Grove junction - early 1980s
Grove junction The Hastings line is on the left with the Eridge line peeling off to the right and quickly becoming single. Note the boards in place on the track to allow the signalman to obtain the single line token from the driver.
The alleged cost of resignalling this junction as part of the Hastings electrification - completed in April 1986 - was one of the arguments put forward by BR for closure. Signalling at this location is now controlled from Tonbridge.
In 2002 the now disused track on the right was the subject of an abortive study as to whether a short length of it might be reopened as a reversing siding for trains terminating at Tunbridge Wells. The problems caused by these trains would not, of course, have arisen if British Rail had not shortsightedly closed the Eridge line in the first place!
In 2007, after initially looking at minor signalling changes, Network Rail finally announced plans to build the reversing siding - but now alongside the current Hastings single line.
A major problem with using the Tunbridge Wells West route for a siding is that it has a falling gradient of 1 in 80 away from the junction, which means that it would have to be substantially built up to meet modern construction standards. This would amount to some 3m at the furthest point, which would make it difficult for it to serve as the basis of a restored link to the Uckfield line.