Network Rail will close the railway between Tonbridge and Wadhurst from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, extending the closure to Battle on the final day. During this nine-day period, trains on the Hastings line will be replaced by bus services between Tonbridge and Wadhurst, with additional replacement buses running between Wadhurst and Hastings late on 31 October until early 1 November, before buses operate between Tonbridge and Battle after 7am.
Grove Hill Tunnel Slab Track Renewal and Removal of Temporary Speed Restrictions
The main engineering task involves renewing worn slab track at Grove Hill Tunnel near Tunbridge Wells. This concrete-based track system will be replaced to improve route reliability.
Additionally, three temporary speed restrictions caused by soil shrinkage during the hottest and driest summer on record will be removed. Recent rainfall restored soil moisture, allowing track realignment work to proceed without extending the closure.
Additional Railway Maintenance Along the Hastings Line
Further maintenance and inspections will take place at Wadhurst Tunnel, where tunnel structures and shafts will be examined. Near Stonegate, engineers will inspect earthworks and drainage systems to ensure long-term track resilience. At Etchingham station, new power equipment will be installed and canopy repairs carried out, alongside inspections of nearby bridges and drainage. Track parts will be replaced and Mountfield Tunnel surveyed near Robertsbridge and
Mountfield, with vegetation management and routine structural checks conducted across the line.
Passenger Impact and Station Parking Reductions
Passengers between Tonbridge and Wadhurst must use rail replacement buses for nine days, incurring longer journey times. Between 10:30pm on 31 October and 7am on 1 November, buses replace trains on Wadhurst to Hastings, then between Tonbridge and Battle thereafter. Parking capacity will be reduced at Tunbridge Wells, Frant, Etchingham, Robertsbridge, Stonegate, and Wadhurst stations due to construction and bus operations. Tonbridge station car park is expected to be especially busy throughout the closure, and customers are advised to arrive early. Passengers requiring assistance should book as usual.
Official Statements and Network Rail’s Role in Railway Upgrades
According to Network Rail Media Centre, Southeastern’s Director of Safety and Performance highlighted this programme as a significant investment to enhance reliability on the Hastings line by combining multiple improvements during the closure, reducing future disruption. The removal of temporary speed restrictions will reduce journey delays. Industry officials expressed gratitude to passengers and local communities for their patience and urged travellers to plan for longer journey times due to bus replacements.
Network Rail manages Britain’s 20,000 miles of track, including 30,000 bridges, tunnels, viaducts, signals, level crossings, and stations. Its ongoing multi-billion-pound Railway Upgrade Plan addresses doubling passenger journeys over
the past 20 years by delivering thousands of projects annually to maintain and expand the rail network.
