A Kent MP claims there has been a lack of information given about improvement work to the railway between Tonbridge and Hastings, which begins this evening.

Tonbridge and Malling MP, Tom Tugendhat, says he will approach Southeastern and Network Rail to discuss the length of works on the line, which passes through Tunbridge Wells.

This evening engineers will start replacing worn-out components and rail on a busy section of the route and begin maintaining the earthworks and signalling systems.

However, it will mean changes to train services on Monday and Tuesday late evenings from today.

Trains that leave London and Hastings after 9pm on those days will be replaced by buses for the parts of their journeys between Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Wadhurst until at least May.

Network Rail’s route managing director for the south east, Alasdair Coates, said: “Our railway is booming and many lines are as busy on weekends as they are during the week. To keep trains running reliably we have to continue with our Railway Upgrade Plan to replace worn-out track and other equipment, but we also know that passengers want to travel by train on a Saturday and Sunday.

“We have worked with Southeastern on a plan to continue our improvement work on the Hastings line overnight on Mondays and Tuesdays, when evening trains are at their quietest – and considerably quieter than at weekends.

“There is no good time to do this work and it is almost impossible to do so without impacting on passengers – however I’m confident that this will plan keep the railway open as long as possible, while also improving journeys for everybody.”

Speaking to the KM Mr Tugendhat said: "Passengers do not feel informed and I will be writing to Southeastern to find out exactly why they feel it necessary to implement this course of action for such a long time.

"There is limited room for rail replacement buses by Tonbridge Station and I hope that this will not cause misery for residents attempting to go home. I will be seeking assurances from Southeastern that disruption will be minimised."

Richard Dean, train services director at Southeastern, said: “Network Rail has asked to take possession of this route from this time on Monday evening to carry out vital engineering work and we have agreed as we are assured it will mean less work taking place at the weekend.

“We appreciate this will inconvenience those who travel on this line after 9pm on a Monday or Tuesday evening and we apologise for that, but this will impact on a much lesser number of passengers than if this happened on a Saturday or Sunday."

Maintenance work on the route that will take place overnight on Mondays and Tuesdays will include work on the trackbed, drainage, embankments and cuttings, the signalling system, and replacing worn out rail and other components.

For details of train times please visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.southeasternrailway.co.uk