Rail line to remain closed for at least two weeks

Southern say the whole line needs to close for the next two weeks due to "the extent of the work required"

A rail line connecting Surrey and Kent will be closed for at least two more weeks after a problem with an embankment was discovered.

Trains between Edenbridge and Tonbridge have been unable to run since 29 March, when Network Rail needed to make a "safety inspection of the track".

Services have been able to run between Redhill and Edenbridge over the Easter weekend, but Southern, the train company that runs the service, say the whole line needs to close for the next two weeks due to "the extent of the work required".

Network Rail have said they have seen "repeated problems with the track due to the embankment underneath shifting" and were planning a long-term fix.

Mark Killick, Network Rail’s engineering and asset management director, apologised for the disruption, and said: “The work that we are doing now will leave this line in a much better and more reliable state for the future.

"In recent months we’ve seen extreme levels of rain, including the wettest February in this part of the country for 200 years.

"This has put stress on parts of our infrastructure, particularly earthworks."

Stations that are affected by the closure are Tonbridge, Leigh, Penshurst, Edenbridge, Godstone, Nutfield and Redhill.

Network Rail said replacement buses would be in operation for the whole time the line was closed, although a minibus service would operate between Nutfield and Redhill.

Tickets would also be valid for passengers if they wished to travel via London to reach their destination, it said.

Jenny Saunders, Govia Thameslink Railway’s customer services director, said: "Journeys will take longer so we’d advise customers to plan ahead and allow extra time. The latest information will be available on the Southern website.”