Cycle Rails installed on our Kent Downs Line stations With support from Southeastern and funding from the Community Rail Network Integrated Sustainable Transport Fund, Kent County Council and Ashford Borough Council, cycle rails have been added to the footbridges of six stations along our Kent Downs Line.   Cycle rails make it a little easier…

Southeastern Stakeholder Forum, 15th November 2024 We were delighted to accept an invitation to attend the Southeastern Alliance Stakeholder Forum on Friday 15th November, to hear updates and announcements from Southeastern and Network Rail. Our North StarsSteve White, Managing Director, Southeastern The change of Government has brought a new view of the importance of rail…

Platforms for Change with Sittingbourne Cubs Give the Train a Try Travel Training Experience, 23rd September. Platforms for Change is a nation wide initiative connecting local Scout Groups with Community Rail and learning to travel safely when using the rail network. On the evening of Monday 23rd September, the 4th Milton Regis Cub Pack visited…

Neil Baker, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Kent County Council, hosted the 2024 Kent Rail Summit.   This was the 16th Kent County Council Rail Summit since they began in 2010, providing stakeholders an opportunity to understand what improvements are being worked on to help make rail journeys better. The summit was also an opportunity…

Charing to Hollingbourne Cycle Route Audit, 17th September. Working in collaboration with Visit Maidstone, Explore Kent and North Downs Way National Trail, Kent Community Rail Partnership are considering diversifying their guided walks to also offer guided wheels in the Kent Downs National Landscape.  Guided wheels can include cycle rides, mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs.  Together…

Heritage Open Days Guided Walk. Lenham to Hollingbourne, 11th September. Working in collaboration with Visit Maidstone, Explore Kent and North Downs Way National Trail, Kent Community Rail Partnership are guiding walks through the Kent Downs National Landscape.  Together we aim to bring more sustainable tourism to the area and extend the typical summer tourist season…

Heritage Open Days Guided Walk. Wateringbury to Yalding, 10th September. 14 walkers met the Kent Community Rail Partnership team at Wateringbury station for a 4.5 mile guided walk through beautiful countryside to Yalding, inspired by our Hills and Hoppers Rail Trail.   After crossing the railway the group followed a climbing footpath for magnificent views…

Bikes on Trains Experience for Sheppey Community Cycle Club   Earlier this year we began talking with Sheppey Community Cycle Club about how we could get involved in their Big Bike Revival work.   The answer was obvious, deliver a Bikes on Trains Experience to show their members how easy it can be to take a regular…

Southeastern launches ‘EnterTrainMent Week’ for families travelling on highspeed services For the first time, Southeastern has partnered with a ‘toyologist’ and play experts to give customers travelling on selected highspeed services this week a very special journey.   ‘EnterTrainMent’ runs through the first week of August and includes a fantastic selection of games for customers to…

Department for Transport confirms our Accredited Community Rail Partnership status. We are delighted to announce that the Department for Transport has renewed their accreditation of the Kent Community Rail Partnership. Accreditation is formal recognition by the DfT that Kent Community Rail Partnership operates to a high standard and that its objectives and activities are supported…

Maidstone River Festival, 27th July 2024 Following an invitation from the Rotary Club of Maidstone, we set up a promotional stall in the gardens of the Archbishop’s Palace at the Maidstone River Festival. We had leaflets for Railcards, Accessible Travel Services, walking and cycling maps of Maidstone Town Centre, a wide range of walks from…

Snodland Allotment – July Update An unexpected surprise was waiting for us at Snodland station earlier this month, when we updated the Newsletters in our station noticeboards.   The allotment site behind the Maidstone bound platform has been cleared by Network Rail well ahead of schedule and a new secure fence line erected in place…