Tunbridge Wells,Hastings,Bexhill rail services suspended nine days for safety upgrades

Two key railway lines in the South East of England, between Tunbridge Wells and Hastings, and between Bexhill and Hastings, will be closed for nine days from October 25 to November 2, 2025, to allow Network Rail to carry out extensive improvement works. During this period, bus replacement services will operate, and a Southern shuttle train will run between Ashford and Hastings. The upgrades include refurbishing moveable rails and track circuits near Frant and Wadhurst, stabilizing embankments to reduce landslip risks, clearing vegetation to prevent debris on the tracks, and repairing brickwork and drainage in the Bo Peep and Hastings tunnels to protect railway equipment from leaks. Additional work involves replacing nearly a kilometer of old rails, sleepers, and ballast between Etchingham and Mountfield, and refurbishing the footbridge at West St Leonards station to ensure passenger safety. These efforts aim to improve safety, reliability, and performance while minimizing disruption by scheduling the work during the schools' half-term holiday.