Rail engineers will be spending their Easter weekend relaying tracks that they say are in dire need of replacing.

Beginning on April 16, rail users can expect changes in travel plans as the junction east of Tonbridge station, where the line to Hastings diverges from the Kent main line, is replaced with new track and equipment.

The junction consists of a series of movable track switches and crossings, allowing trains from Hastings to join tracks to Ashford and London.

Last rebuilt in the 1980s, the junction is showing its age and requires extra maintenance to keep it running reliably.

Work began in January but will restart this Easter and is expected to finish by May 29.

Fiona Taylor, managing director for Network Rail Kent, said: “It’s never an easy decision to close a railway for engineering work at Easter but the junction at Tonbridge is getting to the stage where the right thing to do is replace it completely.

"That takes time and by closing the line for these weekends we’ll get the job done by the time summer arrives.

'It’s never an easy decision to close a railway but the junction is getting to the stage to replace it completely'

"I’m really grateful to passengers for their patience with us while we do the work."

Scott Brightwell, operations and safety director for Southeastern, said: “There’s never a good time to undertake engineering on the railway.

"This work across the Tonbridge area is essential to ensure that passengers have reliable and safe journeys.

"We’d strongly advise our passengers to check before they travel over the weekends when Network Rail are carrying out this work."

A series of dates have been released informing passengers about any changes to travelling arrangements heading east out of Tonbridge station:

• April 16-17, replacement buses between Tonbridge and Paddock Wood/Tunbridge Wells.
• April 30 to May 2, replacement bus service between Tonbridge and Paddock Wood & between Tonbridge and Wadhurst.
• May 8, replacement bus service between Sevenoaks and Paddock Wood & between Sevenoaks and Wadhurst.
• May 21-22, replacement bus service between Tonbridge and Paddock Wood & between Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.
• May 28-29, replacement bus service between Tonbridge and Paddock Wood & between Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.