Rail line re-opens after two-week closure due to landslip
Emergency repairs have been carried out on tracks between Kent and Surrey
A major rail line between Kent and Surrey has re-opened this morning (April 15th), two weeks after being closed because of a landslip.
Trains on the Tonbridge to Redhill line were cancelled after a 100-metre section of track at Bough Beech near Edenbridge collapsed at the start of April.
Buses replaced services between both stations as the line was closed in its entirety to allow for 91 sheet piles of metal to be installed on the embankment.
Steel rods have been used to underpin the embankment, which Network Rail has said would be weakened by heavy rain.
Mark Killick, Network Rail Southern region director of engineering and asset management, said:
“Our colleagues have worked tirelessly around the clock with our contractors over the past two weeks to repair this landslip, on what’s been quite a complex site for a number of reasons.
"I want to thank our passengers, freight customers and lineside neighbours for their patience while we’ve carried out this work, which has essentially been a giant underpinning operation.
"As each steel pile was installed we gained more and more confidence that we would be able to reopen the railway – and the work we’ve done here at Bough Beech will leave this line in a much more better and more reliable condition for the future.
"We’re sorry for the inconvenience that has been caused but there was no option but to get this work done when we did, especially given the need to reintroduce services in time for schools reopening after the Easter break."
Mark Pavlides, chief customer officer for Govia Thameslink Railway, said:
"On behalf of our customers we’re very pleased that Network Rail have completed these large and complex emergency repairs on schedule.
"We are aware that any disruption to our services is inconvenient for customers, so we’re grateful for their patience and understanding while the work was carried out."