Maidstone East railway station
Encyclopedia
Maidstone East railway station is one of three stations in the central area of Maidstone
, Kent
, but currently the only one with a regular direct service to London
. The station is on the Maidstone East Line, 40 miles (64.4 km) south-east of London Victoria (37 miles (59.5 km) south-east of London Bridge
), and is served by trains operated by Southeastern
.
. The approach from the west is via a high level truss bridge
over the river and a later girder bridge
over the A229
. Immediately east of the station is the portal to the 100 yards (91.4 m) Week Street tunnel.
The booking office, open for most of the operational day, is located at street level on Station Road, above the tunnel portal, with other offices on up platform 1 as well as a coffee shop. There are also offices on Platform 2.
There is a PERTIS
self service 'Permit to Travel' ticket machine located on the ramp which leads to the down side platforms (2/3) but that on the up side was removed some years ago when the current-generation passenger-operated self-service ticket machine was installed.
The station has three platforms: 1 and 2 are through platforms capable of handling trains of up to 8 cars. Platform three is a bay platform
on the north (down line) side. Ramps lead down to the platforms on each side. The station formerly had a goods yard on its north side. Part is the site of a Royal Mail
sorting office
and the remainder a car park for station users. A short siding from the down line to the west of platforms 2 and 3 is a remnant of tracks into the yard. A smaller goods yard also existed on the south side; this is now a car park. A disused face to platform 1 shows the alignment of a former bay platform.
A third track runs as a passing track through the station between the up and down lines.
A pedestrian walkway on the railway bridge provides a route to the Medway Valley Line
's Maidstone Barracks
station on the west of the river. Maidstone's third station, Maidstone West
, is 0.5 miles (804.7 m) south of Maidstone Barracks.
(LCDR) on 1 June 1874 as the terminus of the line from Otford
. On 1 July 1884, the line was extended eastwards to Ashford
. In 1899, following the merger of the LCDR with the South Eastern Railway
(SER) which operated the Medway Valley line, the station was given its current name to distinguish it from the SER's identically named station which was renamed Maidstone West.
Following the grouping
of mainline rail companies into regional railways in 1923, the Southern Railway
undertook electrification as far as Maidstone East in 1939. Electrification to Ashford was carried out in 1961. Goods services at the station were discontinued in 1965.
In the first, on 17 July 1967, a slow-moving westbound train passed a signal at danger
and ran into the rear of a stationary passenger train at the up platform causing damage to the both trains but only interrupting services for a few hours.
The second, on 6 September 1993, was more significant. At 02:02, a freight derailment
occurred. A train, comprising 15 goods wagons was travelling from Dover
to Willesden
hauled by a Class 47 locomotive (No 47288), when, due to excessive speed, the locomotive's rear bogie
derailed in the tunnel approaching Maidstone East. The locomotive ended up on its side on the track. Several wagons left the track, running into signals, platforms and buildings, and spilling their load of 900 tons of steel cable. The driver subsequently failed a breathalyser
test. The station remained closed for only a short period as a result of the accident.
announced that they were in talks with the John Lewis Partnership
who intended to build a large Waitrose
supermarket on the site. However, in November of that year, the developer that had been working on the deal pulled out taking John Lewis with them.
The following year a new redevelopment in conjunction with supermarket chain Asda
was proposed. This development included a 50000 sq ft (4,645.2 m²) store, hotel, 100 homes and parking for 515 cars. In 2007 it was reported that Asda were getting cold feet
over the plans, although Asda stressed that talks were still ongoing, but in 2009 it was confirmed that Asda had withdrawn their interest due to their development of a site at the nearby St Peters' Street complex instead.
.
There is also a peak hour service via Thameslink across London, serving City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras International before travelling onto Bedford.
After the completion of the Thameslink Programme
in 2015 a 2tph service from Maidstone East to Royston
is proposed.
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, but currently the only one with a regular direct service to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The station is on the Maidstone East Line, 40 miles (64.4 km) south-east of London Victoria (37 miles (59.5 km) south-east of London Bridge
London Bridge station
London Bridge railway station is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex in the London Borough of Southwark, occupying a large area on two levels immediately south-east of London Bridge and 1.6 miles east of Charing Cross. It is one of the oldest railway stations in the...
), and is served by trains operated by Southeastern
Southeastern (train operating company)
London & South Eastern Railway Limited, trading as Southeastern is a train operating company in south-east England. On 1 April 2006 it became the franchisee for the new Integrated Kent Franchise , replacing the publicly owned South Eastern Trains on the former South East Franchise...
.
Layout
The station is to the east of the River MedwayRiver Medway
The River Medway, which is almost entirely in Kent, England, flows for from just inside the West Sussex border to the point where it enters the Thames Estuary....
. The approach from the west is via a high level truss bridge
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
over the river and a later girder bridge
Girder bridge
A girder bridge, in general, is a bridge built of girders placed on bridge abutments and foundation piers. In turn, a bridge deck is built on top of the girders in order to carry traffic. There are several different subtypes of girder bridges:...
over the A229
A229 road
The A229 is a major road running north-south through Kent.The road begins in the Medway town of Rochester at the foot of Star Hill forming a junction with the A2 road. It then climbs up through the built-up area of Chatham, passing Troy Town and Rochester Airport before descending the slope of the...
. Immediately east of the station is the portal to the 100 yards (91.4 m) Week Street tunnel.
The booking office, open for most of the operational day, is located at street level on Station Road, above the tunnel portal, with other offices on up platform 1 as well as a coffee shop. There are also offices on Platform 2.
There is a PERTIS
Permit to travel
In the ticketing system of the British rail network, a Permit to Travel provisionally allows passengers to travel on a train when they have not purchased a ticket in advance and the ticket office of the station they are travelling from is closed, without incurring a penalty fare.Since a large...
self service 'Permit to Travel' ticket machine located on the ramp which leads to the down side platforms (2/3) but that on the up side was removed some years ago when the current-generation passenger-operated self-service ticket machine was installed.
The station has three platforms: 1 and 2 are through platforms capable of handling trains of up to 8 cars. Platform three is a bay platform
Bay platform
Bay platform is a railway-related term commonly used in the UK and Australia to describe a dead-end platform at a railway station that has through lines...
on the north (down line) side. Ramps lead down to the platforms on each side. The station formerly had a goods yard on its north side. Part is the site of a Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
sorting office
Sorting office
Sorting office or Processing and Distribution Center is any location where postal operators bring mail after collection for sorting into batches for delivery to the addressee, which may be a direct delivery or sent onwards to another regional or local sorting office, or to another postal...
and the remainder a car park for station users. A short siding from the down line to the west of platforms 2 and 3 is a remnant of tracks into the yard. A smaller goods yard also existed on the south side; this is now a car park. A disused face to platform 1 shows the alignment of a former bay platform.
A third track runs as a passing track through the station between the up and down lines.
A pedestrian walkway on the railway bridge provides a route to the Medway Valley Line
Medway Valley Line
The Medway Valley Line is the name given to the railway line linking and the Medway Towns with and onward to , and London St Pancras International...
's Maidstone Barracks
Maidstone Barracks railway station
Maidstone Barracks railway station is one of three railway stations which serve Maidstone in Kent. It is on the Medway Valley Line, and train services are provided by Southeastern....
station on the west of the river. Maidstone's third station, Maidstone West
Maidstone West railway station
Maidstone West railway station is one of three railway stations which serve the Town Centre of Maidstone, the County Town of Kent.It lies approximately halfway along the Medway Valley Line from Paddock Wood; from Strood) and train services are provided by Southeastern.- History :Due largely to...
, is 0.5 miles (804.7 m) south of Maidstone Barracks.
History
Maidstone East was opened as Maidstone by the London, Chatham and Dover RailwayLondon, Chatham and Dover Railway
The London, Chatham and Dover Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1859 until the 1923 grouping which united it with other companies to form the Southern Railway. Its lines ran through London and northern and eastern Kent to form a significant part of the Greater London...
(LCDR) on 1 June 1874 as the terminus of the line from Otford
Otford railway station
Otford railway station serves Otford in Kent. Train services are provided by Southeastern.- Services :From Monday 23 March 2009, most of the stopping train service to/from Blackfriars is extended across Central London via the 'Thameslink' route, serving City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras...
. On 1 July 1884, the line was extended eastwards to Ashford
Ashford International railway station
Ashford International railway station serves Ashford in Kent, England. Services are provided by Southeastern, Southern and Eurostar.International services use platforms 3 & 4, whilst domestic trains use the original platforms 1 & 2, and a new island built when the Channel Tunnel opened...
. In 1899, following the merger of the LCDR with the South Eastern Railway
South Eastern Railway (UK)
The South Eastern Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent...
(SER) which operated the Medway Valley line, the station was given its current name to distinguish it from the SER's identically named station which was renamed Maidstone West.
Following the grouping
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
of mainline rail companies into regional railways in 1923, the Southern Railway
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
undertook electrification as far as Maidstone East in 1939. Electrification to Ashford was carried out in 1961. Goods services at the station were discontinued in 1965.
Accidents
The station has been the site of two accidents involving freight trains.In the first, on 17 July 1967, a slow-moving westbound train passed a signal at danger
Signal passed at danger
A Signal passed at danger , in British railway terminology, occurs when a train passes a stop signal without authority to do so. It is a term primarily used within the British Railway Industry, although it can be applied worldwide.-Categories of SPAD:...
and ran into the rear of a stationary passenger train at the up platform causing damage to the both trains but only interrupting services for a few hours.
The second, on 6 September 1993, was more significant. At 02:02, a freight derailment
Derailment
A derailment is an accident on a railway or tramway in which a rail vehicle, or part or all of a train, leaves the tracks on which it is travelling, with consequent damage and in many cases injury and/or death....
occurred. A train, comprising 15 goods wagons was travelling from Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
to Willesden
Willesden
Willesden is an area in North West London which forms part of the London Borough of Brent. It is situated 5 miles north west of Charing Cross...
hauled by a Class 47 locomotive (No 47288), when, due to excessive speed, the locomotive's rear bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
derailed in the tunnel approaching Maidstone East. The locomotive ended up on its side on the track. Several wagons left the track, running into signals, platforms and buildings, and spilling their load of 900 tons of steel cable. The driver subsequently failed a breathalyser
Breathalyzer
A breathalyzer or breathalyser is a device for estimating blood alcohol content from a breath sample...
test. The station remained closed for only a short period as a result of the accident.
Development
There have been plans to redevelop the station for a number of years. In 2005 Network RailNetwork Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
announced that they were in talks with the John Lewis Partnership
John Lewis Partnership
The John Lewis Partnership is an employee-owned UK partnership which operates John Lewis department stores, Waitrose supermarkets and a number of other services...
who intended to build a large Waitrose
Waitrose
Waitrose Limited is an upmarket chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and is the food division of the British retailer and worker co-operative the John Lewis Partnership. Its head office is in Bracknell, Berkshire, England...
supermarket on the site. However, in November of that year, the developer that had been working on the deal pulled out taking John Lewis with them.
The following year a new redevelopment in conjunction with supermarket chain Asda
Asda
Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
was proposed. This development included a 50000 sq ft (4,645.2 m²) store, hotel, 100 homes and parking for 515 cars. In 2007 it was reported that Asda were getting cold feet
Cold feet (metaphor)
Cold feet is apprehension or doubt strong enough to prevent a planned course of action.The origin of the term itself has been attributed to American author Stephen Crane, who added the phrase, in 1896, to the second edition of his short novel, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets.The behaviour may be...
over the plans, although Asda stressed that talks were still ongoing, but in 2009 it was confirmed that Asda had withdrawn their interest due to their development of a site at the nearby St Peters' Street complex instead.
Services
The typical off-peak service from the station is two trains per hour to and two trains per hour to London VictoriaVictoria station (London)
Victoria station, also known as London Victoria, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. It is named after nearby Victoria Street and not Queen Victoria. It is the second busiest railway terminus in London after Waterloo, and includes an air terminal for passengers...
.
There is also a peak hour service via Thameslink across London, serving City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras International before travelling onto Bedford.
After the completion of the Thameslink Programme
Thameslink Programme
The Thameslink Programme, originally Thameslink 2000, is a £6 billion project in south-east England to upgrade and expand the Thameslink rail network to provide new and longer trains between a wider range of stations to the north and to the south of London without requiring passengers to change...
in 2015 a 2tph service from Maidstone East to Royston
Royston railway station
Royston railway station serves the town of Royston in Hertfordshire, England. The station is north east of London Kings Cross and south west of Cambridge on the Hitchin-Cambridge Line...
is proposed.