Thanks to a grant from the Ashford Borough Council, the Kent and East Sussex Railway will become more sustainable.

The Rural Energy Transition grant will see £14,740 go towards installing solar panels at Tenterden Town station.

These panels will be installed on the Carriage and Wagon Shed extension’s roof so as not draw attention from the look of the station.

The energy from the panels will power the shed, visitor buffet and signal box, with additional power sent back to the National Grid.

The installation will not only help them be more sustainable but will also reduce their railway bills, which cost around £7,000 each year. This also means the investment will pay for itself in the long run.

This aligns with the railway’s sustainability and environmental goals, which have helped restore land by planting disease-resistant elm trees.

“We are very grateful to Ashford Borough Council for this Government-funded grant, which has enabled us to use green technology to reduce both our energy costs and our carbon footprint. Every heritage business is facing these dual challenges at the moment, and we are no exception particularly as there is still no viable alternative to coal for running steam trains.

“We couple our passion for keeping authentic transport heritage alive and accessible to visitors with a desire to operate in as sustainable a way as possible, with consideration for the environment around us.

“This project – to harness renewable energy – is just one of many initiatives that we are undertaking to reduce our environmental impact. These include our work with local wildlife groups and specialists in habitat management, which helps us to ensure that we maintain the line in a way that also encourages biodiversity and vital flora and fauna to thrive, both along the line and at our stations.”

Commenting on the solar energy initiative, K&ESR Chairman Derrick Bilsby