Kent & East Sussex Railway

Travel Back in Time & Escape the Modern World The railway you see today at 10½ miles in length is a fine example of one of England’s light railways and originally part of a larger system which operated between Headcorn and Robertsbridge. The K&ESR was the very first ‘light railway’ to be constructed: light railways are equipped with full size trains, but have steep gradients and operate at low speed. Passenger trains ran from 1900 until 1954 but an ambitious scheme to reopen the railway from Tenterden was proposed, although it was not until 1974 that the first trains were able to run on a short section of line. The registered charity that now owns and operates the line was able to finally restore services to Bodiam in time for the centenary of the line in 2000: today the K&ESR welcomes around 90,000 people each year. Our facilities have been carefully designed with the mobility impaired visitor in mind. There are dedicated parking spaces for badge holders in the main car park at Tenterden Town and adjacent to the platform at Northiam Station. There are accessible toilets at Tenterden, Northiam and Bodiam. The K&ESR pioneered accessible railway travel with UK’s very first carriage specially designed to accommodate users confined to a wheelchair. ‘Petros’ has with ramped wheelchair access, wide aisles, moveable seating and an accessible toilet.