Rail line set to reopen on time following landslip

A railway line linking Kent and Surrey is due to reopen on Monday morning, after work to repair a landslide was completed on time.

The Tonbridge to Redhill line, operated by Southern, has been closed since the Easter weekend after a landslip at the Bough Beech embankment.

Engineers from Network Rail have installed 91 sheet piles and strengthened the railway embankment over a 100m (328ft) section, with soil nails underpinning the railway.

Network Rail said the landslip was caused by "climate change", with last winter being one of the wettest on record.

Mark Killick, Network Rail's director of engineering and asset management, said: "Our colleagues have worked 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."

He thanked the company's "passengers, freight customers and lineside neighbours" for their patience while the work was carried out, saying it was "essentially been a giant underpinning operation".

Apologising for the inconvenience, Mr Killick said: "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."

Network Rail said it would continue to work at the site to help stabilise it further, adding that this was not expected to affect services.

For the rest of the weekend, buses would continue to replace trains at all stations between Tonbridge and Redhill.

Tickets were being accepted for customers wanting to travel on trains via London.

Stations affected by the closure are Tonbridge, Leigh, Penshurst, Edenbridge, Godstone, Nutfield and Redhill.

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