Rail modernisation on the cheap

When the railway line between Tonbridge and Hastings was electrified in 1986 one problem which had to be overcome was how to ensure the route would not need special stock to run the service. Prior to electrification special stock had to be provided as the tunnels on the route (apart from the ones at each end of Tunbridge Wells and St Leonards Warrior Square stations) were too narrow for trains to pass in the tunnels using standard size stock.

The problem was overcome by having only one track through the tunnels.  The 'modernised' signalling that was provided between Tunbrdge Wells and St Leonards consisted mostly of electric signals replacing the semaphore signals.  These two factors limit severely the number of trains which can be run and matters are not helped by the electrical installation only being adequate to power trains of up to eight carriages.  So to this day we have delays at Tunbridge Wells whilst trains are joined or split.