A DESTINATION AT EVERY STATION! 2018 Timetable & Guide 2018 Spa Valley Railway PAY ONCE AND 2018 TRAVEL ALL DAY!* BOOK AT SPAVALLEYRAILWAY.CO.UK THE HERITAGE RAILWAY IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk 01892 537715 WELCOME TO THE RUNNING HERITAGE TRAINS IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS SINCE 1996 Welcome to the Spa Valley Railway, a fun packed day out with steam, heritage diesels, exploration, excitement and enjoyment! We are the railway with... “A DESTINATION AT EVERY STATION!” Explore Eridge, Groombridge, High Rocks or Royal Tunbridge Wells throughout your visit and make a day of it, with plenty of local attractions easily accessible by train you will find something for all the family to enjoy. Our 2018 timetable and guide is just the start of your Spa Valley adventure into the High Weald! HIGH WEALD COUNTRYSIDE & THE ASHDOWN FOREST The Spa Valley line runs through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty known as the High Weald. The area covers 560sq miles and extends across Kent, East & West Sussex & Surrey, it is the fourth largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England & Wales. The area is characterised by a medieval landscape of vast rolling hills, extensive woodland, sandstone outcrops, scattered farms and ancient roadways. A major part, often viewed as the Jewel in the Crown of the High Weald is the Ashdown Forest. It is the largest area of open access land in the south-east. Popularly known in children’s story books as the home of Winnie the Pooh, the Spa Valley Railway’s Groombridge Station takes you close to the edge of the famous forest. ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS – KENT Since 1606 visitors have been coming to Royal Tunbridge Wells to experience the Chalybeate Spring. Its chance discovery by Lord North, who was returning to London after a three month stay in Kent, led to the growth of Royal Tunbridge Wells and also the famous Pantiles. The news of Lord North’s discovery soon spread around and in 1629 the first royal visitor to the town was Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles 1, who stayed in “The Wells” for six weeks. In 1909 King Edward VII officially recognised the popularity of the town with its many royal visitors – which included his mother, Queen Victoria – and granted the town its “Royal” prefix. Today the town is still full of elegance and its original charm and the Spa Valley Railway takes you right to its western edge, just a few minutes walk from The Pantiles. 2018 Operating Days FEBRUARY MARCH Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 26 27 28 29 30 31 APRIL MAY Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 28 29 30 31 30 JUNE JULY Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 25 26 27 28 29 30 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 AUGUST SEPTEMBER Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 OCTOBER NOVEMBER Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 26 27 28 29 30 29 30 31 DECEMBER JANUARY 2019 Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 31 28 29 30 31 How to use the calendar above Simply match the date you wish to travel with the colour of timetable to the right and arrive in good time for your train. We recommend allowing at least 20 minutes to park and purchase tickets, no need to pre-book but you can on line to save time! For Special Event times please visit our website. 2018 Timetables Green – Standard Steam & Diesel Timetable Heritage Heritage What will pull our train? Steam Steam Diesel Diesel Tunbridge Wells West Dep: 10:20 12:00 13:40 15:20 High Rocks Dep: 10:27 12:07 13:47 15:27 Groombridge Dep: 10:36 12:16 13:56 15:36 Eridge Arr: 10:50 12:25 14:05 15:45 Heritage Heritage What will pull our train? Steam Steam Diesel Diesel Eridge Dep: 11:10 12:50 14:30 16:10 Groombridge Dep: 11:22 13:02 14:42 16:26 High Rocks Dep: 11:30 13:10 14:50 16:33 Tunbridge Wells West Arr: 11:37 13:17 14:57 16:40 Purple – Southern Region Heritage Train Please note: Trains do not call at High Rocks on Tuesdays Tunbridge Wells West Dep: 10:20 12:00 13:40 15:20 High Rocks Dep: 10:27 12:07 13:47 15:27 Groombridge Dep: 10:36 12:16 13:56 15:36 Eridge Arr: 10:50 12:25 14:05 15:45 Eridge Dep: 11:10 12:50 14:30 16:10 Groombridge Dep: 11:22 13:02 14:42 16:26 High Rocks Dep: 11:30 13:10 14:50 16:33 Tunbridge Wells West Arr: 11:37 13:17 14:57 16:40 2018 Fare Information Standard All Day Rovers Rover Tickets: Valid for unlimited travel on the day of your visit! Valid on Green or Purple days ONLY. Orange (Special Events), Red and Blue days may vary. Online Standard All Day Rover On the Day Booking fee applies! Adult (16-59yrs) £12 £10 Child (2-15yrs) £6 £4 Senior (60+) £11 £9 Family (2A+2C) £30 £28 *‘PAY ONCE AND TRAVEL ALL DAY!’ The ‘Pay Once and Travel All Day’ offer is valid on Green and Purple operating days ONLY. The ‘Pay Once and Travel All Day’ offer is NOT valid on Orange, Red or Blue days. The Spa Valley Railway reserves the right to amend this offer for whatever reason without prior warning. No colour = no public service however the line may be available for private hire, driver experience or dining trains. Orange = Special Events – see website for timetables. Red = Santa Specials – pre-booking essential, see website to book. Blue = Day out with Thomas – pre-booking essential, see website to book. Special Events 2018 FEBRUARY Train services commence on the 10th February 2018! Sat 10th & Sun 11th – See PJ Masks Catboy, Gekko & Owlette! Sat 24th & Sun 25th – Kids for a Quid! MARCH Sat 10th & Sun 11th – Spring Diesel Gala Fri 30th & Sat 31st – Easter Specials APRIL Sun 1st & Mon 2nd – Easter Specials Sat 14th, Sun 15th, Sat 21st & Sun 22nd – A Day Out with Thomas MAY Sat 5th, Sun 6th & Mon 7th – Bank Holiday Steam Weekend Sat 19th & Sun 20th – Children’s Character Days (See website for details!) JUNE Sat 16th & Sun 17th – Children’s Character Days (See website for details!) Sat 30th – Summer Transport Festival JULY Sun 1st – Summer Transport Festival AUGUST Fri 3rd to Sun 5th – Summer Diesel Gala Sat 11th & Sun 12th – Teddy Bears Weekend Sun 19th – 3CIG & 73140 Push/Pull Day Sat 25th to Mon 27th – Bank Holiday Kids for a Quid! SEPTEMBER Sat 8th & Sun 9th – Steam Weekend Sat 15th & Sun 16th – Children’s Character Days (See website for details!) Sat 29th & Sun 30th – A Day Out with Thomas OCTOBER Sat 6th & Sun 7th – A Day Out with Thomas Fri 19th to Sun 21st – 8th Real Ale & Cider Festival and Diesel Gala Sat 27th & Sun 28th – Children’s Character Days (See website for details!) DECEMBER Sat 1st, Sun 2nd, Sat 8th, Sun 9th, Sat 15th, Sun 16th, Thurs 20th to Mon 24th Dec – Santa Specials Sat 29th, Sun 30th, Mon 31st – Mince Pie Specials & Kids for a Quid! JANUARY 2019 Tues 1st – Mince Pie Specials & Kids for a Quid! Santa Specials Our extremely popular and sell out Santa Specials take place throughout December in the run up to Christmas.