Resumption of passenger services on Isle of Grain?

AS part of plans to build 12,000 new homes around Hoo over the next 20 years, Medway Council is seeking contractors to upgrade the existing freightonly line for passenger use. Passenger services on Grain ceased in 1968 and since then the railway has been used for aggregate or oil movements to Cliffe and Thamesport respectively. The council’s vision is for a station between Sharnal Street and Hoo St Werburgh, with contemporary living around the station aimed at young professionals. While the local authority is suggesting connections to London termini, it is too early to say whether this would be via a direct service or a connecting shuttle service to Higham using a new chord line, or perhaps Gravesend. The line on Grain would have a passing loop to cope with the additional traffic. The estimated cost of upgrading the line and making signalling and level crossing changes is around £63m. The first phase would be enabling works between June and October 2022, followed by bridge and embankment widening for the loop in mid2023, with trackwork and the new station in a final phase.