Passengers travelling to and from Royal Tunbridge Wells will face changes to their train services over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend as part of essential engineering work. Between 3 April and 6 April 2026, Southeastern services will be adjusted to accommodate maintenance projects across the region.
The most significant disruption for local residents will occur on Easter Saturday, 4 April, and Easter Sunday, 5 April. During these two days, the line between Orpington and Tonbridge will be closed, meaning replacement buses will be in place. As a result, trains between London Charing Cross and Hastings will be diverted via Redhill, adding approximately 30 to 40 minutes to normal journey times.
The work in this area is being carried out by Network Rail to improve flood resilience at the Hildenborough cutting. This section of track is historically prone to flooding, including a major event in October 2024 that caused nearly 2,800 minutes of delays for passengers. The project aims to prevent similar issues in the future through improved drainage and track maintenance.
For those travelling on Good Friday, 3 April, and Easter Monday, 6 April, services will generally operate on a Saturday timetable. While the vast majority of the network is set to remain open throughout the weekend, Southeastern is urging all passengers to check their specific journey details before they travel.
David Davidson, Chief Operating Officer at Southeastern, which is currently managed by the government-owned DfT Operator Limited, stated that the works are a necessary part of keeping the railway moving forward. He thanked passengers for their patience while these upgrades are completed.
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