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Written by Marcus Dawson - 30 Oct 2003
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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, (Country 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.
Environment
Located in Kent near the city of Rochester there are plenty of vantage points to watch trains crossing the viaduct.
Road directions
From the M2 junction 3 (A229) follow the local signs to Wouldham. When you go underneath the CTRL there is a turning on your left, take it. Then the next left is a track that will lead you back up to the location.

Click here to set up your location for directions to this location

Medway Viaduct, (Country end) map co-ordinates
Parking
Parking is available on the track leading to the locations
Public transport
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, (Country end)

Googly map
Streetmap links
Medway Viaduct, (Country end) general view map
Medway Viaduct, (Country end) close up map

Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Medway Viaduct, (Country end)



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Railway Gen Group
South East Gen
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.
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 - Close up


Fig 1 - Close up

From the top of the road track you can see the end of the viaduct

Fig 2 - Wide


Fig 2 - Wide

Continuing along the track side there is a small mound that brings you up to track level�.

Fig 3 - Close up


Fig 3 - Close up

� or with steps you can get close again, the fence is protected there is barbed wire along the top.

Fig 4 - Close up


Fig 4 - Close up

The reverse angle shows to good effect the roller coaster gradients employed on the CTRL. To get this shot you will need steps to gain height against the security fence.

Fig 5 - Viaduct wide shot



Fig 5 - Viaduct wide shot

Probably a little to low for trains on the opposite side, but this angle shows the viaduct off nicely

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