In the new timetable starting Sunday 15 May Southeastern have added a minute to journeys between Sevenoaks and Hildenborough/Tonbridge. This is due to conditions in Sevenoaks Tunnel. We have been investigating.

Observant passengers may have noticed the number of yellow signs at the ‘country’ end of platforms 3 and 4 at Sevenoaks. These are “temporary” speed restrictions of 50 mph for trains passing through Sevenoaks Tunnel (that’s the tunnel immediately south of Sevenoaks). These speed restrictions are likely to be long-term, and that’s why Southeastern have added a minute to all journeys between Sevenoaks and Hildenborough/Tonbridge.

While this recognises reality, railway company performance is measured against the published timetable for the period, so it also conveniently means that neither Southeastern nor Network Rail will in future be penalised for the delay.

We have asked Network Rail to explain what is going on. They tell us that the long-standing problem with water in the tunnel and poor drainage has resulted in a poor rail condition, loss of rail depth and corrosion. Apparently there is a two year strategy in place to improve these conditions, including:

• brickwork repairs to the tunnel wall and shafts
• drainage renewal
• track renewal
• sleeper renewal and re-railing

Inevitably this is going to mean more weekend closures until the work finished at the end of October 2017. That will affect Sevenoaks travellers since, when the Sevenoaks to Tonbridge line is closed, there are often just two, slower, trains an hour from Sevenoaks to London at the weekend, as Ashford mainline trains are diverted via Maidstone East and Otford and Hastings and Tunbridge Wells trains are diverted via Redhill.

Other changes in the new timetable affecting our area are some longer off-peak trains on the Otford, Borough Green and Maidstone East line.