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In this episode find out how a conversation with a Kent poet Nick Russell and his poem ' Connections' led to taking a look at a well established campaign to bring Euro trains back to Kent after Eurostar ceased serving Ashford International during Covid. Alasdair Stewart speaks to Bring Back Euro Trains campaign spokesperson Diccon Spain and we include a statement from Eurostar.

Sharon Gregory takes two Railway Rideouts on her Harley to Borth in mid Wales to a rare museum open day and discovers the south Wales line: Pontypool and Blaenavon.

There's an impromtu report from Radio Presenter Alex Baker as he happens upon the The 34028 Eddystone loco at Victoria Station.

We get an update on how a model railway show went which was organised by probably one of the youngest railway enthusiasts to do so!

And producer Laura Raymond visits the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway's museum and talks to young volunteers on a sunny Easter Saturday.

Links to Railways and organisations mentioned in this episode:

Campaign group Bring Back Euro Trains.

Eurostar's statement:

“Eurostar has no plans to resume stops at Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International. Demand at these stations has historically been very limited, with the vast majority of UK passengers travelling via St Pancras International. In 2019, Ashford and Ebbsfleet accounted for just 4% of our total passengers. Even at peak times, Ashford saw an average of only 50 passengers per 900-seat train. Over the decade to 2019, St Pancras traffic grew by 20%, while Ashford and Ebbsfleet saw no growth.

Eurostar remains focused on offering city centre to city centre services, to reach our 30 million passenger goal. Any reopening would require significant additional investment in border infrastructure, particularly as new EU border systems are introduced.”

Virgin Trains statement on plans to run a service through the Channel Tunnel

**

Poem featured by Nick Russell of the Rye Harbour Writers from a book called The Station Poems. Poems at stations courtesy of the South East Community Rail Partnership.

The Southern Locomotives 34010 Eddystone Locomotive Railtours

Welsh Highland Heritage Railway

Borth Railway Museum

Blaenavon's Heritage Railwa

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory.

Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch.

You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here:

Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over.

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch"

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

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This episode is very much one of Rockstars and their Model Railways as Alasdair Stewart attends the official launch of the Ashford International Model Railway Education Centre in Kent. The new centre is supported by Patron Jools Holland, well know for their modelling nearly as much as their music, Roger Daltry and Peter Waterman.

Sharon Gregory gets her Harley out for the proper first Railway Ride-out of the season to the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway. Producer Laura Raymond find just some of the railway highlights on a holiday to the Lombardie region of Italy visiting the Brunate Furnicular, the Rail Collection at the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology and takes a ride on the 1928 #Ventotto trams in Milan.

Alasdair get the lowdown on the new take on teaching Rail Safety from Network Rail's Safey Manager, Kent: Nicola Dooris with an engaging model layout. He also gets a chance to visit the wonderfully successful Railway 200 Inspiration Train as it visits Hastings at one of its last few stops of its extended tour of the UK.

Links to the Railways and Organisations mentioned in this episode:

Ashford International Model Railway Education Centre, Kent

Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway

Network Rail's Rail Safety Manager for Kent, Nicola Dooris can be contacted on her email nicola.dooris@networkrail.co.uk if you would like to find out more about the learning rescources available for schools or visit the layout in Margate, Kent.

Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology

Brunate Furnicular, Como

Railway 200

New dates for the Inspiration Train

Follow us on Facebook for photos of the places and people we meet making these episodes.

Thanks for listening!
#VentottoTrams #GloucestershireandWarwickshireRailway #Milan #AIMREC #NetworkRail #AlasdairStewart #SharonGregory #joolsholland #Rogerdaltry #Petewaterman

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory.

Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch.

You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here:

Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over.

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch"

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us Fan Mail

It is a full house this episode we have all been out visiting railways across the UK. Alasdair goes to East Kent Railway – a Colonel Stephens Line ..if you are not familiar with that name...he was an engineer who built and managed his own empire of branch lines up and down the UK around the early part of the last century. Alasdair chats to Chris Jackson from the Colonel Stephens Society to set the scene before setting off to Kent

Sharon has been considering her favourite railway books as we mark World Book Day in the week we publish.

Young reporter George Woodward visits the Peak Rail at half term and Paddy Range has been out on a diesel hunt, this time to the Severn Valley Railway and producer Laura Raymond popped along to chat to volunteers at Llangollen Railway on the first day of their season and a meets a very special volunteer who will soon be having tea with the King!

Links Below to the Railways and organisations in this episode.

Colonel Stephens Society

The Colonel Stephens Railway Museum - Kent & East Sussex Railway

East Kent Railway Trust

World Book Day

Llangollen Railway

Betteshanger Country Park

Peak Rail

Severn Valley Railway

#SharonGregory #Paddyrange #Alasdair Stewart #Laura Raymond #WorldBookDay

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory.

Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch.

You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here:

Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over.

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch"

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.