Would a direct rail link between Tonbridge and Gatwick benefit you?
I’m campaigning for a rail connection to Gatwick and I hope you will join me. For too long we have suffered much of the downside but little of the advantages of being near one of the UK’s major airports. That should now change.
The connection from Tonbridge to Gatwick was removed in 2008 when the then-Labour Government made changes to the rail network across the south of England which led to direct rail services between Kent and Gatwick being stopped. This was despite 11% of Gatwick’s passengers coming from Kent, around 3 million trips per year at the time.
Over the past 16 years Gatwick has continued to grow, there has been no new infrastructure to help with journeys between Kent and the Airport, and increasing rail competitiveness. With population growth in Kent the market is only getting bigger for a direct rail link.
For all this time, including all the time I have been MP for Tonbridge, Edenbridge and the surrounding villages, we have been campaigning to reinstate this direct train link. It’s been difficult though, especially as the service on the Tonbridge-Redhill line has declined over recent years – first with the loss of the direct trains to London Victoria before the pandemic, and the removal of the third unit since.
However I have continued to press Network Rail and am grateful that they have been working on a document which asks – “Is there a rail case to reinstate direct rail services between Gatwick Airport, Tonbridge and beyond?”. I have met with Network Rail to discuss their findings, which you can read this here.
You will see that Network Rail investigate multiple options, including stopping trains, trains which go direct between Tonbridge, Edenbridge, Redhill and Gatwick, and also extending the service to Maidstone West or Ashford International. The analysis has shown that there is a clear case for a Tonbridge-Gatwick service with ‘no infrastructure barriers to service introduction’. Network Rail subsequently conclude that ‘an hourly Tonbridge-Gatwick service is credible and appropriate’. The preferred option would also include stops at Leigh, Penshurst and Edenbridge stations and, critically, this would work even without Gatwick’s damaging expansion proposals.
This is now the moment in which we need to work together. As a community, we need to demonstrate why a direct rail service between Tonbridge and Gatwick, stopping at Leigh, Penshurst and Edenbridge will make such a difference to our community.
That’s why I am asking for you to register your support with me. Please do complete the form and share with me your details, as well as reasons why you think this would make such a difference for our community.
The next stage will be to work alongside GTR, as the rail operator, and Department for Transport to make this a reality. But I will only be able to do this with your support. I would be grateful for your support and that of your friends and neighbours too.