A new agreement between the South Eastern Railway (SER) and East Kent Railway (EKR) will see redundant railway materials and equipment from the mainline network donated from the former to the latter.
The first agreement of its kind in Kent, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will also see the two companies work toward the re-establishment of freight train services on the EKR for the first time since 1987.
A ceremony held at Shepherds Well station on Friday 5 September saw SER confirm its intention to donate railway materials including rails and sleepers, as well as other items no longer needed for the mainline railway.
The donations are expected to aid EKR in the maintenance of its own infrastructure and the further development of services.
In return, EKR has stated it will provide SER with the use of its facilities for training, amongst other purposes.
David Davidson, Chief Operating Officer for the South Eastern Railway, said:Wherever we can, we will work with heritage railways across our network to forge a new partnership so that materials that would otherwise be recycled elsewhere to be re-used can find a new purpose.
In turn, the East Kent Railway also has some excellent facilities which, because they are separate from the mainline network, provide the perfect opportunity for our colleagues to contribute to the local community.
Working together through this memorandum of understanding provides a clear framework and we are excited about the possibilities it brings, not only to the South Eastern and East Kent Railways, but to wider society and the potential to support economic growth in East Kent. And, what better time to do it than in 2025, the bicentenary of the railway.
Under the MoU, both organisations will work together to explore opportunities for the re-introduction of commercial freight traffic along the EKR, aiming to deliver ‘modal shift’ in the East Kent area and addressing Government rail freight growth targets.
The agreement will also see the companies seek to secure third-party funding to reconnect the EKR to the national network for the first time since 1987.
Matthew Plews, General Manager of the East Kent Railway Trust, said:The East Kent Railway is delighted to enter into this Memorandum of Understanding with our friends at the South Eastern Railway. There is a great deal of scope for cooperation between the national rail network and heritage railways. This agreement provides a framework for a deeper collaboration which will benefit us both, both in the short term and into the future.
