Rother Valley Railway

Tom dont quite understand re non London end. Just checked NRjourney planner and 10.15 ex Charring Cross arrives in Robertsbridge at 11.36 direct. Journey time 1h 21m. The 10.10 to Headcorn is a bit quicker at 1h 3m.

Whilst Bodiam is a big draw Tenterden is a destination in its own right, esp those who prefer shopping to just riding on trains. (trying to be PC)

 

Nothing to do with the nationally know loco owner who lives down the road then?

 

Newenden right?

 

Howard i couldnt possibly comment
Anyway isnt he relocating to Crewe? but saying that, it would solve the motive power problem, 34046 on tenterden bank on a damp October doesnt bare thinking about hope the sanders work,and that it has tender sanders .

 

As someone with an association with both the Bluebell and the K&ESR, and an ex-Tenterden resident, I suspect the position is that opening to Robertsbridge would be a useful boost to the K&ESR just as for the Bluebell, but perhaps not on the same scale, in just the same way that the overall passenger numbers, loco and rolling stock sizes are smaller on the K&ESR than the Bluebell. A number of public transport options become easily and attractively available from Robertsbridge, including incoming flows from London and the south coast towns (and the reverse) to both Bodiam and Tenterden Town as well as the railway itself as a destination. All power to the RVR folk for plugging away to keep the move towards national network reconnection alive. I will certainly be there on re-opening day (assuming I am still alive) and hope to be as lucky with my ticket purchase as I was on Bluebell re-opening to East Grinstead - First Class No 0001 from East Grinstead. (But can we have better weather, please!)

regards

Robin

Incidentally, I'm a bit new to this forum and tried (and failed) upload a snap of the above ticket. Can anyone more technically savvy help me in doing so?

 

Robin - if you have the photo saved to your computer, then do the following:

1) Start typing your reply
2) Click on "Upload a file" button (bottom right corner)
3) Browse to the file you want to upload and click "OK" (or maybe "Open" - depends on your operating system etc)
4) You'll see a preview of the file below the space where you are editing the reply. Click "Thumbnail" (which will insert a small flickable preview) or "Full image) (which will insert the whole thing) as appropriate
5) Click "Post reply" et voilà!

Tom

 

So assuming that all passengers arriving on the national rail system have to walk from their station to the under-construction RVR (and KESR) station at Robertsbridge, how far is that? From the images, not too far, but still... Are there any plans to provide a covered way between the two, for inclement weather?

Noel

 

Dont you know the sun allways shines in the Garden of England

 

Using the highly scientific surveying method of Google Maps and the Mk 1 Human Eyeball, I'd suggest the distance between the two stations at Robertsbridge is even less than that between the two stations at East Grinstead - probably not more than about 150 metres walk even allowing for a slightly circuitous route between the two station buildings.

Tom

 

Perhaps one plus point of Robertsbridge over East Grinstead is that it can be reached in both directions. No question, the Bluebell has benefitted enormously from getting to EG, and no question, it's a much bigger place with much more to see than Robertsbridge. However, not only could the extension to Robertsbridge provide easy access for people living in London, Orpington, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge, Tun Wells, etc, but also, it could bring in people from St Leonards and Hastings. While the towns aren't quite as popular for holidays as they were several decades back, quite a few people still take holidays by the sea in this area. Still, as has been pointed out, it's going to be a while yet before we will be in a position to find out how much the Robertsbridge link will boost traffic, but I, like Robin above, hope I can be there and have a ride when the first trains run.

 

I'm all for extending to Robertsbridge but, playing Devils Advocate, it's not necessarily as simple as an extra couple of miles of infrastructure to maintain and a bit more on the coal bill. An extra station is going to require extra staff, for a start. It's already been said that trains should start from both ends so that will probably mean at least one extra set of coaches and a loco (plus crew) unless the gaps in service become unacceptably long.

 

You mean like in this photo?

Noel

 

agreed more staff may be needed however like Northiam, and Wittersham rd before it, staff requiremens drop when a station becomes a through station. As to stock, not absolutely sure of current position but from current stock list 2 rakes of Mk1 and a victorian/edwardiane set plud Maunsells and a birdcage brake. There is also the DMU so enough stock should be available

 

Ticket pictures - thanks Tom

 

The current physical gap in the rails may be only 2 miles, but adding in the track already laid between Bodiam and Junction Rd., and also between Robertsbridge and Northbridge Street, the line would be more like 3 1/2 miles longer to operate.

 

The walk between the stations is probably less than between the 2 stations at Kidderminster for example.

 

its just out of the NR station building, across the edge of the car park, not far at all, you could not put an covered way because its the access to the car park, which is between the nr station and the RVR part of the site.
Coaching stock, , 8 mk 1s , 2 maunsel corridoor vehicles, soon to be 3, but will go down to 2 because ones leaking very badly, and assorted vintage stock 2 SECR 4 wheelers, the family saloon, birdcage, and LMS brake. oh and the DMU. that is what was in service last year, i dont expect the district will be returned to traffic by now,

 

More miles = more wear and tear and therefore more maintenance.
More maintenance requires more rolling stock so that the service can be maintained, it also requires more staff (volunteer/paid/subcontractor) to do the work. We do not have a room full of trained people in reserve.
Material and labour costs are increased so the income generated by the hoped-for additional traffic will have to at least match the incerased expenditure incurred otherwise it makes no sense to use that additional mileage at least on a regular basis. After all, the idea is not to bankrupt the KESR (unless you know different).

 

i estimate that assuming you just run 3 round trips per day, thats an extra 18 miles a day allowing 3 miles Bodiam to Robertsbridge, so assuming you run 5 out of 7 days, thats 90 miles extra a week, 360 ish a month, the 18 monthly exams would probally be due every 12 months, the problem isnt just manpower , its that there would never be a day when the pit would be free to inspect anything else, if running the service dont bancrupt the Kesr, then the increased mantainance needed very well could if the budget isnt there for it

 

For some the glass is half full, others half empty. I can recall similar doom and gloom when extending from Wittersham to Northiam. Whilst both companies must use due dilligence regarding costings cant we be a little optimistic for the future?