The Rural Community Council For Kent and Medway
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Medway Valley Line
The Medway Valley Line runs from Strood in North Kent down to Paddock Wood in the Weald of Kent. It connects at each end with the main rail network, each junction offering onward journeys to London and the Kent Coast. From December 2009 good connections are provided at Strood to and from High Speed services to Ebbsfleet, Stratford and St Pancras.
Maidstone West sits almost centrally along the line and to the north the line is mainly urban and industrial in nature. To the south it is predominantly rural, closely following the course of the River Medway as far as Yalding.
Off peak on weekdays and all day Saturdays, an hourly service operates from Maidstone West to Tonbridge and a half hourly service from Maidstone West to Strood. On Sunday an hourly service throughout applies. Click here for the current timetable.
The line retains a heritage feel about it, with many of the original station buildings (now listed) remaining in situ, along with traditional signal boxes and manual crossing gates. Apart from Maidstone West, all intermediate stations are currently unstaffed.
Local Attractions
- Strood - Closest station to Rochester Castle & Cathedral as well as Upnor Castle.
- Cuxton - North Downs Way and Ranscombe Farm Reserve
- Snodland - Holborough Marshes Nature Reserve
- New Hythe - Leybourne Lakes Country Park
- Aylesford - The Friars
- Maidstone West & Barracks - Maidstone Carriage Museum, River Boat rides, Town centre shops, cinemas and theatres. Medway Valley Walk and Millennium River Park
- East Farleigh - Medway Valley Walk
- Wateringbury - Medway Valley Walk
- Yalding - Teapot Island, Yalding Gardens , Medway Valley Walk
- Beltring - Paddock Wood Hop Farm (long walk)
- Paddock Wood - Paddock Wood Hop Farm (Free bus connection)
For more information on how to reach local attractions go to John Hewes "Visit By Train" website. He currently has details and maps of the areas around Aylesford, Beltring, Maidstone West & Barracks, Snodland, Strood and Yalding stations on the Medway Valley Line. He also has details for many other stations in Kent
Local Events
Saturday
4th September East Malling Beer and Cider Festival.
11am at East Malling Research Centre. More than 70 real ales and ciders, food
and entertainment. There is an hourly shuttle bus to and from Aylesford and
West Malling stations. Buses leave Aylesford each hour from 10.26. More
details from maidstoneandmidkentcamra.co.uk
And don’t forget – with Group Travel, 3 or 4 people travelling together go for the price of two! (Terms and Conditions apply)
Walking in the Medway Valley
The Rail Partnership is working with the Medway Valley Countryside Partnership to encourage access to the local countryside, particularly by train. Several new walk leaflets have just been published (August 2008) and describe walks that can be easily reached from Medway Valley Line stations. You can download the leaflets of some of the walks below, together with leaflets aimed at youngsters to help them spot local wildlife and features.
- Walk: Wateringbury Station to Teston Bridge and return.
- Walk: Yalding Station circular walk via Nettlestead Green
- Spotters Leaflet: Wildlife
- Spotters Leaflet: Heritage
For more information on the Medway Valley Countryside Partnership click here.
The North Downs Way Lost Landscapes Project has also produced a very informative leaflet describing a circular walk starting from Cuxton Station. You can download this Local Heritage leaflet here.
"Valley of Visions"
"Valley of Visions" is a landscape partnership scheme that aims to conserve and enhance the heritage landscapes and biodiversity of the Medway Gap - the area of the Medway Valley from Allington Lock to the mouth of the river.
With five Medway Valley Line stations within the area, the Community Rail Partnership
will work with "Valley of Visions" to help promote sustainable access to the local countryside.
Click on the image above for more details of the events being organised by "Valley of Visions" or click on www.valleyofvisions.org.uk to go to their website.
The following events can be easily accessed from Medway Valley Line stations;
History and Local Lore of Ranscombe Farm
Ranscombe Farm, Cuxton.
Saturday 15th August
Embark on a summer stroll and hear some fascinating stories of Ranscombe's past from local resident Ken Law. Starts at the car park off the A228, north of Cuxton. Booking required. Contact the reserve warden on 07983 578201 or email ben.sweeney@plantlife.org.uk.
Friars Guided Tour
Aylesford Priory
Thursday 26th August, 3pm.
A fascinating guided tour around The Friars, an ancient religious house of the Order of the Carmelites dating back toi the 13th century. 1 hour tour. Disabled access. Booking required. Contact Valley of Visions on 01634 242826.
Nightime Walk
Leybourne Lakes Country Park
Saturday 4th September. 8.30pm
A walk for all of the family to investigate the night time wildlife at Leybourne Lakes. For families with accompanied children. Donations appreciated. Led by Medway Valley Countryside Partnership. Booking required. Contact Medway Valley Countryside Partnership on 01622 683695.
Nightime Walk
Leybourne Lakes Country Park
Friday 10th September. 8.30pm
A walk for all of the family to investigate the night time wildlife at Leybourne Lakes. For families with accompanied children. Donations appreciated. Led by Medway Valley Countryside Partnership. Booking required. Contact Medway Valley Countryside Partnership on 01622 683695.
Moth Trapping Event
Holborough Marshes (Snodland)
Saturday 11th September, 7pm.
A chance to see some of our fascinating nocturnal moths and learn more about how to attract and see them in your own garden. Moth traps will be running, so you can spot moths arriving and try your hand at naming them with the help of staff. Maximum 2 hours. Booking required. Contact Valley of Visions on 01634 242826.
Exploring Strange Lands: the Medway Valley Prehistoric Landscape Project
Holmesdale Technology College, Malling Road, Snodland, ME6 5HS
Tuesday 14th September, 7.30pm.
The Medway Megaliths, consisting of at least six stone built neolithic tombs, have long been a mysterious, much debated but little understood feature of the local landscape. This talk by Paul Garwood, Birmingham University lecturer in Prehistory, will describe what we know about these enigmatic structures, including the results of new fieldwork and what they tell us about the early farming communities of six thousand years ago. Booking required. Contact Valley of Visions on 01634 242826.
Photographing Heritage and Architecture for Beginners
Snodland Town Council Chambers.
Wednesday 15th September
Taught by a professional photographer, this course will cover how to photograph standing buildings, the potential pitfalls and how to avoid them. Aimed at beginners with either compact digital or first SLR cameras who wish to learn more about hey they can successfully capture with basic equipment. This course supports the Medway Mosaic project, but is suitable for anyone with an interest in heritage, even complete beginners. Booking required. Contact Valley of Visions on 01634 242826.
The Community Rail Partnership
Since the Medway Valley Line was established in 2005 the Partnership has been succesful in raising the profile of the line, both with the public, but also with the rail industry. Many improvements have been made to stations with new seating, better shelters and improved customer information systems.
Timetables and leaflets are now available from shops, post offices and libraries in communities served by the line. Community noticeboards have been installed at all stations.
Recently the old yard at East Farleigh has been resurfaced and turned into a car park for about 40 vehicles and two large pieces of artwork have been installed at Maidstone West. Designed by students at the Maidstone Campus of the University for the Creative Arts, they really brighten up the booking hall and platforms.
Thumbnails of the two pieces of artwork are below. Click onto the thumbnails to download larger versions.
Medway Valley Line Newsletters
You can download copies of our newsletters as "pdf" files by clicking on the dates. Many thanks to Southeastern who have generously printed the four most recent newsletters on our behalf.
- Spring 2010 - Improved MVL services. Green wagon. Destination Tonbridge.
- Spring 2009 - Maidstone West artwork. Medway Valley Walks. "Valley of Visions"
- Winter 2007/08 - MVL Service "Designation". Passenger Focus. Wateringbury Junior School.
- Spring 2007 - New Line Guide. "The Victory" Special Offer. Snodland Festival. East Farleigh.
- Autumn 2006 - MVL150 Event on 18th June. Music Train. Paddock Wood Buffet. Goodbye to Class 508's.
- Spring 2006 - Introduction to the Line Partnership. Who's Who. New leaflets. Govia win franchise.
Bus Connections
Details of connecting bus services can now be found here or by clicking on the image below.
For more information about the Medway Valley Line Community Rail Partnership, please contact either Nigel Whitburn or Ian Paterson on 01303 813790.