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 Organic Centre , 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
28th March New Hythe Station Walk (Free) 01732 847415
Leave 2.15pm, arrive back around 4.30pm
A circular flat walk via riverside to Snodland, returning via Leybourne Lakes.
Around 3 miles. Leader: David Thornewell
1st – 3rd May Sweeps Festival 01634 843666
Mix of music, morris dance and entertainment
Alight at Strood and cross river bridge to Rochester
1st May - 3rd May Kent County Fair 01622 872068
The Hop Farm Beltring
Family Entertainment, country pursuits/activities
Alight at Paddock Wood Station – Arriva Bus 6 to Hop Farm
4th – 6th June Dickens Festival 01634 843666
Festival of music, dance, drama and street theatre
Alight at Strood and cross river bridge to Rochester.
6th June Cuxton Station Walk (Free) 01634 718895
Leave 10.00am, arrive back around 12.30. (Take own drink)
Optional Pub visit at end of walk (White Hart).
Undulating walk over fields and through woods. Not suitable for pushchairs.
Around 4.5 miles, taking in part of North Downs Way.
Leader : Peter Green.
12th - 26th June Medway Fuse Festival 01634 338338
Free street and venue Arts Festival
Alight at Strood Station or change for Rochester/Chatham
Mid June to mid July International Festival of Music and Dance
Maidstone
Alight at Maidstone West and cross bridge to town
21st – 25th July War and Peace Show 01622 872068
The Hop Farm, Beltring
Largest Military Vehicle Action Spectacular in the world.
Alight at Paddock Wood. Then Arriva Bus 6 to Hop Farm
31st July Maidstone River Festival
To Be Confirmed
Alight at Maidstone West
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 thumbnail on the right 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;
Night Skywatch – Spring
Thurs 18th March, 7pm, Ranscombe Farm (Cuxton)
When the skies are clear, have you ever wondered what you are looking at in the night sky? This workshop will provide the answers as we explore the wonders of the night skies, as well as giving an introduction to small telescopes, binoculars and
their use. Please bring a torch covered with a red film (such as a red plastic folder) as this enables you to still find your way but not affect your ‘night eyes’. Approx 2 hours. Minimum age 10 years. Wear warm clothes.
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.