Thread by @NetworkRailSE

🌧️ Hi everyone - and particularly @Se_Railway passengers on the Hastings line. We've got news and although it's positive in some ways it does mean more disruption short term. Our current line closure from Tonbridge-Tunbridge Wells is being extended to Robertsbridge from Monday /1

The reason is this section of line south of Wadhurst Tunnel, which has been causing us concern for some time. We have a range of early-warning sensors on the very steep face of the cutting, and they have been warning of earth movement. /2

We’ve got a temporary fix in place to protect trains and we had already mobilised @BAMNuttall to crate a permanent solution. It would have been wrong not to take advantage of this current closure at High Brooms to put a stronger fix in place. /3

As well as passengers, our neighbours at #Wadhurst station will notice more work as we use the access point (arrowed in the pic) to get our rail-mounted kit onto tracks to run to the site (circled). We have written to you to explain more! /4

Although this won’t be the end of it – it needs more than a week’s work sadly and this line has some other vulnerable earthworks – it will mean there’s no danger of this slope failing once we hand the line back next week. /5

We know this means more disruption and we’re sorry to bring this upon our passengers at such short notice, but we felt it would be worse to leave the site at risk of a slip and unplanned disruption. For more details – see below:
⬇️
networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/hastings-…

Work is continuing at pace at High Brooms itself with the slope being slowly regraded and made safer – as we begin the removal of 5,000T of clay. /6

Here's a short film to explain more - thank you so much for your understanding and patience with us. Ends.