Location Reviews: Tonbridge
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turn right out of station then immediately right onto waterloo road continue until
you come to douglas road on right follow this road right to end.in the corner of cul de sac pass the bollards through narrow passage to footbridge over yard all locos parked up should be seeable distance approx 1/2 mile walking time 10/15 mins
we went by car double yellow lines & permit holders only but we parked on a small parking area on the right at the end of douglas road( no signs to say no parking )then 1min walk through passage to footbridge
Tonbridge is an interesting station with fourteen trains per hour off peak. This station is served mostly by 375s for longer distance services, 377s for Southern London Bridge services, 465s mainly for services to and from Tunbridge Wells and 466s for Medway Valley Line services.
A "Pumpkin" café is located on Platform 2 and the entrance/exit is accessed by the footbridge. We didn't get close to the yard on our visit, but we could see that there were a Class 73 and a couple of other units there.
This interesting location is well known for its yard west of the station, in addition to being at the point of four diverging routes. The station has been equipped with ticket barriers since privatisation, therefore a valid pass is needed to reach the platforms. However, the most interesting part of the railway scene at the location is 'Tonbridge West Yard', which can easily be reached by use of the roads adjacent to the station. A public footpath makes use of a lengthy bridge which crosses every track the yard consists of and is an ideal vantage point for viewing stock stored in the sidings, or watching trains using the Tonbridge to Redhill route. A spectacular view of Tonbridge Station's throat can be seen from the yard's footbridge and the beginning of the diverging route to Sevenoaks.
An ideal view westwards can be achieved simply by the use of the road bridge which the station building is located upon. The line to Tunbridge Wells can clearly be seen diverging from the main line to Ashford at this point.