Medway Valley Line

Railway line in Kent
(Redirected from Medway Valley line)

The Medway Valley line is a railway line in Kent linking Strood and the Medway Towns with Maidstone West and on to Paddock Wood, Tonbridge and London St Pancras International (peak only). The section from Maidstone West to Tonbridge passes through some of Kent's most picturesque countryside along the narrower sections of the River Medway.

Medway Valley line
The line being crossed by the Maidstone East line near Maidstone Barracks. There is no direct rail connection between them. Foot interchange exists between the two lines.
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerNetwork Rail
LocaleKent
South East England
TerminiStrood
Paddock Wood
Stations13
Service
TypeSuburban rail, Heavy rail
SystemNational Rail
Route number01
Operator(s)SE Trains
Rolling stockClass 375 "Electrostar"
Class 395 "Javelin"
History
Opened1856
Technical
Line length21 miles 19 chains (34.18 km)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) standard gauge
ElectrificationThird rail, 750 V DC
Operating speed70 mph (110 km/h)
Route map

(Click to expand)
Medway Valley Line
North Kent Line
to London Bridge
and other London Termini
Strood Docks
Strood(
original station
later goods depot
)
Strood
line joins North Kent Line
at North Kent Junction
Rochester Bridge Junction
to Chatham Main Line
former alignment to Rochester
Chatham Main Line
to Swanley and London Victoria
High Speed 1
Cuxton
Cement works
Halling
 
Cement works
to quarry
Cement works
Cement works
2-foot line to River Medway
Snodland
New Hythe
Aylesford newsprint
Aylesford
M20 motorway
Lafarge Aggregates sidings
Maidstone Line
via Maidstone East
Maidstone Barracks
London Road Tunnel (
55 yd
50 m
)
Maidstone West
Lockmeadow
Tovil Goods Yard
Tovil
East Farleigh
Teston Crossing Halt
Wateringbury
Yalding
Gravel pit
River Medway
Beltring
Transfesa Depot
South Eastern Main Line
Hawkhurst Branch
closed 10 June 1961
Paddock Wood
South Eastern Main Line
 

Stations

change

The line serves the following stations: Strood, Cuxton, Halling, Snodland, New Hythe, Aylesford, Maidstone Barracks, Maidstone West, East Farleigh, Wateringbury, Yalding, Beltring, Paddock Wood and Tonbridge

Trains

change

The main trains used on the line is Class 375 Electrostars.[1] Before the May 2012 Timetable changes Class 465 and Class 466 Networkers were used, Class 395s was introduced on the Medway Valley line, operating a high speed service between Maidstone West and St. Pancras International via Strood.[2]

Class Image Type Cars per set Top speed Number Operator Notes Built
mph km/h
Class 395 Javelin   EMU 6 140 (HS1) 100 (Mainline) 225 (HS1) 160 (Mainline) 29 Southeastern Peak time high speed services between Maidstone West and St.Pancras International 2007–2009
Class 375   3 or 4 100 160 140 All services usually operated by 375/3s but 375/6/7/8/9s may occasionally appear. 1999–2005

References

change
  1. Cheeseman, Clive (18 June 2009). "NETWORK RAIL - KENT ROUTE UTILISATION STRATEGY - DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION (SUMMARY)". Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  2. "Medway Valley Line". Kent Community Rail Partnership. Retrieved 15 June 2020.

Further reading

change
  • R.V.J.Butt (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-85260-508-1.
  • John Glover (2001). Southern Electric. Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-2807-9.

Other websites

change