Operation Sittingbourne

‘Victor’ stands with a train alongside the platform at Sittingbourne Viaduct station. The wooden platform will be replaced with a concrete version that is taller and slightly wider. You can see some of the blocks and beams behind the platform.

Winter 2025 sees the last phase in the reconstruction of the platform at Sittingbourne Viaduct station but we need your help!

Over the next few months, the platform will be finished and this takes a lot of work and you know what they say about that – many hands make light work – so please come to Sittingbourne Viaduct station on the dates below and help us finish the new platform before the Season starts on Sunday 6th April.

The majority of the platform has been rebuilt, leaving an extra few sections to be completed plus a number of other projects around the site at Sittingbourne Viaduct station to finish it off and make the station look great.

The new platform with ‘Premier’ at the wide area for the Railway 200 Whistle-Up on 1st January 2025.

The platform reconstruction project has received a boost from building product supplier Ibstock, a leading UK manufacturer of a diverse range of building products and solutions. The Group has eight core product categories, including flooring & lintels and rail &
infrastructure. Ibstock’s factory in Sittingbourne generously topped-up an existing grant from Swale Borough Council providing concrete beams for the new beam-and-block concrete platform which sits on top of cast concrete piers and also provided pre-cast concrete platform edging. All these concrete products were delivered free of charge by Seymour Transport Ltd.

A massive thank you to Ibstock, Swale Borough Council, Swale Vehicle Enthusiasts Club and private individuals for their donations towards this project as well as those who donated their time last year and those volunteering this year. If you’d like to get involved, please email info@sklr.net and we’ll make the necessary arrangements.

We will be working at Sittingbourne Viaduct station from about 10am until about 3pm on the following dates:

  • Sat/Sun 11/12 January: Paving/landscaping/fencing at top of bank
  • Sat/Sun 18/19 January: Installing remaining platform beams/blocks plus foundation for staff steps at booking office end
  • Sat/Sun 1/2 February: Paving/landscaping/fencing at top of bank
  • Sat/Sun 8/9 February: Complete all paving/landscaping ahead of grant deadline
  • March weekends (dates TBC): Complete platform and construct sleeper retaining walls at foot of main steps ahead of official opening.

Here are some photos of the first phase work carried out in Autumn 2023:

The original wooden platform at Sittingbourne Viaduct station with its shelter

The original wooden platform at Sittingbourne Viaduct station with its shelter

Concrete walls have been built to carry the new platform deck

The old wooden platform has been removed and new concrete supports constructed ahead of the arrival of the platform deck

Beams are positioned on the piers onto which the blocks are laid to create a floor

The concrete surface is laid over the blocks in sections and finished with a textured surface

Coping stones are added along the front edge of the platform (these are door steps in the Ibstock catalogue!)

The first phase was completed before December 2023