Our Partnership
Our Community Rail Lines
There are three Kent Community Rail Lines in our partnership. The Swale Rail Line where the partnership began in 2003, adding the Medway Valley Line in 2005 and Kent Downs Line in 2020. All three lines are operated by Southeastern.
Kent Community Rail Partnership has been hosted by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust since April 2014. Both Kent County Council and Medway Council provide valuable support.
Kent Community Rail Partnership is Department for Transport accredited, ensuring that it operates to high standards of governance and financial propriety; adopts a collaborative approach; is worthy of trust by others; and is considered by Government to be a good representative of the local community. The DfT mandates us to provide a voice for the community; promote sustainable and healthy travel; bring communities together, supporting diversity and inclusion; and to support social and economic development.
Generally speaking, community rail partnerships exist on lines unlikely to attract major investment from the rail industry, but the success of the partnerships often leads to greater resources being deployed by the rail companies and others.
The Four Pillars of Community Rail
The Kent Community Rail Partnership brings together widely varied partners, delivering social, economic and environmental benefits to the communities served by rural and secondary rail services.
Kent CRP improves community links with rail operators and initiates projects that make rail services more attractive to residents and visitors alike.
Our Structure
Chris Fribbins is the Chairman of our Partnership. He has been a member of the Kent Community Rail Partnership since it was formed. He was appointed Chair in April 2019, having been Vice Chair prior to this. Chris also represented the Rail Passenger Committee, managing Swale Rail before the adoption of the Medway Valley Line. Chris is also an active member of the RailFuture group.
Chris leads our Steering group, who are made up from representatives of the rail industry, county, borough and parish councillors and members of the communities served by our lines.
Chair of the Kent Community Rail Partnership:
Chris Fribbins
Vice Chair of the Kent Community Rail Partnership:
Tom Shelley
The Medway Valley Line which runs between Tonbridge and Strood via Maidstone West.
Its 14 stations are:
Strood, Halling, Cuxton, Snodland, New Hythe, Aylesford, Maidstone Barracks, Maidstone West. East Farleigh, Wateringbury, Yalding, Beltring, Paddock Wood, and Tonbridge.
Swale Rail is the Sittingbourne to Sheerness branch line.
Its 5 stations are:
Sheerness on Sea, Queenborough, Swale, Kemsley, and Sittingbourne.
Kent Downs Line
The Kent Downs Line runs form Ashford International to Otford. This line joins up with two other Community Rail Partnerships, Southeast CRP at Ashford with the Marshlink Line and The Darenth Valley CRP at Otford.
Its 12 stations are:
Ashford, Charing, Lenham, Harrietsham, Hollingbourne, Bearsted, Maidstone East, Barming, East Malling, West Malling, Borough Green and Wrotham, and Kemsing.
Chair of the Medway Valley Line:
Paul Harper
Vice Chair of the Medway Valley Line:
Vacant
Chair of the Swale Rail Line:
Linda Brinklow
Vice Chair of the Swale Rail Line:
Jonathan Fryer
Chair of the Kent Downs Line:
Clive English
Vice Chair of the Kent Downs Line:
Vacant
Annual Report 2024-2025
Annual Report 2023-2024
Annual Report 2022-2023
Annual Report 2021-2022
Annual Report 2019-2021
Why not take a closer look at what we have been doing by viewing our latest newsletter.
Kent CRP would like to thank all our volunteers, station adopters and members who help us throughout the year. We work alongside our partners and engage our communities in projects and events near to our stations. We often receive recognition for the impact of our projects, events and activities, which are celebrated at the annual Community Rail Awards.
Our success would not be possible without the support of our community partners.
The Kent Community Rail Partnership has been hosted by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust since 2014.
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust are the charity making it possible for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle, safely, healthily and joyfully. Because changing how we travel changes everything.
Combining walking, wheeling and cycling with public transport enables people to make longer journeys sustainably. The railway does more than just get us from A to B, it connects us to the things that matter most.
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust is a registered charity in the UK no. 326550 (England and Cymru), SC039263 (Scotland) and 20206824 (Republic of Ireland).
