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Thursday 24 Feb 2005

PHOTOCALL: CASH BOOST FOR CANAL ASSOCIATION

Region & Route:

| Southern

Date:                           2 March 2005 Time:                          9.30am Location:                    Mark Lane, Dartford for a photo opportunity on Swingbridge no. 4, which is located on part of the remaining canal (10 min walk from Mark Lane) Event:                         John Epton, Chairman of the Thames and Medway Canal Society thanks Network Rail for their £5,000 donation Media contact:          Jenny Sacre 020 7557 8107 The Thames and Medway Canal Association (TMCA) is £5,000 better off thanks to a donation from Network Rail. Dave Ward, Network Rail Route Director explains: “We have just spent £35m upgrading and securing the future of the Higham and Strood railway tunnels.  As they were originally part of the Thames and Medway Canal we have donated this money to help the TMCA raise awareness of the canal and the importance it played in establishing Medway’s link to London and beyond – a role which the railway has now taken on.” John Epton, TMCA Chairman, said: “We welcome Network Rail’s donation, which will be put to good use. The refurbished tunnels are very much part of the heritage of the canal and of the area.”