On Track for Spring at the Kent & East Sussex Railway

The Kent & East Sussex Railway is springing into action a whole month earlier than usual this year with a Spring programme full of fun activities and special events for visitors of all ages.

February

From Saturday 1st February trains on the award-winning heritage line will be operating every weekend throughout February and March. In addition, during Half Term weekday services will run on Tuesday 18th, Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th.

 Whatever the weather, the journey will provide plenty to keep kids smiling. Everyone can turn Nature Detective with free nature-spotting fact sheets as the steam hauled trains travel through the stunning Rother Valley, a designated National Landscape. The smiles will continue for the grown-ups with a Half Term Kids Go Free offer where up to three children can travel free with one full fare-paying adult or senior.

Popular children's character Bluey is set to join the fun on Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th February. Organised by Fox & Edwards events on selected services, this experience is only available through online pre-booking and is not included in the Kids Go Free offer.

March

For anyone keen to find out what that old family heirloom is really worth why not bring it along to Tenterden Town Station on Wednesday 5th March for an expert valuation by the team from Canterbury Auction Galleries. Who knows, you might have a valuable antique on your hands!

On Mother's Day weekend (29th and 30th March) there's a chance to treat mums to a ploughman's lunch (Saturday) or cream tea (Saturday and Sunday) on selected services. Add some bubbles to your order to make the experience truly sparkling! 

April

April begins with a weekend of celebrations at Bodiam Station on 5th and 6th April to mark the 25th Anniversary of the station reopening for passenger services, and finishes with a spectacular Midgets of Steam Gala weekend (26th and 27th April) showcasing the small yet mighty locomotive stars of the age of steam.

In between these two celebrations there are Easter holiday activities for all the family with Easter-themed treasure hunts, fun quizzes and, of course, appearances by the Easter Bunny.

Special events include the first of two opportunities to join expert ornithologist David Campbell of Wildstarts for an Early Morning Bird Watching Tour on Saturday 12th April, travelling on the K&ESR's heritage diesel observation train (DOT for short) with its large viewing windows and resplendent in its newly repainted green and red livery.

With three stops en-route, there will be plenty of opportunity to watch and listen for a variety of birds which live in the biodiverse habitats along the line including rare species such as nightingales, turtle doves, cuckoos, skylarks and yellowhammers.