Train services between Redhill in Surrey and Tonbridge in Kent will be replaced by buses for ten days from Saturday, 16th August to Monday, 25th August.

Train services are being suspended to allow Network Rail to renew 13 miles of 12kV high voltage power cables between Nutfield and Leigh to provide a more stable power supply and remove the old, decommissioned cables.

Engineers will also carry out landslip protection work, track replacement near Edenbridge, and other maintenance to improve the resilience of railway structures and equipment.

Landslip protection work near Edenbridge is necessary, as in recent years landslips have caused significant disruption to rail services.

A 360-metre-long steel wall will be installed on either side of the track to strengthen the railway embankment, and further strengthened with 226 9-metre-long soil nails driven into the ground.

Other work during the closure includes making detailed structural inspections of 11 bridges and replacing 200 metres of rail at Godstone.

During the closure, there will be no stopping trains between Redhill and Tonbridge, but mainline services from Redhill and Tonbridge will be unaffected.

Rail-replacement bus services will run between Redhill and Tonbridge, calling at all stations on the route, and will also stop at Edenbridge Town to provide connections with Southern services to Uckfield, East Croydon, and London Bridge.

“We know there is never a good time to close the railway and appreciate passengers managing changes to their journey while the line is closed. By working over ten consecutive days in August, we can get the work done much more quickly and avoid weekend after weekend of bus replacement services, which we know is frustrating for our passengers. It also means we won’t disrupt school and college students, who make a significant percentage of passengers on the route in term time.”

“We’ll make the most of the time when the railway is closed to replace more than 13 miles of power cables, between Nutfield and Leigh, ensuring reliable and resilient power to trains and lineside equipment. The embankment at Edenbridge will be strengthened, track replaced at Godstone, bridges along the line will undergo detailed structural inspections and we’ll complete hundreds of crucial maintenance tasks.”

“Thanks for bearing with us and managing the changes to your journey when the line is closed”.

Lucy McAuliffe, Sussex Route Director, Network Rail