£10m repairs shut train tunnels

Water leaking into one train tunnel is affecting service reliability

Rail tunnels connecting two Kent towns will be closed for four months from Saturday as part of a £10m overhaul.

The Martello, Shakespeare and Abbotscliffe tunnels, between Dover and Folkestone, are 160 years old and due for some major repairs.

South Eastern Trains commuters will have to use replacement shuttle buses until September 5, which will run every 15 minutes.

The work will include waterproofing and repairs to the tunnels' brickwork.

Network Rail's Ben Herbert said: "These tunnels were major feats of engineering when they were built by the Victorians."

'Improve performance'

He added that, because of their age, the tunnels are increasingly having to be closed for unscheduled repairs.

"As with any structure of that age, their condition is starting to deteriorate and it's affecting the reliability of that route between Folkestone and Dover."

As well as repairs to the structure of the tunnels, Mr Herbert said they will also be relaying some track "to improve the actual performance of the railway itself".

South Eastern Trains has chosen Buzzlines Coach Operators to provide a 20-minute replacement rail service between Folkestone Central and Dover Priory stations.

A spokesman for the train company said: "We are confident that this will be a quick and efficient service carrying up to 320 people an hour."