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Location notes
Situated on the Channel Tunnel Rail link opposite the M2 crossing of the Medway river
Railway type and traffic
Currently the only traffic operating on the line is Eurostars although freight may feature in the future
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Medway Viaduct, (London end)
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
Environment
Located in Kent near the city of Rochester there are plenty of vantage points to watch trains crossing the viaduct.
Road directions
London side
Take junction 2 off of the M2 motorway.
At the roundabout take the second exit back under the motorway.
At the next roundabout take the 2nd exit and park somewhere on the A228
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Medway Viaduct, (London end) map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Medway Viaduct, (London end) map co-ordinates
Parking
Parking at the location is problematic with only lay bys and pavement parking to choose from. But if you are prepared to walk there are lay bys on the A228.
Public transport
There is no easy rail access with Strood being the nearest station which is a few miles away.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
There are no facilities in the immediate vicinity but the city of Rochester is a few minutes drive away
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Medway Viaduct, (London end)
Streetmap links
Medway Viaduct, (London end) general view map
Medway Viaduct, (London end) close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Medway Viaduct, (London end)
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Medway Viaduct, (London end)
Googly map
Medway Viaduct, (London end) general view map
Medway Viaduct, (London end) close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Medway Viaduct, (London end)
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The CTRL is a high speed line so it's very unlikely that you will get anything slow moving on the line. High shutter speeds are a must. Also digital camera users with shutter lag beware - the train will have travelled a coach length in the time it takes to take a picture!
If you want to see Eurostars at anything approaching 300 km/h, then either end of the CTRL is not really the place.
In the down direction, the first time you can get above about 280 km/h is as you emerge from the Tunnel from where it is that sort of speed until you hit the loops next to the M20 a few miles out from Ashford, when line speed goes down to 270 km/h. If you concentrate your efforts within a couple of miles of the motorway services at Bearsted, then even the trains that have stopped at Ashford should be back up to near enough full speed.
Many thanks to Nev Arthur - Eurostar Driver for the above comment.
If you want to see Eurostars at anything approaching 300 km/h, then either end of the CTRL is not really the place.
In the down direction, the first time you can get above about 280 km/h is as you emerge from the Tunnel from where it is that sort of speed until you hit the loops next to the M20 a few miles out from Ashford, when line speed goes down to 270 km/h. If you concentrate your efforts within a couple of miles of the motorway services at Bearsted, then even the trains that have stopped at Ashford should be back up to near enough full speed.
Many thanks to Nev Arthur - Eurostar Driver for the above comment.
Links to photographs at this location
Rail-net - CTRL High speed testing
The CTRL Link - The Medway Viaduct
General views - All photographs © Marcus Dawson unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Facing North from the A228
From the M2 over bridge looking towards London. The path here is quite narrow and traffic on the road behind can be quite heavy. Recommended only for short durations. The opposite side of the road (not show) affords a superb view directly along the via
Fig 2 - Facing South from the footpath - wide
The footpath leading away from the bridge zig zags back to trackside offering a nice wide shot from one position….
Fig 3 - Facing South from the footpath - close
… to a close up view from another
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
