Get on track with a family day out on historic trains

It’s full steam ahead for Kent’s heritage railways as a new campaign gets under way to encourage more people to take trips on them.

Last December, Visit Kent secured a £75,000 government grant to promote them to visitors.

Now, with summer approaching, the tourism group wants to make the most of the Connecting Kent’s Heritage Railways project with the cash that was awarded from the Heritage and Community Rail Tourism Innovation competition which aims to boost rail-related tourism across the country.

Visit Kent has worked in partnership with Southeastern and five heritage railways on the campaign which aims to link “the old and the new” by improving the heritage railways’ digital presence and forging closer links with the modern rail operator.

The heritage railways taking part in the campaign are:

Kent and East Sussex Railway between Tenterden and Bodiam

R o mne y Hy t h e and Dymchurch Railway in Shepway

East Kent Railway in the Dover district

Sittingbourne and Kemsley The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway train. The Bug Light Railway in Swale Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells Chief executive of Visit Kent, Sandra Matthews-Marsh said: “We are lucky to have five beautiful heritage railways in Kent, each offering both a great day out and a fascinating insight into the county’s history.

“What’s more, they are all easy to get to from mainline stations so we want to encourage people to spend a whole day out on the train enjoying the modern services of Southeastern and then a change of pace as you step aboard the restored trains of the heritage railways.”

To get the ball rolling, Visit Kent this week launched a competition giving people the chance to win a family day out on the trains.

“Choo Choo Tunes” challenges people to test their knowledge of songs related to trains and railways.

Competitors will be entered into a draw to win a family ticket for one of the participating heritage railways and mainline travel to get there with Southeastern.

For more information about Kent’s Heritage Railways, visit www.visitkent.co.uk/heritagerailways

Picture: Lewis Brockway A train on the Kent & East Sussex Railway

Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway trains, due to participate in an End of Season Parade

Picture: Lewis Brockway A train on the Kent & East Sussex Railway