Community Rail Network visit our Swale Rail Line
At the end of August we were joined by Karen Bennett Education and Youth Engagement Advisor at Community Rail Network and Luke Wood, Southeastern station manager for a trip along our Swale Rail Line.
Swale Rail is where Kent CRP began in 2003 and we have built strong connections with local communities, including schools, colleges and youth groups.
Beginning at Sittingbourne, we discussed collaborative projects with EKC Sheppey College, which have seen inclusive posters displayed at the station, positive mental health promotion on the overbridge steps, planters on the platforms and work experience opportunities.
That work has been continued by our current station adopters, the 4th Milton Regis (St Mary’s) Cubs, caring for the platform planters with plans to add artwork to the waiting room on platforms 2 and 3, and new whisky barrel planters for platform 1.
Sittingbourne had also been the starting point for the “Sheppey Shuttle”, launching the inaugral “Festival of Sheppey” this June.
We passed through the next two stations, discussing lessons learned from adding planting and sculptural art to Kemsley which did not withstand the elements and admiring the mural panels at Swale.
Next stop Queenborough, where Southeastern’s Mary-Jane welcomes the whole community to the station. Mary-Jane works collaboratively with station adopters, Queenborough and Rushenden in Bloom to add colour to the station’s outdoor spaces, increase biodiversity and instill community pride. Inside she sets aside space for children to be creative, making and colouring characters to become passengers in train displays. Queenborough always looks fabulous and welcoming.
Signaling problems led to a change of plan. With our onward service cancelled a planned tour of Sheereness town became a tour of Queenborough town and harbour, setting out how the community had celebrated the station’s 165th birthday as part of last year’s Railway 200 festivities, their recent Queenborough History Weekend and upcoming Classic Boat Festival.
Returning to the station and finding the disruption was ongoing, we chose the regular bus service to continue to Sheerness-on-Sea. With many more murals to view, planting from Neptune House and seasonal displays from EKC Sheppey College, the Community Rail influence was clear to see and talk about.
By now the Rail Replacement Bus Service was up and running, ready to take us back to Sittingbourne.
Discussions turned to what’s coming next. A new Platforms for Change rail safety projects with a different cubs group, a remembrance display from EKC Sheppey College for Sheerness-on-Sea, Sheppey Light Railway history panels for Queenborough and student art cabinets for EKS Sheppey Secondary celebrating Sheppey at every station on the line.
We would like to express our thanks to Karen for coming to see where the Community Rail magic happens, and to Luke and the Southeastern team for working closely with us to help community rail to flourish along the Swale Rail Line.
