It crosses the Kent and East Sussex border, covering a distance of 5 miles (8 km), along the former Wealden Line between Tunbridge Wells Central and Lewes.

British Rail therefore, announced the proposed closure of the line (including Groombridge and Tunbridge Wells West stations) from 16 May 1983 which was later deferred after public objections.

The SVR has its origins in a charitable society formed on 13 September 1985, to purchase and reopen the Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge line.

Named the Tunbridge Wells and Eridge Railway Preservation Society (TWERPS), it began a long struggle to reopen the line.

Alongside the loco shed, a new platform was built, from where services began running to Cold Bath Bridge (about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) away) in December 1996.

In 2007, SVR marked the 10th anniversary of the opening of the line by transforming Groombridge into a busy interchange station, with trains arriving or departing every 15 minutes.

In August 2017, a special event (20th Birthday Bash) was held to celebrate 20 years since the reopening of the line to Groombridge, starring a variety of home and visiting locomotives, including BR Standard 4 Tank 80078.