THE ROTHER VALLEY RAILWAY SUPPORTERS ASSOCIATION

The RVRSA was formed in March 1997. The Association had as its initial aims, the co-ordination of volunteer labour in order to progress the works at the Rother Valley Railway, the production and provision of educational details of rolling stock and equipment at the Railway and the production of a periodical magazine to keep members informed as to the current position on the Railway.

In February 2001 a formal licence was granted to the Association by the Rother Valley Railway (East Sussex) Ltd for an initial period of five years to take over responsibility for the management, operation and development of the site at Robertsbridge extending from the Station Road boundary to the west side of Bridge no 2382. This would enable the Company to concentrate on securing the rest of the trackbed to Bodiam.  The association is also actively pursuing reinstatement/relaying  to North Bridge St (the limit of trackbed ownership), once an agreement over bridge structure ownership can be resolved with BRB, hopefully very early in 2004.  vegetation clearance and fencing repairs are being performed now.

To meet this challenge, the aims of the Association have been revised and widened, and now include assistance in the restoration, development and operation of the Rother Valley Railway between Robertsbridge and Bodiam, and the carrying out of publicity and fund raising activities for the benefit of the Railway.

The Association maintains the Railway’s Visitor Centre building at Robertsbridge (RVR) Station, which was formerly used as the Orient Express Reception lounge at Victoria Station. It incorporates an excellent Buffet and a Gift Shop which stocks a range of railway souvenirs and ephemera including second hand model railway equipment and includes a comprehensive selection of second hand books and magazines for sale.

The Centre is open every Sunday and Bank Holiday

 between 0930 and 17.00 (or dusk if earlier).

The Association is governed and run by a board of Trustees. It is exclusively run by volunteers.

Its registered office is situated at 375, New Hythe Lane, Larkfield, Aylesford, Kent. ME20 6RY.

The Association’s magazine "The Phoenix" is published quarterly.

To comply with insurance requirements, only members of the Association are permitted to work on the site or take an active part in any other RVRSA activity. Why not join us.

OUR PRESERVATION ROOTS

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 the 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 the 2 April 2000, exactly 100 years to the day since the original opening of the line to passengers.  The Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) has powers under its Memorandum and Articles of Association to operate the Railway between Tenterden and Robertsbridge, but has no current plans to extend beyond Bodiam.

A separate Company, the Rother Valley Railway (East Sussex) Ltd, was formed on the 22 May 1991 with the approval of the K&ESR to reconstruct the railway between Bodiam and Robertsbridge.

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