Navigation – Medway and Swale Boating Association

Potential Kingsferry Bridge Closure Dates 2024 – Updated more info.

Please note, these are continuous closures and the dates/times shown are proposed start of closure and end of closure.

If any of the above closures will impact any events involving access through the Bridge that have already been scheduled please email Chairman@msba.org.uk as soon as possible with full details and this will be passed to Network Rail.

Potential Kingsferry Bridge Closure Dates 2024

The MSBA has been advised that some urgent work is required on the
Kingsferry Bridge relating to the replacement of the cables and weights.
Network Rail appreciate that this will affect Medway and Swale users
as well as commercial traffic to the Port and are therefore providing an
early warning of potential closure dates. Please be aware that these dates
have not been confirmed and as soon as more information is available, we
will advise members.

* 1st – 2nd June 2024 (2-day) – Kent Side Counterweight Ropes
* 8th – 9th June 2024 (2-day) – Sheppey Side Counterweight Ropes
* 14th – 23rd June 2024 (8-day) – Kent Side Main Ropes
* 28th June – 7th July 2024 (8-day) – Sheppey Side Main Ropes

If any of the above closures will impact any events involving access through
the Bridge that have already been scheduled please email
Chairman@msba.org.uk as soon as possible with
full details and this will be passed to Network Rail.

New wreck buoy in Rochester

Peel Ports have responded to a request from the MSBA for a buoy to mark a nasty looking wreck just upstream from Rochester Cruising Club, near Hathaway Court. The orange buoy is an interesting shape and is marked “WRECK” in red letters.

Yet more restrictions at Kingsferry Bridge

Yet more festive rail strikes will disrupt Kingsferry Bridge operations on 24-27 December and 3-8 January. Network Rail have a contingency plan to cover some of the disruption:

19:00 Sat 24 December to 07:00 Tues 27 December 2022 No bridge lifts

Tuesday 3 January 2023
00:00 – 19:00 Bridge lifts available
19:00 – 23:59 No bridge lifts

Wednesday 4 January
00:00– 07:00 No bridge lifts
07:00 – 19:00 Bridge lifts available
19:00 – 23:59 No bridge lifts

Thursday 5 January
Midnight – 07:00 No bridge lifts
07:00 – 23:59 Bridge lifts available

Friday 6 January
00:00 – 19:00 Bridge lifts available
19:00 – 23:59 No bridge lifts

Saturday 7 January
00:00 – 07:00 No bridge lifts
07:00 – 19:00 Bridge lifts available
19:00 – 23:59 No bridge lifts

Sunday 8 January
00:00 – 07:00 No bridge lifts
07:00 – 23:59 Bridge lifts available

Priority will be given to commercial shipping but leisure craft will also be able to transit the bridge. Please give as much notice as possible (call VHF channel 10) to avoid delays. If talks are successful and industrial action is avoided a cancellation notice will be issued.