Kent Community Rail Partnership (CRP) has worked with Southeastern to fit cycle-rails at six stations along the Kent Downs Railway Line, to promote more healthy, active travel journeys in the area.
Cycle-rails are rails that allow people to push their bicycles along channels up and down stairs, removing the need for them to be carried. The facility has been installed on the footbridge steps of six stations along the Kent Downs Line: Kemsing, Barming, Hollingbourne, Harrietsham, Lenham and Charing.
Increasing numbers of people are embracing bikes and e-bikes as a sustainable way to get around, and the nearby North Downs Way Riders Route and Pilgrims Cycle Trail make the Kent Downs Line a popular way to explore the Kent Downs National Landscape by cycle.
On Tuesday 18 February, Kent CRP and Southeastern launched the cycle-rails at Hollingbourne Station together with members of San Fairy Ann cycle club.
After cutting the ceremonial ribbon, guests were welcomed by the award winning Signal Box Cafe for coffee, cake and discussions about ways the partnership can continue to promote sustainable and healthy tourism and travel.
Chris Fribbins, chair of Kent CRP, said: “We are so pleased that the hard work of the community rail team, led by Therese Hammond, and Matt Fraser, Southeastern’s community relations manager, resulted in the implementation of a solution to help people make journeys by train and onwards by cycle over tricky station stairways.
“We would like to express our thanks to Community Rail Network’s Integrated Sustainable Transport Fund, Kent County Council and Ashford Borough Council for funding the cycle rails, and to Southeastern for their help and support with surveying, design and installation.”
If you take your bike on a train along the Kent Downs Line and have the opportunity to use the cycle-rails, Kent CRP would love to know what you think of them. Please share your feedback via therese.hammond@sustrans.org.uk.
Learn more about Southeastern’s work in the community here.
Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from Kent CRP via their website.
