The Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) has announced two major moves in its preparations for the return of services to Robertsbridge in 2028.
Importantly, it has secured full funding for the restoration and installation of the historic Tovil Footbridge at Northiam Station, thanks to a combination of heritage grants, private donations and the railway’s own ringfenced investment.
The project has received generous grants totalling £130K from two leading heritage funding bodies: £70K from the Railway Heritage Trust and £60K from the Rochester Bridge Trust.
The remaining funding requirement has been met through the donation of K&ESR volunteer time and restricted funds, plus a private donation from a supporter of the railway.
The project will not only preserve an important piece of railway heritage but will crucially provide a practical passenger facility at Northiam. The station is expected to play an increasingly important role in railway operations, following the planned extension to Robertsbridge, as an interchange between services to and from different stops on the line.
Originally located at Tovil Station in Maidstone, the footbridge was gifted to the Kent & East Sussex Railway by Network Rail, following its decommissioning some years ago. The late Victorian wrought-iron lattice girder structure has since been in storage awaiting an appropriate future use.
The footbridge is currently away from the railway undergoing specialist repair, cleaning and repainting as part of the first phase of the project. Further works will include repairs to the cast-iron support columns, preparation of foundations, installation of new decking and stair components, and re-erection at Northiam.
K&ESR Chairman Derrick Bilsby said:
“We are enormously grateful to both the Railway Heritage Trust and the Rochester Bridge Trust for their confidence in this project, and to the supporters whose donations have helped bring us to this point.
“The Tovil Footbridge is an important example of historic railway engineering which deserves to be preserved and appreciated by future generations. Thanks to this funding package, we can now look forward to returning the bridge to railway use in a setting where it will serve both a practical purpose and become a notable feature of Northiam Station.
“The project represents a significant collaboration between the heritage railway, charitable trusts and private supporters, ensuring that a historic structure rescued from the national network will once again serve railway passengers for decades to come.”
The railway is currently assessing two potential locations for the bridge at Northiam Station. The preferred operational location would be near the centre of the platforms, providing the greatest convenience for passengers. An alternative site adjacent to the level crossing at the Tenterden end of the station is also under consideration.
The final decision will depend on wider infrastructure planning at Northiam, including the possible installation of a water crane, which could require associated signalling alterations. A dedicated working group has therefore been tasked with evaluating the options and making recommendations to the K&ESR Board before the railway proceeds with the necessary planning applications.
The K&ESR has also purchased two reverse osmosis water treatment units – one to be located at Tenterden and the other at Northiam. The sole operational RO unit at present is at Rolvenden.
Derrick Bilsby said:
“Ready access to treated water will be essential to running steam services on the extended line. Having these RO units strategically located at both Tenterden and Northiam will ensure that engines need only to get treated water from Rolvenden at the start of the service day.”
Image credit: The Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR)
