During the October half term, Southern and Southeastern passengers will have to plan ahead due to crucial work taking place.

Those wanting to travel between Tunbridge Wells and Hastings and between Bexhill and Hastings will have to travel on rail replacement buses as the lines will be closed.

From the 25th October until the 2nd November, buses will replace all services for the nine-day closure.

During the closure, engineers will be carrying out upgrades, including repairing brickwork and upgrading drainage at the Bo Peep and Hastings tunnels and replacing rail, sleepers and ballast at numerous locations.

Around Frant and Wadhurst, they will be refurbishing switches and strengthening embankments.

Additionally, they will be clearing vegetation and refurbishing the footbridge at West St Leonards.

Alongside the replacement bus services, there will be a Southern shuttle train which will run between Ashford and Hastings.

Passengers should allow extra time for travel and check their services online.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out this essential work. We know that closures are disruptive, and we’re doing everything we can to keep people moving with replacement buses and clear travel information.  Getting work done over consecutive days allow us to do more work, more efficiently.

“We’ve invested significantly in the Hastings line in recent years to address challenges that go back to the line’s construction over 170 years ago.  

“The work we are doing now is part our continued commitment to improving journeys for passengers”.

David Davidson, chief operating officer for the South Eastern Railway