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The Rother Valley Railway is the original name of what became the Kent and East Sussex Railway. Nowadays, the Rother Valley Railway refers to the ‘Missing Link’ between Robertsbridge, a station on the Tonbridge to Hastings mainline, and Bodiam on the Kent and East Sussex Railway, a heritage railway. A society of volunteers are attempting to re-establish the railway link. The RVR has reinstated the first few hundred yards of line eastwards from Robertsbridge, and in 2010 the one mile stretch running west from Bodiam to Junction Road was completed. In summer 2011 work began at Robertsbridge to extend further eastwards to Northbridge Street, which entails the rebuilding and alteration of five bridges. RVR's base at Robertsbridge features a small shop and visitor centre utilising a building formerly used as the London terminus of the Orient Express. There is also a collection of historic railway vehicles in various stages of preservation.
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The Kent & East Sussex Railway Preservation Society was formed in 1961 following closure of the line.
After many trials and tribulations, the Tenterden Railway Company Limited was incorporated in 1971 as a Company limited by guarantee and in 1973 was successful in purchasing that part of the line between Tenterden and Bodiam. The Tenterden Railway Company is now known as The Kent & East Sussex Railway, as of January 2004. The preservationists were refused permission by the then Transport Minister Barbara Castle to take over the section between Bodiam and Robertsbridge, despite taking the Minister to the High Court. The latter section was lifted and became abandoned.
Trains first ran again on the Kent & East Sussex Railway on 3 February 1974 between Tenterden to Rolvenden, the line gradually being restored and extended in stages, reaching Wittersham Road in 1977, Northiam in 1990 and finally Bodiam on 2 April 2000, exactly 100 years to the day since the original opening of the line to passengers. The Tenterden Railway Company has powers under its Memorandum and Articles of Association to operate the Railway between Tenterden and Robertsbridge.
A separate Company, the Rother Valley Railway (East Sussex) Ltd, was formed on 22 May 1991 with the approval of the Tenterden Railway Company to reconstruct the railway between Bodiam and Robertsbridge and has since simplified its name to Rother Valley Railway Ltd.
Since 1991, the railway has been acquiring parts of the trackbed as and when possible. Negotiations continue with remaining landowners to secure the remainder of the route. Planning permission has been secured for its scheme at Robertsbridge, and the whole route is now safeguarded in the Council's local plan. Liaison continues with the relevant authorities.
From 2009 to 2010 the RVR with help from K&ESR and volunteers were able to complete the mile long extension westwards from near Bodiam station, through Quarry Farm, to the B2244 (Junction Road). The first official train ran on the weekend of 19/20 March 2011 (TEDS)
A small collection of rolling stock is stored at Robertsbridge, with several items undergoing active restoration. The RVR also recently acquired its first steam locomotive, Charwelton, which is presently stabled on the K&ESR due to lack of suitable facilities on the RVR.
The following locomotives are on site[1]
The Rother Valley Railway proposes to restore the missing rail link between Bodiam and Robertsbridge. This is approximately a 2½ mile (3.0 km) long section. There will be an end-on link with the Kent and East Sussex at Bodiam enabling through running. Trains will initially run into the Rother Valley Railway's own station at Robertsbridge, but the ultimate aim is to run trains once more into the bay platform of the main South Eastern station close by. This platform still exists as an engineers siding.
Several bridges need to be rebuilt, and three road crossings reinstated including the A21 Robertsbridge by-pass, which was the original stumbling block and major reason which prevented the acquisition of this section by the Tenterden Railway Company in the 1960s. Recently however official attitudes have moderated and the Railway is convinced that when the time is right, assistance and permissions will be granted.