The Rural Community Council For Kent and Medway
you are in: Our Work
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. 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. 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.
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.
From Monday 23rd May 2011 High Speed services to and from St Pancras also serve Maidstone West station during morning and evening peak hours on Mondays to Fridays.
Above: Councillor Chris Garland, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council, Helen Grant MP and Charles Horton, Managing Director of Southeastern waiting to board the first High Speed service from Maidstone West.
Click here to see the first HS service departing from Maidstone West - 23rd May 2011
(To see this movie you will need to have "Quicktime" installed.)
Local Attractions
- Strood - Stroll across Rochester Bridge and visit the historic High Street, Rochester Castle and the Cathedral. Closest station to Rochester Castle & Cathedral as well as Upnor Castle.
- Cuxton - Enjoy walks in Ranscombe Farm Park, a short walk from the village. The White Hart
pub at the end of Station Road serves food and drink. The North Downs Way is close by. - Halling - Pleasant riverside walks are just 5 minutes from the station.
- Snodland - Holborough Marshes Nature Reserve and riverside walks are only 5 minutes from the station. Take the historic town trail.
- New Hythe - Just a short walk from the station is the Leybourne Lakes Country Park, home to a range of leisure activities including walking, cycling, fishing, windsurfing, scuba diving and bird
watching. Refreshments are usually available at weekends, Bank Holidays and daily during school holidays. - Aylesford - The old village is about 10 minutes walk from the station via a 14th century stone bridge and offers several pleasant pubs and restaurants. There are a number of interesting walks around the village and beyond. The Friars Carmelite Monastery can be visited and is on the edge of the village.
- Maidstone West & Barracks - Maidstone Carriage Museum, River Boat rides, Town centre shops, cinemas and theatres. Medway Valley Walk and Millennium River Park
- East Farleigh - Situated close to the river, nearby locks allow the opportunity to watch boating traffic. The Medway Riverside Walk can be accessed here and it is possible to walk to Maidstone or Wateringbury and Yalding. There are two nearby pubs, The Victory, right outside the station and The Bull which is at the top of the hill on the other side of the river.
- Wateringbury - The station is almost on the river bank and gives ready access to the riverside walk. A number of other circular walks are also available. Opposite the station is The Railway pub which offers food.
- Yalding - The station is about 1 mile from the pretty village of Yalding. The village can be reached via a pleasant riverside walk that passes Yalding Lock, Yalding Village Cafe and
Yalding Weir. At the weir can be found The Anchor pub and the Island cafe and gift shop
that incorporates a handmade teapots workshop, Teapot Island. About 2 miles from the station is Yalding Gardens, 5 acres of organic gardens recreating historical planting styles. - Beltring - Beltring is the closest station to the Paddock Wood Hop Farm, but it is a lengthy walk on unlit country roads without footpaths. Access is easier from Paddock Wood.
- Paddock Wood - Paddock Wood Hop Farm. Catch the No.6 bus to the Paddock Wood Hop
Farm (not Sundays/Bank Holidays). It leaves from Maidstone Road, a short walk from the station.
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
Ale by Rail
The Maidstone branch of CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) has produced a guide to pubs in their area that sell real ale. Local member and Community Rail Partnership supporter Jeff Tucker has written up details of the pubs that are easily reached from Medway Valley Line stations between Snodland and Paddock Wood. Unfortunately the most northerly part of the line falls outside their area so pubs in Halling, Cuxton and Strood aren't covered. To download a pdf copy of Jeff's guide, click on the "Gateway to Kent Pub Guide" pghoto below.
Local Events
In Austen Family Footsteps
Thursday mornings, Tonbridge Tourist Information Centre, Castle Street, Tonbridge.
Take a guided circular walk through Tonbridge in Austen Family Footsteps
In the 18th Century Tonbridge, then spelled 'Tunbridge', was a market town at the Medway River crossing, dominated by a Norman Castle. The High Street was part of the second most important road in Kent, linking London to the flourishing spa town of Tunbridge Wells and to the Sussex coast, Rye and Hastings. JANE AUSTEN was born at Steventon in Hampshire on the 16th December 1775 to GEORGE and CASSANDRA Austen. George had been born Tonbridge in 1731 and there are many family links to the town. Take the walk and learn more about the interesting Family Footsteps.
Book your place on 'In Austen's Family Footsteps' by contacting Tonbridge Tourist Information Centre in person or by telephoning 01732 770929.
Rock'n'Gem Show
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd January.
Paddock Wood Hop Farm
Mineral enthusiasts are set to be wowed at the amazing array of crystals and precious stones on sale at The Hop Farm Rock 'n' Gem Show. For more details, including times and admission prices go to the Hop Farm website.
Ranscombe Farm Winter Family Walk
Sunday 5th February, 10am - 1pm, Ranscombe Farm, Cuxton.
A family walk in the woods with activities for the family as we go. Meet in the car park, Knights Place Recreation Ground, Strood. No booking required. Contact Tim on 01634 292062 or email tim.mcgregor@plantlife.org.uk for more info.
Surviving the Ice Ages: Early Man in the Medway Valley
Sat 11th Feb, 11:30am, Rochester Guildhall Museum, ME1 1PY
Come and discover the intriguing Palaeolithic heritage of the Medway area by expert Dr Francis Wenban-Smith. Opportunity to handle fascinating artefacts. Booking required.
Contact Valley of Visions on 01634 242826
Maidstone Vintage Toy Fair
Saturday 25th February, 0900-1500.
Lockmeadow Market Hall & Leisure Complex, Maidstone.
The best vintage toy show in Kent. Plenty to see all day, toys, trains, dolls, teddy bears, models and more. Admission £2. For more information ring 01622 735396 or 01732 840787.
Ranscombe Farm Volunteer Work Day
Sun 4th March, 10 – 3pm, Ranscombe Farm, Cuxton
Other dates available throughout the year. Come along and take part in practical habitat management on the reserve. Suitable for all the family, with tools and equipment provided. Just come prepared with good footwear and suitable clothing and plenty of energy! Work days run from 10am – 3pm. Please contact Ben at the project office to confi rm attendance and to find out where to meet on 01634 292062 or email ben.sweeney@plantlife.org.uk.
Maidstone Model Railway Exhibition
Saturday 28th April. 100-1600. St Luke's Church Hall, Foley Street, Maidstone.
£3 Adults; £2.50 Seniors; £1.50 Children (5-16); £8 Family groups (2 adults + 2 children).
For further information ring Dakota Dibben on 07595 255150 or email dakotadibben@hotmail.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
Using Medway Valley Line train services is a terrific way of exploring the Medway Valley.There are a wide range of walks in towns, country and along the river. Details of many walks can be downloaded from our Rail Trails page. Get to it by clcking on the image below.
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.
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.
- Summer 2011 - HS comes to Maidstone. Snodland mural. Rails to Rambles.
- 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.
151 Service- Medway Valley Links
From July 18 2011 there will be rebranded buses on the 151 bus route, which runs from Chatham Dockyard, Chatham, Rochester, Strood, Halling and Cuxton through to West Malling. As part of a joint initiative with Nu-Venture, Southeastern, the Medway Valley Community Rail Partnership, and local authorities on route, there will combined marketing of both rail and bus services through the Medway Valley.
Now, passengers with a valid Southeastern single, return, or rail season ticket can travel on the 151 bus free of charge between Strood, and Snodland at any time by showing the rail ticket to the driver.
Download:
- a poster advertising the service (pdf 642KB), including the rebranded bus; and
- the 151 bus timetable (pdf 4,482KB).
For more information about the Medway Valley Line Community Rail Partnership, please contact either Nigel Whitburn or Ian Paterson on 01303 813790.