Two major rail routes in Kent and Sussex will shut for nine days starting October 25, and the closures will run through November 2 as essential upgrades move forward. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The Tunbridge Wells–Hastings and Bexhill–Hastings lines will be closed, and buses will replace trains during this period. Network Rail timed the work for school half-term to reduce overall disruption.

Major Rail Closures Planned in Kent and Sussex This Autumn
Southeastern Trains A Class 707 train in the blue and yellow livery of Southeastern trains stands at the platform of London Bridge.Southeastern Trains/BBC

Rail Maintenance Across Key Routes

Engineers will repair brickwork and upgrade drainage in the Bo Peep and Hastings tunnels. In addition, a kilometer of rails, sleepers, and ballast will be replaced between Etchingham and Mountfield.

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At Frant and Wadhurst, teams will install modern rails and signaling systems while strengthening embankments for improved safety. West St Leonards station will see its footbridge refurbished, and vegetation will be cleared across several track sections.

Rail Service Alternatives and Travel Advice

Southern will operate a shuttle rail service between Hastings and Ashford during the main closure. On October 11–12 and 18–19, buses will replace trains between Bexhill and Ashford to keep travelers moving.

David Davidson, Southeastern’s chief operating officer, said the team aims to complete the work efficiently. “Closures are disruptive, but consecutive days allow us to do more, faster,” he explained.

Jenny Saunders, Southern’s customer service director, emphasized the importance of reliability. “The line between Eastbourne and Ashford is vital, and these upgrades will secure long-term stability,” she noted.

Passengers should check updated timetables and plan ahead as Network Rail consolidates work to minimize future disruptions and modernize essential infrastructure for decades to come.

Source: www.bbc.com

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