Trains between Hastings and Tunbridge Wells were suspended due to an unexpected safety inspection on Monday (August 31), a train operator said.

A spokesperson for Southeastern, which runs the services, said a ‘track defect’ was reported near Stonegate, on the line towards Hastings so the line was blocked until safety checks could be carried out.

As a result no trains between Tunbridge Wells and Hastings could run, with disruption expected to last until the late afternoon.

The company issued an update on X (formerly Twitter) at 12.35pm. It said: “Further staff are required at Stonegate before the line can reopen, and we expect them to arrive by approximately 1.15-1.30pm. We are working to arrange replacement buses to run between Tunbridge Wells and Hastings.”

In another tweet on X just before 1.35pm, Southeastern said the line had reopened.

It said: “The line has reopened at Stonegate and trains are on the move towards Hastings. You can now travel again, but your journey may take up to two hours longer than planned. Disruption is expected until at least 4pm.”

It posted another tweet just before 2.35pm, which said: “Earlier safety inspection #Stonegate. Trains are able to run again at reduced speed. Disruption expected to continue until 4.30pm. Replacement buses operating between Tunbridge Wells and Hastings.”

Just before 4.25pm, it posted another tweet saying the problem had been fixed and train services were returning to normal following the safety inspection.