Chilham railway station

Chilham railway station is a railway station in Chilham, Kent. It is on the Ashford to Ramsgate line between Ashford International and Canterbury West. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Southeastern.

Chilham
General information
Location	Chilham, Ashford England
Grid reference	TR077536
Managed by	Southeastern
Platforms	2
Other information
Station code	CIL
Classification	DfT category F2
History
Opened	6 February 1846
Passengers
2019/20	53,688
2020/21	15,658
2021/22	40,214
2022/23	48,300
2023/24	59,724
Notes Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

History

The station was opened by the South Eastern Railway (SER) on 6 February 1846,^[1] as the first part of their line towards Thanet, which opened as far as Canterbury West on this date.^[2][3]

There are level crossings near both ends of the station, since the SER were unsure about the levels of traffic on the line and decided to cross several roads at-grade instead of bridges. Trains that delayed cars at the crossings for more than five minutes would be fined.^[3]

The station attracted attention from other railway companies. A proposal was put forward for a branch line from Chilham to Faversham, but rejected by the SER. In retrospect, this turned out to be a mistake as the East Kent Railway, later to become the London, Chatham & Dover Railway (LCDR), built their own line to Faversham, competing with the SER for London - Thanet traffic.^[3] In response, the SER proposed building a line from its station at Strood to Chilham across the River Medway and the North Downs, in order to cut demand for the LCDR. This plan was withdrawn after the SER realised such a scheme would probably involve also constructing a line from Canterbury to Dover.^[4]

Goods services were withdrawn from the station on 15 August 1966.^[2]

Accidents and incidents

• On 20 October 1848, a fish and luggage train was derailed near Chilham when a bridge over the River Stour was washed away under it. All three crew were uninjured.^[5]
• On 11 August 1858, an excursion train was derailed near Chilham. Three people were killed.^[6][7]
• On 15 July 1970, an electric multiple unit was in collision with a lorry on an occupation crossing between Chartham and Chilham due to an error by the crossing keeper. The driver of the lorry and the guard of the train were killed.^[8]
• On 26 July 2015, electric multiple unit 375703 was in collision with a herd of cattle on the line between Wye and Chilham. Two carriages were derailed. There were no injuries amongst the 70 passengers.^[9][10]

Services

All services at Chilham are operated by Southeastern using Class 375 EMUs.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:^[11]

• 1 tph to London Charing Cross via Tonbridge
• 1 tph to Ramsgate

Additional services, including trains to and from London Cannon Street and London St Pancras International call at the station during the peak hours.

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Wye		Southeastern Ashford to Ramsgate Line		Chartham

References

Citations

1. Butt 1995, p. 60.
2. McCarthy & McCarthy 2007, p. 122.
3. Gray 1990, p. 244.
4. Gray 1990, p. 246.
5. "A Bridge Washed Away, and a Train Overturned". Daily News. No. 750. London. 21 October 1848.
6. Kidner, R. W. (1977) [1963]. The South Eastern and Chatham Railway. Tarrant Hinton: The Oakwood Press. p. 48.
7. Gray 1990, p. 249.
8. Glover, John (2001). Southern Electric. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. p. 142. ISBN 0-7110-2807-9.
9. "Train derailed after hitting cows on line in Kent". BBC News. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
10. "Southeastern Train travelling between Chilham and Wye derails after hitting cattle". Kent Online. Kent Messenger Group. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
11. Table 197, 207 National Rail timetable, December 2023

Sources

• Butt, R. V. J. (October 1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199. OL 11956311M.
• McCarthy, Colin; McCarthy, David (2007). Railway of Britain : Kent and Sussex. Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7110-3222-4.
• Gray, Adrian (1990). South Eastern Railway. Middleton Press. ISBN 978-0-906520-85-7.

External links

• Train times and station information for Chilham railway station from National Rail
• Official report into 1858 accident

51.245°N 0.976°E / 51.245; 0.976