PIONEERING work that is showcasing the very best in British civil engineering is how Transport Minister Dr Kim Howells has described the Strood tunnel project.

He said it was huge civil engineering job, that will see a trouble-dogged railway line between Strood and Higham transformed into one of the finest and safest in the world.

But bosses admitted it is coming at a price to local residents and commuters who will have to endure 10 more months of "major inconvenience".

Dr Howells visited the site to see how work was progressing. The tunnel is being closed for nearly a year as work is carried out to prevent further chalk falls on to the line between Strood and Higham.

After arriving by train, he pulled on wellington boots, jacket and hard hat to walk into the depths of the tunnel.

He said: "This project is revolutionary in many ways. We have gathered people from all over the country in order to have their expertise. Men have come to work on this project from other big projects such as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

"Britain is fast becoming known as a leading nation in civil engineering because of pioneering projects like this. We are using well-tried techniques but applying them in a way never done before.

"We are hoping to learn a lot from it and use the same methods if successful to other parts of Britain and indeed the world.

"At the end of it all, we will have a railway line that is fit for the 21st Century and one of the best lines in the world."

Network Rail's regional director Robin Gisby conceded the work was a major inconvenience for local residents and commuters however, he said: "This short sharp method was definitely the best way to get things done here."

Passenger trains are continuing to serve both Higham and Strood stations and a bus service is operating between the two.

South Eastern Trains are running a 'turn-up-and-go' bus service during peak hours and a service that co-ordinates with the timetable off peak.

For the duration of the engineering work a five per cent discount will be given to season ticket holders whose journeys would normally take them via the tunnel.