Tunbridge Wells West - July 1985Tunbridge Wells West - July 1985Peeling paintwork -- in 1960s colours -- and gas lighting greeted prospective passengers in the station's grand booking hall -- which was generally unstaffed.
In the background posters advertise various south coast tourist destinations -- which have effectively been out of reach since the Lewes link was destroyed in1969.
In the foreground, a new addition: the dreaded final closure notice. It reads:
British Rail Southern Region
Public Notice
Tunbridge Wells (Grove Junction) to Eridge (Birchden Junction) and Tunbridge Wells West and Groombridge Passenger Stations
On 7 February 1985 the
Secretary of Sate for Transport in exercise of his powers under
Section 56 of the Transport Act 1962 and Section 54 of the Transport
Act 1968, gave his consent to the withdrawal of passenger train
services between Tunbridge Wells (Grove Junction) and Eridge (Birchden
Junction), and to the closure of Tunbridge Wells West and Groombridge
passenger stations.
Notice is hereby given
that the passenger service will be withdrawn and the
two stations closed after the last trains of Saturday 6 July 1985.
Seperate announcements
will be made in due course in regard to train and bus
services.
General Manager
Waterloo Station
27 March 1985