Robertsbridge Junction Station Building and Infrastructure Officially Opened
Rother Valley Railway marks major milestone in restoring connection to mainline
On Friday 17 April, the Rother Valley Railway (RVR) marked a major milestone in its long-term project to reconnect the Kent & East Sussex Railway with the national rail network at Robertsbridge Junction.
The occasion was celebrated with the official opening of the new station building and Network Rail headshunt, representing the completion of two key infrastructure elements within the wider multi-million-pound scheme.
The project aims to restore the final ‘missing link’ in the historic railway, enabling services to run from Robertsbridge through to Bodiam and on to Tenterden for the first time in over 50 years.
The opening ceremony took place in the presence of distinguished guests, including Peter Hendy, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, and former Rail Minister Huw Merriman. Both attended in a private capacity as longstanding supporters of the reconnection project.
The ribbon was formally cut by the Chairman of Rother District Council, Councillor Andrew Mier.
Huw Merriman & Cllr Andrew Mier cutting the ribbon for the Station Building
Photo by Phil Edwards
Guests at the event included local community representatives and well-known local resident Suzy Izzard, a keen railway enthusiast. Speeches were delivered by the chairmen of the three principal organisations involved in the project, reflecting on the significance of the milestone and the collaboration behind it.
The new station building forms part of a wider programme to reinstate Robertsbridge Junction as the western terminus of the heritage line, with enhanced and more substantial infrastructure. This development lays the groundwork for the full reconnection to Bodiam, expected in 2028.
Following the opening ceremony, the historic Hastings Diesel Unit - once synonymous with services between London Charing Cross and Hastings - formally christened the newly extended headshunt, located alongside the mainline.
Preparing to open the Headshunt - Photo by Phil Edwards
Left to right: John Smith – CEO, GB Railfreight, John White and John Atkinson - Hastings Diesels Ltd, David Davidson – CEO, Network Rail South Eastern , Steve White – Managing Director, South Eastern Railway, Lord Peter Hendy of Richmond Hill, Huw Merriman, former local MP and former Rail Minister, Mike Hart, Chairman, Rother Valley Railway Company
Made available for the occasion with the kind permission of St Leonards Engineering, and with support from GB Railfreight, the iconic Hastings Diesel Unit carried invited guests, donors and members of the media along the line to Northbridge Street. The journey offered a glimpse into the future operation of the reinstated route, as well as an opportunity to view the proposed site for the new locomotive shed.
Gardner Crawley, Chairman of the Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust, said:
“This is a proud and deeply significant moment for everyone involved in the Rother Valley Railway project. The opening of this station building is not just about bricks and mortar - it represents enormous dedication, fundraising and community support.
“Our sincere thanks to the Garfield Weston Foundation for their generous grant and to the many individual donors who have made this significant progress possible.
“We are now closer than ever to realising our vision of reconnecting this historic line, linking communities once again and creating something that will bring lasting benefits to the area for generations to come.”
Mike Hart, Chairman of Rother Valley Railway Limited, which is responsible for construction, said:
“Today’s opening marks the successful delivery of a complex and carefully managed stage of the construction programme. Reinstating infrastructure like this in a way that respects the heritage of the line, while meeting modern operational standards, has been a major achievement. The completion of the station building and Headshunt gives us a solid operational base as we continue work on the remaining sections of the route.
“We are extremely grateful to St Leonards Engineering and GB Railfreight for giving our guests the opportunity to ride aboard the iconic Hastings Diesel unit.”
Derrick Bilsby, Chairman of the Kent & East Sussex Railway, which will operate the extended line when complete, said:
“This is an exciting step closer to the day when trains will once again run all the way through to Robertsbridge, reconnecting the K&ESR to the national rail network. For our railway, this extension will open up new opportunities for visitors and enthusiasts alike, making it easier than ever to experience one of the country’s most historic and scenic heritage lines.”
Originally opened in 1901, the section of line ending at Robertsbridge served communities across the Rother Valley, including Tenterden, Rolvenden, Wittersham, Northiam and Bodiam. Its reinstatement will reconnect these communities not only to Tenterden but also to the national rail network via the mainline at Robertsbridge - supporting increased tourism and economic growth across the region.
The celebrations continued the following day (Saturday 18 April), when the site opened to the public for a Community Open Day from 10:30am to 3:30pm.
Visitors enjoyed rides aboard the Hastings Diesel Unit along the newly reinstated section of line between Robertsbridge Junction and Northbridge Street - offering a preview of what the extended route will deliver in the future.
Entry was free, with donations encouraged to support the next phase of fundraising. This will fund the construction of essential facilities, including a locomotive shed and carriage shed, enabling Robertsbridge Junction to operate as a fully functional terminus station. The fundraising target for this phase is £350,000, with just under half already raised or pledged by supporters.
Hastings Diesel Unit at the Headshunt
Photo: Mark Stuchbury
The Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust has created a range of ways for supporters to contribute to the Building Appeal - from one-off donations of any size to larger upfront contributions and monthly giving options.
Full details can be found on the RVR website at rvr.org.uk/fundraising.