Annual Stakeholder Event, 27th April 2026

Two roller banners promoting Kent Community Rail Partnership in Maidstone Town Hall. Beyond them people are seated listening to a presentation

We were delighted to welcome our stakeholders, partners, members and volunteers to our Annual Stakeholder Event, on Monday 27th April at Maidstone Town Hall.

The event provides an opportunity to showcase our achievements to our stakeholders, and to celebrate the contributions of our volunteers.

The Value of Community Rail

Colin Burcombe, Community Rail Support Officer, Community Rail Network

We were delighted to be joined by Colin Burcombe, who gave a presentation reminding us of how we are a part of the wider Community Rail Network.

There are 76 Community Rail Partnerships and over 1,200 station adoption groups making a difference to people’s lives up and down the country. Community Rail is about people and places, using the four pillars of Community Rail to bring together diversity and variety from the different communities each partnership serves.




Kent CRP 2025-26

Clare Dowling, Senior Project Manager, Walk Wheel Cycle Trust

Clare talked us through the successes of the last twelve months, with over 2,600 volunteer hours contributed to help community rail to flourish along our lines. 78 events, 31 station birthdays marked, growth in passenger numbers and positive feedback from participants and stakeholders.

 

Participants in our Motability funded Travelling with Confidence project with SEN schools reported increases in their confidence planning and making journeys, resilience if things go wrong on a journey and knowlege of how to get assistance.

 

Our Annual Report demonstrates that our work is impact led and evidence based.

Clare presenting to the audience at our Annual Stakeholder Event

Volunteer Recognition

Chris Fribbins, Chair Kent CRP

It was great to have a room full of enthusiastic and passionate volunteers and stakeholders to celebrate the successes of the year, and recognise those who have made it happen.

Chris highlighted Dominic Noades “Outstanding contribution to Community Rail” award at the national Community Rail Awards 2026.

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Our Volunteer of the Year award for 2025/26 went to Linda Brinklow, outgoing volunteer Chair of our Swale Rail Line, in recognition of her pivotal role in bringing the community together for Railway 200 celebrations in Swale. Linda was also presented with a framed print to mark her two terms in office as volunteer Chair of our Swale Rail Line and over 20 years dedication to Kent CRP.



Celebrating in Style, Railway 200 on the Isle of Sheppey

Linda Brinklow, Chair Swale Rail Line

Linda gave a fabulous account of our Railway 200 centred activities across the Swale Rail Line.

 

Plans to celebrate Queenborough station’s 165th birthday in July and the Island’s railways in September grew in scale as they captured the imagination of local communities.

 

Queenborough School and Nursery, Southeastern, Castle Connections, Queenborough Town Council, Queenborough Guildhall Museum, The Big Fish performance Group, Lucky Moyo African drummer, Sheppey Community Cycle Club and many more became involved, bringing diversity, fun and joy to the celebrations and expanding their scope with town tours, museum exhibitions and educational sessions.

 

The September Heritage day followed a similar course, bringing diverse people and organisations together to celebrate the Island’s railways. Linda praised everyone involved, particularly former line officer Vicky Wright, whose enthusiasm and energy overcame all obstacles.

 

The impact was such that the activities were shortlisted for a Railway 200 Legacy Award at the Community Rail Awards 2026.

South Eastern Railway Updates

Matt Fraser, Community Relations Manager – Southeastern

Matt provided information on the latest technologies that help detect issues and allow intervention before they cause disruption; train-borne equipment to monitor the conductor rails, new vegetation management machines, use of drones to track tresspassers and a host of other innovations.

 

Upcoming improvements to the Kent Downs Line will require a line closure from 23rd May – 31st May, the works will increase the resilience of day-to-day services on the line. A variety of new serices being introduced in May and December between Maidstone East, Ashford and London terminals will have benefits for many of the major stations along the line.

December timetable changes will see two trains per hour all day, seven days per week on Swale Rail, something the line group has long been asking for and that will make rail journeys much more attractive to locals and visitors.

Close

Chris Fribbins

Chris closed by thanking everyone for the role they have played in Kent CRP’s success, the need to work together in partnership to help Community Rail to flourish along our lines is greater now than ever before.

 

There are changes ahead to how Community Rail will be funded, with Local Government Reform and the formation of Great British Railways. We must be ready to overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities that change will bring.

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