Rother Valley Railway

[martin butler]

As this is fairly local to me, and I don't see any previous posts, I thought i would start this post,

Does anyone know why the current relaying work seems to be on isolated sites, rather than say starting at Junction Road, then relaying each section end on, until they reach Salehurst?

I do understand that this section will be relayed first in this year, , then Salehurst to Northbridge Street in 2027

I also have heard that Northbridge street's level crossing is to go in next month, road closures already announced which unless that's the only time available, seems a strange decision, I would have thought it makes more sense to instal the level crossing at Junction Rd, first, but of course, this is a much busier Rd, and closing it for several days might be more difficult, even though the base sections, can be put in overnight,

This is one railway, that for me will be a must visit, once the line is fully reopened, because I can jump on a train direct to Robertsbridge from here.

 

[Jan Mayen]

Is there a target date to reopen the railway throughout?

 

[Class73Electro]

I'm impressed they've got permission for a Level Crossing on the A21!

 

[martin butler]

Is there a target date to reopen the railway throughout?

I don't know for sure, but I did hear talk of 2028 it takes time to rebuild from what has been scratch, the old track bed, would have been left as BR abandoned it, and in one section left to grow wild, no drainage work etc, and on the other the shallow embankment the line was on, was plowed away, so a lot of ground works, new drainage and of course every bridge rebuilt not to the old light railway standard, but to modern standard.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jul 2026 ==

I'm impressed they've got permission for a Level Crossing on the A21!

That was the make, or break moment, where it is going in, is just before the roundabout, so good line of sight coming from the Hastings direction, going the other way, its just after the roundabout so a bit more problematical, but cars should still going quite slow, as there's a public crossing just before the roundabout on the London side also,

 

[marshlinker]

The Windows for the level crossings to be installed (the road closure will be a much shorter time within the window) are:-
Northbridge St. 27/7/26 to 17/8/26
Junction Rd 10/11/26 to 11/12/26
A21 Robertsbridge Bypass, dtbc
Note this is for the rails and ducting going in the roads. The crossings will be commissioned at a later date.
The dates are governed by the road authorities and in co-operation with other statutory authorities.
Robertsbridge Junction is due to open (and is on schedule for) Easter 2028.

 

[Class73Electro]

I don't know for sure, but I did hear talk of 2028 it takes time to rebuild from what has been scratch, the old track bed, would have been left as BR abandoned it, and in one section left to grow wild, no drainage work etc, and on the other the shallow embankment the line was on, was plowed away, so a lot of ground works, new drainage and of course every bridge rebuilt not to the old light railway standard, but to modern standard.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jul 2026 ==


That was the make, or break moment, where it is going in, is just before the roundabout, so good line of sight coming from the Hastings direction, going the other way, its just after the roundabout so a bit more problematical, but cars should still going quite slow, as there's a public crossing just before the roundabout on the London side also,

What type of Level Crossing is being installed? I assume probably not a hand operated gate as per the rest of the KESR Line?

 

[marshlinker]

What type of Level Crossing is being installed? I assume probably not a hand operated gate as per the rest of the KESR Line?

They are modern full barriers systems from and installed by a major manufacturer.

 

[2HAP]

Is there a target date to reopen the railway throughout?

I attended the recent open day at Robertsbridge, where the Hastings Unit was running shuttles to Northbridge Street. We were told that reopening is scheduled for Easter 2028.

 

[marshlinker]

Link to the new Green Signals Video on the Rother Valley Railway:

 

[Mcq]

I hope someone from the company will post progress here instead of requiring visits to their website,

 

[mikehartuk]

I hope someone from the company will post progress here instead of requiring visits to their website,

The best way of keeping up with progress at Rother Valley Railway is clicking on our news site below. Very regular updates and lots going on.

RVRailway News

rvrailway.blogspot.com

Enjoy

Mike Hart

 

[Forty29]

Looks like everything progressing with pace, daily updates makes a very interesting blog. Good luck for the future.

 

[Trainlog]

As there is a relevant KESR thread open, I saw recently on RailAdvent that Northiam is getting a footbridge installed, and even better, it's repurposing the old Tovil station footbridge. It's something that definitely felt missing from Northiam in the preservation era, and I can imagine will be well used in galas, along with the line in general post-Robertsbridge extension.

When it comes to anything else the KESR could repurpose from the National Rail network, I would like to see Network Rail offer up Deal's semaphore signals to them when they are eventually retired; the same could go for Hastings semaphores as well? Though I have no idea what the signalling plan is going to be between Northiam and Robertsbridge junction.

(TLDR of article: KESR gets the old Tovil station footbridge (station closed in 1943, but the bridge remained for several decades as a crossing point over the Medway Valley Line). Network Rail kept the bridge in storage, and with the help of donors such as Rochester Bridge Trust, the Railway Heritage Trust, and private donors, the money has been raised to fully restore the bridge.

The final position of where to site the bridge at Northiam station is still undecided.

KESR Press Forward with ‘Ready for Robertsbridge’ plans

'Ready for Robertsbridge' plans take two key steps

www.railadvent.co.uk

 

[Toby3875]

There is a big poster up at Bodiam Station which says that reopening is scheduled for Easter 2028

 

[Jan Mayen]

Is the Rother Valley Railway connected to the Kent And East Sussex by bus at all? Thinking of visiting both, but I don't have a car.

 

[Toby3875]

Is the Rother Valley Railway connected to the Kent And East Sussex by bus at all? Thinking of visiting both, but I don't have a car.

It is but it takes an hour.

 

[A S Leib]

Is the Rother Valley Railway connected to the Kent And East Sussex by bus at all? Thinking of visiting both, but I don't have a car.

One option, but one which only works on non-bank holiday weekdays, is Southeastern between Tunbridge Wells and Robertsbridge then Flexibus to Bodiam (fifteen minute walk, 25-minute train, then around ten minutes by road with – going off of my experience of similar schemes – around a fifteen-minute wait).

 

[gazthomas]

If there is more than one of you an Uber or other taxi might be worthwhile, with Robertsbridge to Bodium railway stations taking about 20 minutes and about £25

 

[Toby3875]

They are running their Class 20087 on Path A and the 101 dmu on Path B for at least the rest of August due to the Steam Ban

 

[marshlinker]

Is the Rother Valley Railway connected to the Kent And East Sussex by bus at all? Thinking of visiting both, but I don't have a car.

What some people do is to walk between Robertsbridge and Bodiam stations one way and then travelling on the K&ESR to Tenterden.
Mon -Sat its possible to get bus services to Headcorn, Rye or Hastings. It needs careful planning due to the infrequent nature of the buses.
The actual walk from Robertsbridge is along footpaths parallel to the works on the missing link. Bodiam Station is 3.25 miles from Robertsbridge.
If you go on the north bank of the River Rother from Junction Rd to Bodiam the whole distance would be about 4 miles.

 

[Trainlog]

Is the Rother Valley Railway connected to the Kent And East Sussex by bus at all? Thinking of visiting both, but I don't have a car.

Robertsbridge Junction is currently best to visit when the station is open on Sundays, or if you are in the area to watch a rail tour pass through. It's a nice station so far, but it's quite a detour to visit currently if you intend to visit the KESR on the same day.

(From having watched a steam rail tour pass through at Robertsbridge Junction, I still think it's a missed trick by the RVR to have a short open afternoon on the same date as the tour, as the whole village, and some enthusiasts who have travelled in, turn up to watch the tour go by).

 

[martin butler]

Robertsbridge Junction is currently best to visit when the station is open on Sundays, or if you are in the area to watch a rail tour pass through. It's a nice station so far, but it's quite a detour to visit currently if you intend to visit the KESR on the same day.

(From having watched a steam rail tour pass through at Robertsbridge Junction, I still think it's a missed trick by the RVR to have a short open afternoon on the same date as the tour, as the whole village, and some enthusiasts who have travelled in, turn up to watch the tour go by).

Actually, I wonder if it could also be used as a servicing stop for the locomotive, for example a tour from Victoria to Hastings, dropping off/ picking up at Tunbridge wells, Robertsbridge, Hastings, the stock could be serviced at Hastings diesels,

The steam engine worked LE to Robertsbridge to be turned and serviced coupled with an open day at Robertsbridge station, with photo opportunities to photo the engine on the turntable. once turned and watered coaled etc, the engine returns tender first again to Hastings, to power the return.

 

[Trainlog]

Actually, I wonder if it could also be used as a servicing stop for the locomotive, for example a tour from Victoria to Hastings, dropping off/ picking up at Tunbridge wells, Robertsbridge, Hastings, the stock could be serviced at Hastings diesels,

The steam engine worked LE to Robertsbridge to be turned and serviced coupled with an open day at Robertsbridge station, with photo opportunities to photo the engine on the turntable. once turned and watered coaled etc, the engine returns tender first again to Hastings, to power the return.

I absolutely agree, initially I was suggesting that maybe when railtours pass through Robertsbridge between now and opening in Spring 2028 (if all goes to plan for the KESR and Rother valley Railway group), that more could be done in the way of a smaller opening day (couple of stands, whether it be refreshments or merchandise) to not waste the opportunity as Robertsbridge (NR) does get rather busy with locals and enthusiasts during railtour passthroughs.

Even post Spring 2028, it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep just Robertsbridge junction station open (especially if the tour is midweek) for the afternoon to sell either refreshments or merchandise when a steam railtour passes through.

However, your idea does sound like the better option, It sounds fairly similar to Yeovil Railway Centre during a railtour. I would certainly welcome the idea of more Steam railtours to Hastings aswell, as it would make a brilliant railtour destination in its own right. It has the old town, many smaller attractions such as its many museums, the aquarium, the pier, and obviously plenty of fish and chip shops .

Would be even better if the tour then went from Hastings back to London Victoria via the Marshlink line, as it would be a rare opportunity to see a steam loco depart a National Rail station in the Southeast of England, with operational semaphore signals, and also the section between Winchelsea and Appledore is rather scenic across the marshland (in my opinion).

 

[Toby3875]

Branch Line Society could run a tour from somewhere to Robertsbridge and then Tenterden on the opening day via the Marshlink and other rare lines in London.

 

[martin butler]

Branch Line Society could run a tour from somewhere to Robertsbridge and then Tenterden on the opening day via the Marshlink and other rare lines in London.

I would not be surprised if Hasting's diesels were to run a tour someday, that took the thumper back over its old stomping grounds,

Route could be, London Victoria to Tonbridge via redhill, then Ashford Rye, Hastings, Robertsbridge, Tenterden then returning back to Robertsbridge then Tonbridge to charring cross,