Major engineering works between Hastings and Tonbridge will take place over Easter as Network Rail engineers continue to fix problems caused by landslips.

The work has been scheduled for a variety of sites, but mostly at Bearhurst, near Stonegate station, and will mean buses will replace trains between Tunbridge Wells and Battle.

Starting from Good Friday on April 2, services will be affected for three days up to Easter Sunday, on April 4.

It follows a two-week closure of the line in January and February, when landslips blocked the route near High Brooms.

That closure also included remedial work at Wadhurst, where sensors detected movement in a vulnerable cutting.

Network Rail Kent route director Fiona Taylor said: “I know a lot of people will be wondering why we’re doing this work over Easter when we’ve only just reopened the line.

"We did as much as we could during February’s emergency closure, but this route has had more than its fair share of landslips in the past few years and it is vital we keep up the pace with our works to improve the resilience of the line and to shore up our earthworks.

“We couldn’t speed this job up any more and Easter is the best and earliest time we could do it, with the least disruption.

“I’d like to say thank you to everyone for their patience this year and especially to passengers on the Hastings line.”

In line with Government guidance, passengers are urged to minimise travel over the Easter bank holiday.

Those who do need to travel are urged to plan ahead and check whether their route is affected by the upgrade works.

Scott Brightwell, Train Services Director at Southeastern, said: “I want to thank our passengers again for their patience while Network Rail engineers have been working hard to resolve the recent issues along this part of our network.

"We want to have full confidence that our trains can run safely along the line and this project over Easter is another important step in preventing any future landslips.

"There will be regular replacement buses running between Battle and Tunbridge Wells from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, before trains start again on Easter Monday.”

This Easter there will also be a major bridge replacement at Dartford station, meaning there will be no London-bound trains.

The bridge work at Dartford promises to be a spectacle as the landmark bridge over Hythe Road in the town is craned out and replaced.

The investment in the region this Easter is part of the £1.25billion South East Upgrade – a plan to build a better railway for passengers in London and Kent.

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