Heritage railway begins campaign to replace bridge

Volunteers are being sought to help keep trains rolling on a heritage railway line which operates in Kent and Sussex.

The Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, needs to replace Broom Lane Bridge, between High Rocks and Groombridge, East Sussex, because it has become corroded.

To cover the estimated £300,000 cost, a series of events is being organised.

The first will be a five-mile sponsored walk through the High Weald, with a return train journey from Groombridge, on 2 February.

General manager Jonnie Pay said: "We were presented with two options: repair the corroding metal work or replace it with a brand new one. It became clear replacing the bridge was the most cost-effective solution.

"While repairing the affected areas is possible, it would only temporarily extend the bridge's life and potentially cost the same, if not more, than constructing a new one.

"We know a bridge isn't glamorous, but without it, we might be unable to run trains over the entire length of our railway."

The Spa Valley runs trains on a five-mile stretch of track between Tunbridge Wells and West Eridge.

The sponsored walk, which has been named Stride the Line, will begin at Tunbridge Wells West station at 09:30 GMT, and will go to Groombridge via Birchden Junction.

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