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The Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership is managed by Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC), the leading community development agency working across Bedfordshire, with a proven track record built up over 60 years.

Railway 200

2025 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway. Britain and the world changed forever. Railway 200 celebrates the past, present and future of rail.

Join us as we mark this special occasion with a range of events and activities throughout the year.

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Community Rail Partnerships

Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership is one of a growing number of Community Rail Partnerships across the country.

They work to engage communities and help people get the most from their railways, promoting social inclusion and sustainable travel.

Community Rail Partnerships work alongside train operators to deliver improvements and bring stations back to life.

For more information please visit:

Community Rail website

Government - Community Rail lines

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Latest news

Keep up to date with all the latest Marston Vale Line news and events.

Contact us

E-mail
officer@marstonvalecommunityrail.org.uk

Phone
01234 832645

Post
Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership,
The Old School, Cardington,
Bedford, Bedfordshire
MK44 3SX

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8 hours ago
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3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership

It is with great sorrow that we are announcing the closure of our much-loved Tea Room at Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre.

Common to many hospitality outlets and despite the tireless work of the team the Tea Room has been unable to generate sufficient income to cover increasing costs and so the very hard decision to close has had to be made.

The last day of business will be Saturday 20th December - all bookings up to this date will be honoured.

We would like to put on record our sincere thanks to Linda, our Tea Room manager, and her team, for the excellent service they have provided to our valued customers over the years - and we wish them all well for the future.

Please note:
Whilst the Tea Room is closing, the Heritage Centre with its Museum and Gift Shop will continue to operate. After a well-deserved winter break, our fantastic Friends of Ridgmont Station volunteers will re-open the Heritage Centre on 15th January and will maintain its current opening hours of Thursday to Saturday, 10:00 to 4:00.

Do please visit to support our Station Friends and the Heritage Centre - while the Tea Room is closing there will still be tea/coffee and homemade cake available.

#CommunityRail
#bedford #ridgmont #bletchley
Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre
London Northwestern Railway
Forest of Marston Vale
Beds & Herts Community Rail Partnership
Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users' Association
Community Rail Network
@followers
Raring2go Bedford Central Bedfordshire Council
Central Bedfordshire Council Libraries
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It is with great sorrow that we are announcing the closure of our much-loved Tea Room at Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre.

Common to many hospitality outlets and despite the tireless work of the team the Tea Room has been unable to generate sufficient income to cover increasing costs and so the very hard decision to close has had to be made.

The last day of business will be Saturday 20th December - all bookings up to this date will be honoured.

We would like to put on record our sincere thanks to Linda, our Tea Room manager, and her team, for the excellent service they have provided to our valued customers over the years - and we wish them all well for the future.

Please note:
Whilst the Tea Room is closing, the Heritage Centre with its Museum and Gift Shop will continue to operate. After a well-deserved winter break, our fantastic Friends of Ridgmont Station volunteers will re-open the Heritage Centre on 15th January and will maintain its current opening hours of Thursday to Saturday, 10:00 to 4:00. 

Do please visit to support our Station Friends and the Heritage Centre - while the Tea Room is closing there will still be tea/coffee and homemade cake available.

#CommunityRail 
#bedford #ridgmont #bletchley 
Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre
London Northwestern Railway
Forest of Marston Vale
Beds & Herts Community Rail Partnership
Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users Association
Community Rail Network
@followers 
Raring2go Bedford  Central Bedfordshire Council
Central Bedfordshire Council Libraries

Comment on Facebook

I am so sorry you’re having to close, especially when we have only recently discovered the delightful tea rooms for ourselves and have been telling friends and family about the delicious breakfast, the cakes and the fascinating tour of the museum. It must have been a very hard decision to make.

Oh no, I am so sorry to hear the tea room is closing ☹️

This is really sad ..a lovely little tearoom

We have loved it and been often.

Sad to hear

It's heartbreaking to see the Tea Room close, but I'm looking forward to still supporting the Heritage Centre and enjoying some homemade cake 🍰. Best wishes to all the staff who have been excellent. ❤️

Would it be possible to trial a vending machine worth considering 🤔 all the best for Christmas and new year Thank-you. Alan Webb

I remember going to the tea room with my grandpa back in June 😊 Sad to hear it’s closing!

So sad I never got to go there despite hearing how good it was 😢

That’s sad, never got to go as you were always fully booked

That’s a such a shame. Glad to hear the heritage centre remaining open. My dad was a signalman at Ridgemont back in 1979

Sorry to hear this, such a shame when we lose another local business. Well you be selling off any furniture to help raise funds for the museum?

Thats really sad to hear, always busy when I have called in, but always managed to get squeezed in somewhere, thanks for some lovely cake memories 😊

Sad to hear. I have tried to visit on several occasions to find you fully booked.

Very sad - a popular destination for our little car club

That’s a great shame. The csfe was excellent.

Such a shame, but it must be so expensive to run now. All the very best to the staff, and best of luck with the continued operation of the Heritage centre.

I never understand why, in the country of the afternoon tea, tea rooms close at tea time!!!’

Mary Preen, Alan Preen

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4 weeks ago
Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership

Looking forward to spreading some Christmas cheer at Bedford Station on Monday evening (15th December)! Our good friends Opus 18 Community Choir will be singing a range of rousing Christmas songs from 6:00 – 7:30pm.

We will be collecting cash and non-perishable food for Bedford Foodbank.

A QR code will also be available for online donations.

Please give as generously as you can. Thank you!

Food donations can also be left at Bedford Station until Sunday 21st December.

#CommunityRail #Christmas #FestiveSeason #carols #bedford
East Midlands Railway
Beds & Herts Community Rail Partnership Thameslink
Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre and Tea Room
Town Centre Champions - Bedford
London Northwestern Railway
Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users' Association
Bedford Independent
Bedford Borough Council
Carers in Bedfordshire
Mohammad Yasin MP for Bedford and Kempston
Bedford Borough Libraries
The Higgins Bedford
Bedford Borough Local Offer Bedford Credit Union
... See MoreSee Less

Looking forward to spreading some Christmas cheer at Bedford Station on Monday evening (15th December)! Our good friends Opus 18 Community Choir will be singing a range of rousing Christmas songs from 6:00 – 7:30pm.

We will be collecting cash and non-perishable food for Bedford Foodbank. 

A QR code will also be available for online donations.

Please give as generously as you can. Thank you!

Food donations can also be left at Bedford Station until Sunday 21st December. 

#CommunityRail #Christmas #FestiveSeason #carols #bedford
East Midlands Railway
Beds & Herts Community Rail Partnership Thameslink
Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre and Tea Room
Town Centre Champions - Bedford
London Northwestern Railway
Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users Association
Bedford Independent
Bedford Borough Council
Carers in Bedfordshire
Mohammad Yasin MP for Bedford and Kempston
Bedford Borough Libraries
The Higgins Bedford
Bedford Borough Local Offer  Bedford Credit Union

Comment on Facebook

Thanks Beds & Herts Community Rail Partnership!

If you are unable to get to the station but would like to make a donation direct to the Bedford Foodbank, please use the QR code in the linked image - Thank you! By the way - if you are a UK tax payer you can enhance your gift through Gift AId - please see the details in the link.

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