Rother Valley Railway

Founded (heritage operation)	1990
Reopened to public	Project ongoing
Length	5 km (3 miles, planned)
Gauge	Standard 4 ft 8½ in
Headquarters	Robertsbridge, East Sussex
Principal stations	Robertsbridge Junction, Bodiam (link to K&ESR)
Original line	South Eastern Railway
Original line closed	1961
Annual visitors	~5,000
Website	rvr.org.uk

The Rother Valley Railway is a heritage railway project at Robertsbridge in East Sussex, working to reopen the surviving 3 miles between Robertsbridge (where there is a Network Rail station on the London–Hastings line) and Bodiam, where the Kent & East Sussex Railway currently terminates. Once complete, the project will provide direct national-network connection to the K&ESR, long considered the missing piece of southern preservation.

The Rother Valley Railway is a separate company from the K&ESR but works in close cooperation. Trackbed has been progressively cleared and rebuilt, with the principal remaining engineering challenges being the reinstatement of bridges across the A21 trunk road and the Rother. The Robertsbridge end of the operation is currently a working museum site, with limited demonstration running.

History

The Rother Valley Railway company was formed in 1990 with the long-term aim of reopening the closed Robertsbridge–Bodiam section to provide a Network Rail connection for the K&ESR. Progress has been gradual, dependent on volunteer effort, planning permissions, and the major engineering required to bridge the A21. The Robertsbridge site has operated as a working museum and short demonstration line for many years.

Original line history

The line was the western section of the original Colonel Stephens Kent & East Sussex Light Railway, opened in stages from 1900. Passenger services were withdrawn in 1954 and the line closed completely in 1961.

Stations and infrastructure

Robertsbridge Junction is the project headquarters and museum site, immediately adjacent to the Network Rail station. The trackbed eastward is being progressively cleared and rebuilt.

Route and stations

Special events and operations

The site holds open days and steam-up events; full operation awaits completion of the through line.

Visitor information

Robertsbridge is on the Southeastern Hastings Line from Charing Cross. The Rother Valley site is a short walk from the Network Rail station.