Tunbridge Wells railway station

Tunbridge Wells train station is on the Hastings line in the south of England and serves Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent. It is 34 miles 32 chains (55.4 km) down the line from London Charing Cross. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southeastern.

Tunbridge Wells
National Rail
The platforms at Tunbridge Wells, looking south
General information
LocationRoyal Tunbridge Wells, Tunbridge Wells
England
Grid referenceTQ584392
Managed bySoutheastern
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeTBW
ClassificationDfT category C1
Key dates
20 September 1845first station opened[1]
25 November 1846present station opened
Passengers
2018/19Increase 3.839 million
 Interchange Decrease 41,681
2019/20Decrease 3.625 million
 Interchange Decrease 40,320
2020/21Decrease 0.736 million
 Interchange Decrease 7,440
2021/22Increase 2.097 million
 Interchange Increase 21,915
2022/23Increase 2.566 million
 Interchange Increase 72,163
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

History

edit
 
The platforms, looking north

The first station was a temporary terminus opened on 20 September 1845 situated north of Wells Tunnel. This closed when the line was extended to the present station which opened on 25 November 1846. It became a through station in 1851 when the line opened to Robertsbridge and a year later opened through to Hastings. The LBSCR line from Grove Junction to Tunbridge Wells (West) opened in 1867 for goods and 1876 for passenger. Immediately after becoming part of the Southern Railway in 1923 the station was named Tunbridge Wells Central.

Just beyond Grove Tunnel[clarification needed] at the south end of the station was Grove Junction, where trains took the single line branch to Tunbridge Wells West. The branch closed on 6 July 1985.

In 1985 preparation for electrification the platforms were rebuilt and the tracks were resignalled. Electric trains started running in 1986. The station again became just Tunbridge Wells.

Since 1974, the up side of the station only has been Grade II listed.[2]

Services

edit

All services at Tunbridge Wells are operated by Southeastern using Class 375, 465 and 466 EMUs.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:[3]

Additional services, including trains to and from and London Cannon Street and Ore call at the station in the peak hours.

Preceding station   National Rail Following station
Southeastern
Disused railways
High Brooms
Line and station open
  British Rail Southern Region
  Tunbridge Wells West
Line closed, station open
(Spa Valley Railway)
Terminus   British Rail Southern Region
 

References

edit
  1. ^ Southern Region Record by R.H.Clark
  2. ^ Historic England. "Tunbridge Wells Central Railway Station Up Side (1357467)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  3. ^ Table 206 National Rail timetable, December 2023
edit

51°07′48″N 0°15′47″E / 51.130°N 0.263°E / 51.130; 0.263