Network Rail will close the Hastings line between Tonbridge and Wadhurst for nine consecutive days from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026. The closure extends to Battle station on the final day, Sunday 1 November. Rail replacement buses will replace all train services on this section throughout the closure period.
Rail Replacement Bus Operations and Affected Routes
During the entire nine-day closure, rail replacement buses will operate between Tonbridge and Wadhurst. Additional bus services will cover the route between Wadhurst and Hastings from 10:30pm on Saturday 31 October until 7am on Sunday 1 November. From 7am on Sunday 1 November, replacement buses will run between
Tonbridge and Battle to accommodate ongoing engineering work. Train services from Tonbridge to Charing Cross, Redhill, Ramsgate, and Dover Priory will remain unaffected.
Major Engineering Work and Maintenance
The closure allows engineers to renew worn slab track in Grove Hill Tunnel, located just south of Tunbridge Wells. Slab track, which is fixed to a concrete base, requires replacement to maintain track stability. Key railway systems inside Grove Hill Tunnel will also be restored. Additionally, three temporary speed restrictions caused by soil drying and shrinkage during the hottest and driest summer on record will be removed following recent rainfall that restored embankment moisture levels.
Beyond Grove
Hill Tunnel, maintenance and inspections will be conducted at multiple locations along the line. Wadhurst Tunnel will undergo detailed checks and repairs to ensure safety and reliability. Near Stonegate, earthworks, drainage, and track conditions will be inspected to support future resilience. At Etchingham station, installation of new power equipment and station canopy repairs will take place alongside bridge and drainage examinations. Track replacement and inspections will be carried out near Robertsbridge and Mountfield tunnels.
Vegetation management, drainage inspections, routine track maintenance, and structural examinations will also form part of the works across the Hastings line during this period.
Passenger Impact and Station Car Parking
Passengers travelling
between Tonbridge and Wadhurst must use rail replacement buses for all nine days of the closure, resulting in longer journey times. Travelers are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time. Assisted travel bookings should continue as usual.
Several station car parks will experience reduced capacity due to engineering activity and rail replacement bus operations. Tunbridge Wells and Frant station car parks will have fewer spaces available as parts will be allocated for construction linked to Grove Hill Tunnel renewal. The availability of parking at Etchingham, Robertsbridge, Stonegate, and Wadhurst stations will be limited because of bus layover and turning
requirements. Tonbridge station car park is expected to be particularly busy with increased demand, and early arrival is recommended.
Statements from Southeastern
Scott Brightwell, Director of Safety and Performance at Southeastern, said the programme of work is a significant investment in the Hastings line to deliver improved reliability for passenger and freight services across Kent and East Sussex. The slab track renewal in Grove Hill Tunnel is a major engineering project combined with improvements across the route to minimize future disruption.
The integrated approach permits additional remedial work to remove three temporary speed restrictions, reducing delays on journeys. Brightwell expressed gratitude to passengers
and local communities for their patience during the essential maintenance and urged travelers to allow extra time due to the longer travel duration of replacement buses compared to trains.
Context of Network Rail’s Infrastructure and Upgrade Plan
Network Rail owns and manages Britain’s railway infrastructure, including 20,000 miles of track and 30,000 structures such as bridges, tunnels, and viaducts. The rail network handles nearly five million passenger journeys daily and over 600 freight trains. The Hastings line works form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan aimed at expanding and improving the UK railway network to meet rising demand after passenger journeys doubled in the last 20
years.
