Future
A reopening campaign has been run by the Wealden Line Campaign since 1986. They are seeking to reopen the railway between Tunbridge Wells Central and Eridge and between Uckfield and Lewes as a part of the National Rail network.
Although the SVR reopened the connection between Tunbridge Wells West and the national rail network at Eridge in 2011 they have no plans for the reinstatement of the line north to Tunbridge Wells Central.
Some of the obstacles facing re-opening this half mile section would include the following- The Spa Valley Railway Station would have to be demolished. The access road to Sainsbury's Supermarket car park would have to be resited and the supermarket's lorry unloading bay demolished. The bus terminal would have to be demolished or heavily modified. In addition, the former station building would need to be repurchased and converted back to station use. The approach cutting to Grove Tunnel has been partially infilled and would have to be re-excavated. Grove Tunnel would have to be repaired. Furthermore, some of the trackbed to the north has been sold, and a bridge has been demolished. Finally, the track and signalling would have to be reconnected and reconfigured at Grove Junction, and an agreement would have to be reached with Network Rail to allow access onto third rail electrified lines in Tunbridge Wells Central. Pathing trains into the Central station, which is already congested at peak hours, would also pose problems.
Read more about this topic: Tunbridge Wells West Railway Station
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