Tunbridge Wells & District Rail Travellers' Association.
Association Closing Down
With nobody coming forward to join the committee, the Association has take the decision to close down. Times have changed: there are other ways to interact with trains service management now, and with hybrid working being commonplace now, daily commuting is not the ensacable challenge of life that it used to be for most of us. This is not to say that there is no need for campaigning for improvements to our railway. Far from it: with changes brought on by political and economic factors, it is as important as ever for Kent commuters and other rail users to press for our share of resources. Our neighbours in Tonbridge are offering a warm welcome to any of our supporters who wish to join them, as we share the same interests. Although a membership fee is usually payable, we have arranged for supporters of our Association to receive an initial 3-year membership free of charge. This is an offer not to be missed! Eligibility will be broadly interpreted, and will include members of our mailing list, X followers and even ongoing visitors to this website. See the panel below for details.
Thank you for you support over the years.
Tonbridge Line Commuters
Introductory Free Membership Offer
Our friends in Tonbridge offer the following welcome to supporters of our Association:
Whilst we understand Peter and Martin’s decision, we are sad to lose a fellow rail user group. The railway could and should be so much better than it currently is and it’s going to take a significant effort to fix things. We need all the help we can get.
At Tonbridge Line Commuters, we share many of your concerns and issues. There are very few services that you have that don’t pass through our area. The Networker replacement is a key issue for us as our trains are well overdue a serious renewal. Ticket prices are too high, and the system is too complicated.
We are very keen for the Tonbridge to Redhill line to be extended to Gatwick.
We would also love Eurostar to return to stopping in Kent.
We take a very broad view of our remit and will contribute to national debates on rail matters. Whilst we do not currently have the committee strength to be able to take over High Brooms and Tunbridge Wells, we would be honoured if you wanted to join our group. As part of the wind up of TWDRTA, the residual funds are being transferred over to our campaign funds. As a supporter of TWDRTA, we will fund your membership of TLC for a period of 3 years (worth £12), by which time we hope you will become committed advocates for us and our work.
If you would like to join TLC, please sign up on our website www.tonbridgecommuters.org.uk, select 3 years and then choose to pay by BACS. This will then record your application but not need payment. Please then email membership@tonbridgecommuters.org.uk and quote that you are a member of TWDRTA and we'll credit your membership.
Organisations like ours thrive on volunteers and so if you would be interested in contributing to our committee and providing us with a presence for High Brooms and Tunbridge Wells, please get in touch and I would be very happy to explore this with you.
Tunbridge Wells Public Transport Forum – March 2025
The forum used the online format for the first meeting of this year and around twelve attendees were present. Presentations were made by, South Eastern, Kent County Council and our local bus operators. Network Rail were not present due to last minute sickness. Highlights as follows.
Martin Lewis confirmed that the TW Rail Association will cease to exist on the 31ST March and our slot at the forum would be taken over by Tonbridge Line Commuters (TLC) as one of their stations is Paddock Wood which lies in the Tunbridge Wells borough. He also explained that he would continue to attend the forum as agreed with TLC for this year before handing over to a TLC representative.
Network Rail updates
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No presentation as NR not present. ML to send separate email to James Read at TWBC who will forward any questions ahead of the next forum in the summer.
South Eastern
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Commuting has shown a small increase although the overall level remains below pre-pandemic levels and is expected to remain at this level at least in the short term. Off peak travel especially at weekends is strong.
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Punctuality: overall 84.6 percent in last period against a target of 90 percent but Hastings line only figure is 76.4 percent.
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Reliability: very strong again with only 2.3 percent of services cancelled in last period.
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A small number of our services have had or will have in May an increase in the number of carriages to reflect demand. Charing Cross to Tunbridge Wells services in the evening peak will be increased from eight to ten cars and the busy 1845 train from Charing Cross to Hastings will be increased from eight to twelve cars.
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A number of events are planned across the Network to mark the 200 years since the first passenger train (part of the Rail 200 programme).
Our questions
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The Association welcomed the introduction of additional capacity in the evening peak.
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The Association stressed again the need to continue to monitor passenger numbers on our line as some morning peak trains are very busy from Tunbridge Wells / High Brooms to London stations particularly services departing from TW between 0730 and 0830.
Kent County Council / Buses
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KCC developing plans around how to use bus improvement grants.
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Arriva – passenger numbers static on local services but still at least ten to twelve percent down on pre-pandemic levels. Some timetable tweaking on service 281 (High Brooms – Rusthall) to improve reliability.
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Concerns raised again about road works and their impact on bus services which impacts all operators. Some future road works noted and KCC will always liaise with local operators.
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Industry noted a fall in custom after the three pound max fare started in January.
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All parties keen to see more e-style ticketing and multi operator acceptance of tickets (Note: Nu Venture services are not part of the max fare scheme and charge commercial rates).
Tunbridge Wells Public Transport Forum – November 2024
The forum used the hybrid format for the first time this year and around twenty attendees were present either online or at the town hall. Speakers as usual were from Network Rail, South Eastern, Kent County Council and our local bus operators. Highlights as follows:
Network Rail updates
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Gatwick service – Tonbridge to Gatwick is the preferred option with an hourly service. No update on this but unlikely to happen anytime soon.
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High Brooms accessibility project – planned for the current five year Control Period which commenced in April 2024. Design incorporating two lift shafts and a new footbridge has been completed but we now await DfT sign off on funding for the construction phase. seems to a risk that, given the state of finances in government, could this be approved, not approved or de-scoped? Very much a watching brief.
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Hastings line – new Network Rail Mobile Response Manager (known as a MOM) is now based at Robertsbridge which should improve response times on our line when an incident /accident occurs (previously had to wait for someone to attend from Ashford or Hastings).
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Tonbridge station, although not part of our patch, is to be the first station in Kent to form part of a Network Rail strategic review taking into consideration the station itself, retail, bus connectivity, accessibility and housing development in the area.
South Eastern
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Four days in October and November had the highest number of passengers travelling into and out of London across the whole day since March 2020 but overall commute to work level remains static against pre-pandemic levels. Off peak travel on both Saturday and Sunday remains very strong.
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Punctuality: overall 85.3 percent in last period against a target of 90 percent but Hastings line only figure is 78.3.
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Reliability: very strong with only 2.3 percent of services cancelled in last period.
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TW station will get a repaint and High Brooms a deep clean.
Our questions
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The Association welcomed the return of TW starters/ finishes on Saturday mornings but concerned that there no pm provision and London Bridge, for example, can be very busy in the late afternoon and early evening. Definitely a disconnect between demand and supply (ML did acknowledge that some mainline trains at the weekend had been extended to twelve cars).
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The Association stressed the need to continue to monitor passenger numbers on our line as some morning and evening peak trains are very busy from Tunbridge Wells / High Brooms into and from London stations.
Kent County Council / Buses
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KCC acknowledged the report of a 24 million grant for bus provision but have currently no details.
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Arriva – passengers numbers up on local services but still not at pre-pandemic levels. No planned changes to service levels at this time.
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Routes 29 (TW – Brighton) and 291 (TW – Groombridge / East Grinstead) have both enjoyed increased patronage
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Concerns raised about short notice road works and their impact on bus services which impacts all operators.
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Industry keen to see what happens when the three pound max fare starts in January.
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Some recent timetabling issues for school services and the need improve liaison between KCC, TWBC and operators and of course local schools
AOB
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ML took the opportunity to advise the forum that a decision had been taken to wind up the association next March due to declining membership and a general lack of interest now that commuting for many people is only two or three days per week and was no longer a hot subject. ML explained that we were in discussion with the Tonbridge group (TLC) about the future and he would keep the forum updated next year through James Read at TWBC
Committee Members Needed
The Association's committee no longer has a member who travels regularly to London. If you would be interested in joining the committee, whether or not you commute, we would be interested in hearing from you at twdrta@outlook.com ! Even if you can spare as little as an hour a month, you still could make a valuable contribution.
Tunbridge Wells Public Transport Forum – July 2024
The forum continued with the online format for this meeting and twenty attendees were present. Speakers as usual were from Network Rail, South Eastern, plus several new councillors who were attending their first forum and our local bus operators. Kent County Council were not represented on this occasion. Highlights as follows:
Network Rail updates
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High Brooms accessibility project – planned for the current five year Control Period 7 which commenced in April 2024. Funding decision by the DfT still awaited and delayed because of the general election. Reading between the lines, the project funding could be approved, not approved or a reduced level awarded which would lead to a revised design ie reduction in scope – very much a watching brief.
- Hastings line – Kent and Sussex routes allocated £4.85bn for the current five year period. works to include embankment stabilisation, drainage in tunnels, improved power supply to Tunbridge Wells station and repairs to the canopy at High Brooms.
South Eastern
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Commute to work showing a small increase against pre-pandemic levels as some employers now mandating office attendance on least some days. Remains heavily focused on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Leisure travel volumes remain strong at weekends.
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June timetable revision – improvements from TW mainly around better spacing in the morning peak, some longer trains and three additional services between 0900-1030. Saturday morning TW starters have also returned to the timetable.
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Recruitment drive – SE have launched a new campaign to attract people to a railway career.
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Class 377 trains may be introduced on the TW services to replace the ageing Networker trains later this year.
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Procurement exercise to replacement Networkers is now underway.
Our questions
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The Association is very pleased to note the improvements in the June timetable especially the return of the TW starters on Saturdays although questioned why this is only between 0919 and 1219 rather than all day provision.
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The Association queried why the last weekday limited stop service from Charing Cross (1315 / 1410 at TW) now calls additionally at West St Leonards at 1441 when the nearby secondary school does not finish until 1510.
Buses
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Arriva – some service enhancements planned for routes 281 and 219.
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Nu-venture – road works in Goudhurst a point of concern.
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The two pound max fare scheme now extended to December.
Tunbridge Wells Public Transport Forum – March 2024
The forum continued with the online format for this meeting and twenty attendees were present. Speakers as usual were from Network Rail, South Eastern, Kent County Council, and our local bus operators. Highlights as follows.
Network Rail updates
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Gatwick service – Tonbridge to Gatwick is the preferred option with an hourly service. No start date advised.
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High Brooms accessibility project – planned for the next Control Period 7 commencing April 2024. Design incorporating two lift shafts and a new footbridge has been completed but we are still awaiting DfT sign off on funding. Approval or otherwise for this project should be known very soon.
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Hastings line – further track works, signalling and earth works planned over the next five years to improve the resilience of the line.
South Eastern
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Flexi ticket trial will be extended /digital season tickets now being rolled out.
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Commute to work level fairly static against pre-pandemic level and remains heavily focused on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. isure travel has remained solid with both Saturday and Sunday very strong.
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Automatic ticket machines (ATMs’) will be upgraded to support more ticketing options
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June this year – some timetable work planned to space out services more evenly from TW.
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Customer satisfaction levels improved to 87 percent.
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Thursday 15th February was the busiest single day since 2019 in terms of London bound travel.
Our questions
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The Association is keen to see the phased return of TW starters/ finishes on Saturday to reflect the increase demand for off peak travel.
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The Association stressed the need to monitor passenger numbers on our line as some morning peak trains are very busy and some employers are now mandating staff to be in their offices for at least part of the week.
Kent County Council / buses
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Arriva – advised that passenger numbers on local routes are now around 78 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
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Concerns raised about short notice road works and their impact on bus services which impacts all operators.
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Industry keen to see what happens when the two pound max fare scheme finishes in October.