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  4. Kent & East Sussex Railway
K&ESR July20 (Credit Phil Edwards)

Kent & East Sussex Railway

Web Links Location Local station Headcorn Times
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Travel back in time!

Steam through beautiful countryside on the Kent and East Sussex Railway, recognised as both the country’s finest and first example of a rural light railway. The main station is in the charming town of Tenterden where you can buy your tickets and learn about the history of the railway before stepping aboard a preserved steam or diesel train to travel a route that’s been used for more than a century.

Designed to serve rural villages, the railway opened in 1900 and originally ran between Robertsbridge and Tenterden. By the 1950s passengers were no longer carried on the line and trains stopped altogether in 1961 but it was not long before a team of railway enthusiasts got together and formed a society to preserve what they could of the railway – ten and a half miles of track between Tenterden and Bodiam – and since 1974, the Kent and East Sussex Railway has operated as a tourist attraction.

Passengers today may notice the tightly curved line and steep gradients as trains wend their way through beautiful High Weald countryside, these are typical of light railways at the time which were developed on shoestring budgets. There are stations at Rolvenden, Wittersham and Northiam en-route to Bodiam in East Sussex, where the line terminates in the shadow of the magnificent National Trust castle. For more information visit the Kent & East Sussex Railway website.

To reach the railway using Southeastern’s mainline services, you can take a train to Headcorn or Ashford International and use connecting bus services to reach Tenterden Town Station.

Please book tickets online in advance.

 

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    Fish and Chip Evening Special K&ESR (18 June)

    18th June 2025

  • STEAMPUNK A4 POSTER

    Steampunk Saturday at K&ESR

    28th June 2025

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    Fish and Chip Evening Special K&ESR (2 July)

    2nd July 2025

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    Fish and Chip Evening Special K&ESR (16 July)

    16th July 2025

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    Diesel Gala 2025 at K&ESR

    18th July - 20th July 2025

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    Fish and Chip Evening Special K&ESR (30 July)

    30th July 2025

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    Bus Rally 2025 at K&ESR

    10th August 2025

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    Fish and Chip Evening Special K&ESR (13 Aug)

    13th August 2025

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    Fish and Chip Evening Special K&ESR (20 Aug)

    20th August 2025

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    Fish and Chip Evening Special K&ESR (27 Aug)

    27th August 2025

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    Fish and Chip Evening Special K&ESR (10 Sept)

    10th September 2025

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    Austin Counties Car Rally 2025 at K&ESR

    11th October - 12th October 2025

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Address

Kent & East Sussex Railway Tenterden Town Station Tenterden TN30 6HE

Contact

enquiries@kesr.org.uk 01580 765155

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Opening Times

We are normally open for - February Half Term - Mothers day weekend - and from April to end of October. Please see our website for up-to-date opening times

Coaches welcome
Gift shop
Groups welcome
Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs and Registered Assistance Dogs welcome
Pets welcome
Refreshments (seasonal)
Suitable for families
K&ESR Oct2020
K&ESR Dog
Tenterden Station.(June2022)Jpg
K&ESR .(Jan2022)
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