Tonbridge railway station
Encyclopedia
Tonbridge railway station is a station serving the town of Tonbridge
in Kent, England. It is a junction between two important commuter routes; the South Eastern Main Line serving Ashford
, Ramsgate
and Dover
and the Hastings Main Line
serving Tunbridge Wells and Hastings
, as well as a branch to Redhill
. The station is operated by Southeastern
, and is serviced by trains operated by Southeastern and Southern
. There are 4 platforms, however platform 4 is only used occasionally in the peak times.
(SER) first reached Tonbridge (then known as Tunbridge) in 1842. The site of the original station was on the east side of the railway bridge. The building of the station obliterated the last remains of the Priory
. At the time, the line ran to London Bridge
via Croydon and Redhill using the Brighton Main Line
. It served as a temporary terminus until a couple of years later when the through line to Dover opened. On 20 September 1845, a branch to opened and the station was renamed as Tunbridge Junction. Over the next five years the branch was extended to Hastings
. The station was originally located on the eastern side of the road bridge, opposite to its current location to the west of the bridge. Access to the line to Hastings was via an indirect link which required a reversal. This arrangement lasted until 1857 when a steeply climbing direct route was opened.. The original station was demolished after closure but the entrance gateways are still situ. The downside entrance being in Vale Road opposite Sainsburys and up side entrance is in Priory Road forming the entrance to the car park.
However, being forced to share tracks with its rival, the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
, as well as competition from the London, Chatham and Dover Railway
meant that the SER decided to build a new route from London Bridge, which ran via and . The cut-off opened in 1868, and it joined the line at Tonbridge. This prompted a rebuild of the station, and it was rebuilt on its current site with four platforms. Soon after, an engine shed was built nearby. In May 1893, the station changed its name to Tonbridge Junction following the change in the towns' name to avoid confusion with the larger Tunbridge Wells. At this time, there were two through platforms, two through roads, and two bay platforms at the west end of the station. These platforms served the lines to Redhill and . The indirect line to Tunbridge Wells remained in use until c1913, after which it was closed and the track dismantled. By November 1919, the up platform station roof bore the name TONBRIDGE in white letters. This feature was a navigational aid for airliners of the time.
Under Southern Railway
, the station was renamed Tonbridge in July 1929. It was rebuilt in 1935, with the bay on the south side of the station converted to a through road. This entailed the construction of a new section of bridge under the road outside the station.
By May 1958, the brick station building fronting the main road
had been rebuilt with a tiled facade. The Sevenoaks to Dover line via Tonbridge was electrified in 1961 when improved train frequencies and faster journey times were introduced.
Tonbridge
Tonbridge is a market town in the English county of Kent, with a population of 30,340 in 2007. It is located on the River Medway, approximately 4 miles north of Tunbridge Wells, 12 miles south west of Maidstone and 29 miles south east of London...
in Kent, England. It is a junction between two important commuter routes; the South Eastern Main Line serving Ashford
Ashford, Kent
Ashford is a town in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. In 2005 it was voted the fourth best place to live in the United Kingdom. It lies on the Great Stour river, the M20 motorway, and the South Eastern Main Line and High Speed 1 railways. Its agricultural market is one of the most...
, Ramsgate
Ramsgate
Ramsgate is a seaside town in the district of Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century and is a member of the ancient confederation of Cinque Ports. It has a population of around 40,000. Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline and its main...
and Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
and the Hastings Main Line
Hastings Line
The Hastings Line is a railway line in Kent and East Sussex linking Hastings with the main town of Tunbridge Wells, and from there into London via Sevenoaks.-Openings:The line was opened by the South Eastern Railway in main three stages: – :...
serving Tunbridge Wells and Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
, as well as a branch to Redhill
Redhill railway station
Redhill railway station serves the town of Redhill, Surrey, England. The station is a major interchange point on the Brighton Main Line 21 miles south of London Victoria...
. The station is operated by Southeastern
Southeastern (train operating company)
London & South Eastern Railway Limited, trading as Southeastern is a train operating company in south-east England. On 1 April 2006 it became the franchisee for the new Integrated Kent Franchise , replacing the publicly owned South Eastern Trains on the former South East Franchise...
, and is serviced by trains operated by Southeastern and Southern
Southern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
. There are 4 platforms, however platform 4 is only used occasionally in the peak times.
History
The South Eastern RailwaySouth Eastern Railway (UK)
The South Eastern Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent...
(SER) first reached Tonbridge (then known as Tunbridge) in 1842. The site of the original station was on the east side of the railway bridge. The building of the station obliterated the last remains of the Priory
Tonbridge Priory
Tonbridge Priory was a priory in Tonbridge, Kent, England that was established in 1124. It was destroyed by fire in 1337 and then rebuilt. The priory was disestablished in 1523. The building stood in 1735, but was a ruin by 1780...
. At the time, the line ran to London Bridge
London Bridge station
London Bridge railway station is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex in the London Borough of Southwark, occupying a large area on two levels immediately south-east of London Bridge and 1.6 miles east of Charing Cross. It is one of the oldest railway stations in the...
via Croydon and Redhill using the Brighton Main Line
Brighton Main Line
The Brighton Main Line is a British railway line from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton. It is about 50 miles long, and is electrified throughout. Trains are operated by Southern, First Capital Connect, and Gatwick Express, now part of Southern.-Original proposals:There were no fewer...
. It served as a temporary terminus until a couple of years later when the through line to Dover opened. On 20 September 1845, a branch to opened and the station was renamed as Tunbridge Junction. Over the next five years the branch was extended to Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
. The station was originally located on the eastern side of the road bridge, opposite to its current location to the west of the bridge. Access to the line to Hastings was via an indirect link which required a reversal. This arrangement lasted until 1857 when a steeply climbing direct route was opened.. The original station was demolished after closure but the entrance gateways are still situ. The downside entrance being in Vale Road opposite Sainsburys and up side entrance is in Priory Road forming the entrance to the car park.
However, being forced to share tracks with its rival, the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey...
, as well as competition from the London, Chatham and Dover Railway
London, Chatham and Dover Railway
The London, Chatham and Dover Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1859 until the 1923 grouping which united it with other companies to form the Southern Railway. Its lines ran through London and northern and eastern Kent to form a significant part of the Greater London...
meant that the SER decided to build a new route from London Bridge, which ran via and . The cut-off opened in 1868, and it joined the line at Tonbridge. This prompted a rebuild of the station, and it was rebuilt on its current site with four platforms. Soon after, an engine shed was built nearby. In May 1893, the station changed its name to Tonbridge Junction following the change in the towns' name to avoid confusion with the larger Tunbridge Wells. At this time, there were two through platforms, two through roads, and two bay platforms at the west end of the station. These platforms served the lines to Redhill and . The indirect line to Tunbridge Wells remained in use until c1913, after which it was closed and the track dismantled. By November 1919, the up platform station roof bore the name TONBRIDGE in white letters. This feature was a navigational aid for airliners of the time.
Under Southern Railway
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
, the station was renamed Tonbridge in July 1929. It was rebuilt in 1935, with the bay on the south side of the station converted to a through road. This entailed the construction of a new section of bridge under the road outside the station.
By May 1958, the brick station building fronting the main road
A26 road
For the road in Northern Ireland see A26 road The A26 road is one of the three cross-country two-digit numbered roads in the southeast of England, the others being the A25 road and A27 road. It carries traffic from Maidstone in Kent in a generally south-westerly direction to Tunbridge Wells and...
had been rebuilt with a tiled facade. The Sevenoaks to Dover line via Tonbridge was electrified in 1961 when improved train frequencies and faster journey times were introduced.
Services
the typical off peak services from this station are:- 6tph (trains per hour) to London Charing CrossCharing Cross railway stationCharing Cross railway station, also known as London Charing Cross, is a central London railway terminus in the City of Westminster, England. It is one of 18 stations managed by Network Rail, and trains serving it are operated by Southeastern...
- 1tph to via RedhillRedhill railway stationRedhill railway station serves the town of Redhill, Surrey, England. The station is a major interchange point on the Brighton Main Line 21 miles south of London Victoria...
(operated by SouthernSouthern (train operating company)Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
) - 2tph to HastingsHastings railway stationHastings railway station is in Hastings in East Sussex, England. It is situated on the Hastings Line to Tunbridge Wells, the East Coastway Line to Brighton and the Marshlink Line to Ashford International....
via Tunbridge WellsTunbridge Wells railway stationTunbridge Wells railway station serves Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England. The station and all trains serving it are currently operated by Southeastern. It is located directly on the double-tracked electrified Hastings Line....
(one semi-fast, one slow) - 2tph to Tunbridge WellsTunbridge Wells railway stationTunbridge Wells railway station serves Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England. The station and all trains serving it are currently operated by Southeastern. It is located directly on the double-tracked electrified Hastings Line....
- 1tph to Dover PrioryDover Priory railway stationDover Priory railway station is the main station in Dover in Kent, with the other station being Kearsney situated on the outskirts of Dover. . All train services are provided by Southeastern...
and Canterbury WestCanterbury West railway stationCanterbury West railway station is one of two stations in Canterbury in Kent. It is north-northwest of the city centre. It is served by Southeastern....
(dividing at ) - 1tph to via Dover and Canterbury, dividing at Ashford
- 1tph to StroodStrood railway stationStrood Railway Station serves the town of Strood in Medway. It is on the North Kent Line and is a terminus for the Medway Valley Line. Train services are operated by Southeastern.-History:...
via and Maidstone WestMaidstone West railway stationMaidstone West railway station is one of three railway stations which serve the Town Centre of Maidstone, the County Town of Kent.It lies approximately halfway along the Medway Valley Line from Paddock Wood; from Strood) and train services are provided by Southeastern.- History :Due largely to...
Accidents
- In 1846, a bridge over the River MedwayRiver MedwayThe River Medway, which is almost entirely in Kent, England, flows for from just inside the West Sussex border to the point where it enters the Thames Estuary....
collapsed in a flood. The driver of a train was killed when he tried to jump clear of the train.
- On 5 March 1909, a train travelling towards RedhillRedhill railway stationRedhill railway station serves the town of Redhill, Surrey, England. The station is a major interchange point on the Brighton Main Line 21 miles south of London Victoria...
overran a signalSignal passed at dangerA Signal passed at danger , in British railway terminology, occurs when a train passes a stop signal without authority to do so. It is a term primarily used within the British Railway Industry, although it can be applied worldwide.-Categories of SPAD:...
and collided with the boat trainBoat trainA boat train is a passenger train which connects with a passenger ship, such as a ferry or ocean liner. Through ticketing is normally available. -Notable named boat trains:*The Flèche d'Or Paris Gare du Nord to Calais...
from Charing CrossCharing Cross railway stationCharing Cross railway station, also known as London Charing Cross, is a central London railway terminus in the City of Westminster, England. It is one of 18 stations managed by Network Rail, and trains serving it are operated by Southeastern...
to Dover. Two railway staff were killed and eleven passengers injured. A third train was prevented from crashing into the wreckage by the prompt actions of two travelling ticket inspectors. As a consequence of the accident, the Royal TrainRoyal TrainA royal train is a set of carriages dedicated for the use of the monarch or other members of that particular royal family. Most monarchies with a railway system employ a set of royal carriages.-Australia:...
carrying the KingEdward VII of the United KingdomEdward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
and QueenAlexandra of DenmarkAlexandra of Denmark was the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
was diverted at Chislehurst JunctionChislehurst JunctionChislehurst Junction is an important railway junction near Chislehurst in the London Borough of Bromley, England. It is the point where the South Eastern Main Line and the Chatham Main Line pass over each other, with diversion chords between each line...
to take a different route to DoverDoverDover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
.