have a go-to question to start small talk.
• 82% have used small talk in their personal lives over the past month.