Bid to bring passenger trains back to Kent's Hoo Peninsula

Published by

Sam Pither

Medway Council is looking for geotechnical investigation consultants to advise on a scheme to bring passenger services back to a rail line on Kent’s Hoo Peninsula.

Currently, the 19km Grain Branch line, which runs between the Isle of Grain and Hoo Junction, is a freight-only line.

The council is look for advice on returning passenger services to the line for the first time since 1968. This will mean installing new sections of dual track which will allow trains to pass each other, maintaining the existing freight service while work is underway.

Some sections of dual track were included when the line was originally constructed,, meaning the existing railway corridor is sufficiently wide to accommodate dualling along with the enhancement of the track bed and embankments without requiring the acquisition of adjoining land.

Once complete, the council’s proposal would improve connectivity and support sustainable growth on the Hoo Peninsula by creating a link to London and interchange at Gravesend, connecting with the rest of Medway.

The upgrade, which will cost £63 million, comes from a larger government pot of £170 million that the council has secured for infrastructure projects. These also include highway upgrades, a new railway station south of Sharnal Street and environmental management measures.

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Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset. A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise. Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.