Rother Valley Railway

[Class73Electro]

What is the plan when the two lines join, seeing as they are currently advertised as two different railways?

 

[williamn]

What is the plan when the two lines join, seeing as they are currently advertised as two different railways?

I believe they will operate as one. The Rother Valley Railway was set up a separate concern to remove risk from the K&ESR I think.

 

[sad1e]

I believe they will operate as one. The Rother Valley Railway was set up a separate concern to remove risk from the K&ESR I think.

Using the old victorian technique of building a line under a separate company funded by the main railway company and then taking the other company over once construction had finished i see.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Using the old victorian technique of building a line under a separate company funded by the main railway company and then taking the other company over once construction had finished i see.

The idea being that, as separate limited companies, if the one being built goes bankrupt it doesn't bring the going concern down with it.

 

[marshlinker]

Using the old victorian technique of building a line under a separate company funded by the main railway company and then taking the other company over once construction had finished i see.

I think that in 2026 it's more complicated than that but shortly before opening day (12.4.28?) the Rother Valley will become the "Network Rail" for the stretch West of Bodiam and the "TOC" will be Kent & East Sussex throughout. Youll notice that the new Robertsbridge Junction station has the same livery as the other K&ESR stations.

 

[sad1e]

I think that in 2026 it's more complicated than that but shortly before opening day (12.4.28?) the Rother Valley will become the "Network Rail" for the stretch West of Bodiam and the "TOC" will be Kent & East Sussex throughout. Youll notice that the new Robertsbridge Junction station has the same livery as the other K&ESR stations.

Wouldn't that mean that the K&ESR stock used would have to comply with mainline regulations such as having CDL , GSM-R and AWS fitted to their rolling stock if the track was network rail owned or am I mistaken ?

I completely misunderstood , what was meant was that the RVR will own the tracks while the K&ESR will operate over them

 

[steamybrian]

Wouldn't that mean that the K&ESR stock used would have to comply with mainline regulations such as having CDL , GSM-R and AWS fitted to their rolling stock if the track was network rail owned or am I mistaken ?

The Rother Valley Railway is a heritage railway and not Network Rail property

 

[Jan Mayen]

Any idea as to the planned service? Hourly perhaps? I haven't visited for years.
Do they have passing loops at all stations?

 

[williamn]

Any idea as to the planned service? Hourly perhaps? I haven't visited for years.
Do they have passing loops at all stations?

I would doubt it'll be hourly. There are passing places at Rolvenden, Wittersham Road and Northiam. I think there will be one on the new extension. I *think* there would be one at Bodiam.

It'll be interesting to see what the new service pattern might be. I can imagine there would be demand to and from Bodiam from each end of the line but not necessarily that many passengers doing through journeys.

 

[marshlinker]

Wouldn't that mean that the K&ESR stock used would have to comply with mainline regulations such as having CDL , GSM-R and AWS fitted to their rolling stock if the track was network rail owned or am I mistaken ?

I completely misunderstood , what was meant was that the RVR will own the tracks while the K&ESR will operate over them

Yes thats right. The existing railway is operated utilising a transfer of the Light Railway Order from BR in 1974. From a point west of Bodiam station the "new" railway is operated under a Transport & Works Order. The two railways have an end on junction. The combined railways operations will be operated under the safety case exemption, SMS etc of the K&ESR and will be marketed as such.
There are already hybrid Heritage Railways, locally the Spa Valley owns/ leases the line between Tunbridge Wells West and Birchden Junction between Birchden Junction and Eridge it operates over Network Rail Infrastructure albeit isolated from the national network.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Thursday at 15:03 ==

I would doubt it'll be hourly. There are passing places at Rolvenden, Wittersham Road and Northiam. I think there will be one on the new extension. I *think* there would be one at Bodiam.

It'll be interesting to see what the new service pattern might be. I can imagine there would be demand to and from Bodiam from each end of the line but not necessarily that many passengers doing through journeys.

There wont be a passing loop at Bodiam as there is insufficient space. its anticipated that the nomal passenger service will pass at Northiam Station. To help with interchange at Northiam there will be a footbridge provided which came from Tovil in Maidstone. The refurbishment of which is well underway at a local contractor.
A lot of work has been done on possible timetables over many years now, including discussions with Southeastern.
The Down Hastings semi fast service additionally called at Robertsbridge for some of the events at Robertsbridge Junction, restrictions caused by the Tunnel single sections mean that the Up services cant.
The timetable will be finalised nearer the opening date.

 

[SECR 65]

I'm guessing that the extended line would remain as a 2-set operation for standard weekends?

This would presumably increase the interval between services - I haven't done the maths but about every hour and a half?

Will there still be 5 services a day on high days I wonder?

 

[williamn]

There wont be a passing loop at Bodiam as there is insufficient space

There’s already a runaround loop the length of the platform though?

 

[marshlinker]

There’s already a runaround loop the length of the platform though?

Indeed, but a passing loop is longer than a run round loop because the train plus loco is being passed plus extra to allow for sighting of the signals.
Even the runround loop at Bodiam required additional land to squeeze in as in BR days opposite the 2 coach platform there was only a dead end siding that like most of the k&ESR was shunted using a tow rope.
The point at the Robertsbridge end of Bodiam Station doesnt have a facing lock because its not regularly used by passenger trains, all the equipment is in place for it to be operated by Lever frame B which is currently released by the Northiam Bodiam Train staff. Once the extension opens trains will not routinely terminate at Bodiam except maybe multiple units.