New International Airport Hub Planned For Lydd

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Maidstone has missed out on most railway infrastructure. From having the Paddock Wood branch line, to losing an HS1 station to Ashford and some quarry in Northfleet. Think it was George Hudson who said "make all the railways come to York". We can't even manage a ring road, instead sending all our traffic through town. Lack of vision.

[porkystone]

Nov 30, 2018 3:55:30 GMT Benny said:

Maidstone has missed out on most railway infrastructure. From having the Paddock Wood branch line, to losing an HS1 station to Ashford and some quarry in Northfleet. Think it was George Hudson who said "make all the railways come to York"...….

Sheepishly pulling on his anorak, more info here: www.kentpast.co.uk/history%20of%20kent%20railways.html

[Deleted]

Nov 30, 2018 3:55:30 GMT Benny said:

Maidstone has missed out on most railway infrastructure. From having the Paddock Wood branch line, to losing an HS1 station to Ashford and some quarry in Northfleet. Think it was George Hudson who said "make all the railways come to York". We can't even manage a ring road, instead sending all our traffic through town. Lack of vision.

I think the reason Maidstone largely missed out on the initial development of the railways was because the local council was in the pockets of the bargemen and river men who felt that the railways threatened their livelihood. HS1 was largely scuppered by environmentalists who didn't want a station in the Boxley Valley

[Deleted]

Maidstone didn't so much "miss out", the town positively avoided the railways!

The first main line from London to Dover (the most important trunk route of its day) was planned via Maidstone, as this was the most direct easy route. The local powers-that-be kicked up such as fuss that the railway companies went instead for a North Kent route (expensive to build), slow and limited capacity for expansion) and a Weald route, via Tonbridge (easy to build and fast, but much longer than via Maidstone).

We ended up with a slow branch from Paddock Wood - only later extended to Strood. And when the 'main line' eventually reached us (initially only to ME), the other lines were established and Maidstone only got a secondary service, even when the line was extended to Ashford. This remains true right up to the present day - it looks like a main line, but operates almost like a branch.

But the really stupid thing was that we did it all over again when the Chunnel was built. The original proposed intermediate stop was going to be a Mid-Kent/Maidstone parkway at the bottom of Bluebell Hill, but the local worthy's successfully fought this - and won. Had this gone ahead, Maidstone would have boomed, we would have had a 20 min journey to London, Ashford would never have had an 'international' station (no real change there!), and there would still have been a Gravesend and Northfleet.

How the hell did 'we' cock it up twice?!

[moley]

Dec 2, 2018 2:09:13 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

Maidstone didn't so much "miss out", the town positively avoided the railways!

The first main line from London to Dover (the most important trunk route of its day) was planned via Maidstone, as this was the most direct easy route. The local powers-that-be kicked up such as fuss that the railway companies went instead for a North Kent route (expensive to build), slow and limited capacity for expansion) and a Weald route, via Tonbridge (easy to build and fast, but much longer than via Maidstone).

We ended up with a slow branch from Paddock Wood - only later extended to Strood. And when the 'main line' eventually reached us (initially only to ME), the other lines were established and Maidstone only got a secondary service, even when the line was extended to Ashford. This remains true right up to the present day - it looks like a main line, but operates almost like a branch.

But the really stupid thing was that we did it all over again when the Chunnel was built. The original proposed intermediate stop was going to be a Mid-Kent/Maidstone parkway at the bottom of Bluebell Hill, but the local worthy's successfully fought this - and won. Had this gone ahead, Maidstone would have boomed, we would have had a 20 min journey to London, Ashford would never have had an 'international' station (no real change there!), and there would still have been a Gravesend and Northfleet.

How the hell did 'we' cock it up twice?!

I would refer you to 1991

Just a town full of NIMBY's.....................

Unless, of course, you are a local landowner selling for housing and a shed full of bunce

Government by the rich, for the rich

[Deleted]

Even the park and rides have gone down from 4 to 2 and are brinking on extinction

[Deleted]

Dec 20, 2018 8:13:31 GMT rollingstone said:

Even the park and rides have gone down from 4 to 2 and are brinking on extinction

Park and sail also struggling to stay afloat. 😁

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Dec 20, 2018 9:59:46 GMT sword65 said:

Dec 20, 2018 8:13:31 GMT rollingstone said:

Even the park and rides have gone down from 4 to 2 and are brinking on extinction

Park and sail also struggling to stay afloat. 😁

Oh yes, i was thinking about that when i was posting about the park and ride.

[Deleted]

But maybe that have trained falcon type birds that attack drones - then Lydd will be a flyer.

[Deleted]

Dec 20, 2018 21:41:39 GMT sennockian69 said:

But maybe that have trained falcon type birds that attack drones - then Lydd will be a flyer.

They have armed security at Gatwick why didn't they just blast it out of the sky job done!

[Deleted]

and homing pigeons that follow drones back home to their masters - the eco warriors

[porkystone]

Meanwhile on the same theme, use of Rochester Airport crippled by wind and re development:


www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/runway-closure-to-cause-turbulence-for-pilots-in-bad-weather-195836/

[Deleted]

A total shambles. The triumph of short term thinking.