10th Anniversary Celebrations at the K&ESR's Hoppers Weekend

On the 11th and 12th September, visitors to Bodiam station can enjoy a whole weekend of "opping nostalgia" as the Kent & East Sussex Railway hosts its tenth annual Hop Pickers Weekend.  More info

The Kent & East Sussex Railway is the country's finest example of a rural light railway. The line gently wends its way from Tenterden - "The Jewel of The Weald" for ten and a half miles, through the unspoilt countryside of the Rother Valley, to terminate in the shadow of the magnificent National Trust castle at Bodiam.

Whether you are interested in heritage, shopping, nature, food and drink, or recreation, there is always something to enjoy when visiting the Kent & East Sussex Railway.

Tenterden and Northiam are situated on the A28 between Ashford and Hastings and both stations have spacious car parks which are free all day for our passengers.

Please note that there is no parking at Bodiam Station so passengers are advised to park and ride from Tenterden or Northiam.

Our 2010 Appeal - the Cavell Van Restoration - read more about this unique piece of railway history - see the BBC feature

THE KENT & EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY by Brian Hart 

This beautifully illustrated and highly evocative history of the Kent and East Railway from its origins in the 1890s to its closure by British Railways in 1961 has been long-awaited and has been well worth the wait. The book features many previous unpublished photographs and long-forgotten accounts of the railway which are revealed here for the first time. As with all Wild Swan Publications, the book has been beautifully printed on art paper. All online orders of this book will receive a free copy of ‘Colonel Stephens – A Celebration’. £34.95

To order your copy online click on the book.

The Kent & East Sussex Railway is operated by the Kent & East Sussex Railway Co Ltd, a charitable company, limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. Registered charity No. 262481. Its objectives are to preserve the Kent & East Sussex Railway for the operation and display of railway locomotives, rolling stock and other equipment for the advancement of technical and historical education and general interest.

Read our Conditions of carriage

Please note that 'Petros' is not in traffic during 2010 but provision has been made to still convey wheelchair users.

Facilities for the Disabled - All our facilities have been carefully designed with disabled and elderly passengers in mind. There are parking spaces for the disabled next to the platforms at Tenterden Town and Northiam Stations and toilets for the disabled at Tenterden, Northiam and Bodiam. We are proud to boast a specially designed disabled coach, Petros, which is fitted with ramped wheelchair access, wide aisles and moveable seating. Some of our other carriages have ramped access too. There is full wheelchair access to the shop and refreshment rooms at Tenterden Town, and the Colonel Stephens Railway Museum has level access with 42" aisles. The Tenterden ticket office is fitted with an induction loop.
The timetable is available in a Large Print version upon request in person, by telephone [01580 765155] or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Fundraising - If you already shop online with some of the major retailers there's now an opportunity for the K&ESR to benefit from your transaction. We have teamed up with easyfundraising who provide a simple method of donating to good causes that won't cost you a penny extra. So next time you decide to make a purchase from The AA, Amazon, Tesco, Toys R Us, Virgin or any one of over 300 major retailers remember to browse the stores through the easyfundraising website and up to 15% of your transaction value will be paid directly to the railway.

Please note: Before making your first purchase you need to select 'Kent & East Sussex Railway' under the tab 'Find a Cause'. This will enable you to register with easyfundrasing so that retailers know where to allocate any generated funds.
So go on, give it a go......YOU WIN, WE WIN and the retailer is happy!