Tunbridge Wells - 1981In December 1981 a Tonbridge bound train runs slowly along the short curving stretch of single track between the west station and Grove Junction, having just passed through Grove tunnel.
After having been almost completely obscured by vegetation in the 17 years since closure, this stretch of track was partially cleared in the spring of 2002 with a view to using it as a turnback siding to ease platfrom congestion caused by terminating Connex trains at the former Tunbridge Wells Central station.
Shortly afterwards the company lost its
franchise, the scheme appeared lose all momentum and the undergrowth
grew back. However, in 2007 Network Rail began work on new plans
that will see a turnback siding being built beside the Hastings
line just south of Grove Junction.