Railway to Folkestone closed until end of August
- 22 July 2009 12:5526048News Releases: London & South East
RAIL IMPROVEMENTS BRING LONG TERM BENEFITS BETWEEN FOLKESTONE AND DOVER
Tuesday 21 July 2009 09:15
Essential maintenance and enhancements are being carried out on the railway between Folkestone and Dover to help improve reliability of train services and enable the new Southeastern Highspeed services to operate on the line from December 2009.
The majority of the work will take place in Shakespeare, Abbottscliffe and Harbour tunnels. In Shakespeare tunnel, new walkways will be installed to provide an emergency escape or access route prior to the introduction of the domestic high speed service. In Abbottscliffe and Harbour tunnels, brickwork is being replaced, drainage being improved and the concrete tunnel linings are being reinforced to minimise the risk of serious infrastructure problems in the future. In addition to the tunnel works, Network Rail will also take the opportunity to clear vegetation where required and install new fencing to prevent trespass onto the railway and protect the line from rock falls. This maintenance work will help improve reliability on the line.
The significant nature of this work will require the railway to be closed between Dover Priory and Folkestone East from Saturday 25 July until Sunday 30 August.
Andrew Munden, Network Rail's route director for Kent, said: "This essential work will reduce the risk of major problems occurring on this stretch of line in the future, ultimately making trains more reliable. In addition, without the works in Shakespeare tunnel, passengers in Dover and Folkestone would not be able to benefit from the proposed high speed services."
"There is never a good time to carry out a project of such a large scale, but they are vital if we are to improve the railway in the long-term. Some short term disruption can't be avoided, but we have looked at various different options in order to come up with a plan which will keep it to a minimum."
Sarah Boundy, from Southeastern's customer services, added: "The current work is essential to allow us to introduce the new timetable in December and in particular start running the high speed services to Folkestone and Dover. The work will help substantially improve the service going forward but we appreciate that there will be some inconvenience to passengers. We are working closely with Network Rail to keep disruptions to a minimum and information about the work and replacement bus services are available on our website and at National Rail Enquiries. We hope that passengers will see the long-term benefits for this and thank them for their patience during this period."
A rail replacement bus service will be in operation between Folkestone East and Dover Priory for the duration of the works. Passengers are advised to check with Southeastern (www.southeasternrailway.co.uk) or national rail enquiries (www.nationalrail.co.uk / 08457 48 49 50) before they finalise their travel plans.
Notes to Editors:
Shakespeare tunnel is different to most tunnels on the rail network as there are two holes through the rock face, each carrying a single track, rather than a single hole carrying multiple tracks. The new Southeastern Highspeed trains have a streamlined design, which means the only entry and exit points are on the sides of the carriages. The 'classic' trains which currently run on the line have a way in or out at either end of the train, next to where the driver sits, which could be used in an emergency if the train was in the tunnel. Before the high speed trains can run through Shakespeare tunnel, new walkways between the two holes need to be installed to provide an emergency exit or entry route.
For more information contact:
Media Relations (London & South East)
t:020 3356 9166 / 9164
e: mediarelations@networkrail.co.uk
About Network Rail
Network Rail is the 'not for dividend' owner and operator of Britain's railway infrastructure, which includes the tracks, signals, tunnels, bridges, viaducts, level crossings and stations - the largest of which we also manage
We aim to provide a safe, reliable and efficient rail infrastructure for freight and passenger trains to use
Our website: http://www.networkrail.co.uk
http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4544&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=8 - 23 July 2009 07:4526124Fantastic timing with Bleriot's weekend upon us.
Starting Monday would have helped I'm sure.
Roger - Button
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,109
19 March 2024 18:38384152Apologies if the thread title startled (it was the nearest I could find), but I wonder if Network Rail will ever give up on the Dover - Folkestone line: would save a lot of maintenance I guess. https://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/20mph-speed-limit-on-trains-after-promenade-moves-303604/?fbclid=IwAR0Gepmm3l-otRzbDl1PaORDEsmpHSeVBR3fZ2NzrR3Qj3vPuycHsJ9aDyM(Not my real name.) - Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
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19 March 2024 19:27384153Fotumites might be interested:-
https://sremg.org.uk/RlyMag/CoastErosionWorksInFolkestoneWarren.pdf
(I must confess that in my ignorance I used to think the concrete 'platform' was something left over from WW2 defences)Weird Granny Slater and Button like this"The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it".
Dr. Hunter S Thompson - 20 March 2024 07:21384157yES IT WOULD SAVE MILLIONS OF POUNDS IF THEY closed the line it cost the railways more money then the whole of the Uk there was talk years ago about moving it over at the back of Caple but that is has as far as it went.
- Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
20 March 2024 08:00384158No wayALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS - 20 March 2024 09:00384160I worked on that line off and on for years the tunnels along there are what is called wet tunnels,that is if you work in them rain water is coming down all the time even in dry weather that is caused by the calk. also sea water is also coming in under the rail 24\7 as I said the most expensive section of track in the UK.They about to close the track again and going to spend millions again to keep it open this not first time that has been done nor will it be the last time,I was only up on cliff above it yesterday in the cafe and parts of the cliff path is closed off all looks unsafe at some point in years to come there will be other cliff falls along there which in turn might close the track again lets hope no trains are running along there if it happens.
like it did in the 1930s - Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,397
20 March 2024 12:18384164Dover - Folkestone line closed.
Folkestone Central as the terminus on a branch line from Ashford.
Train from Dover to St P heads initially towards Canterbury/Victoria and joins Ramsgate to Ashford line via new junction at crossing of present lines to west of Canterbury.
Sorted."The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it".
Dr. Hunter S Thompson - Button
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,109
20 March 2024 15:02384165Captain Haddock wrote:Dover - Folkestone line closed. Folkestone Central as the terminus on a branch line from Ashford. Train from Dover to St P heads initially towards Canterbury/Victoria and joins Ramsgate to Ashford line via new junction at crossing of present lines to west of Canterbury.
Sorted.
Would you keep Dover Priory, or reinstate the Kearsney curve and go for a Dover Parkway?victor matcham and Captain Haddock like this(Not my real name.) - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
20 March 2024 16:47384167Captain Haddock wrote:Fotumites might be interested:-
https://sremg.org.uk/RlyMag/CoastErosionWorksInFolkestoneWarren.pdf
(I must confess that in my ignorance I used to think the concrete 'platform' was something left over from WW2 defences)
Apparently subsidence cracks have appeared in the concrete with possible movement towards the sea, probably caused by all the winter rain.victor matcham likes this-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
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20 March 2024 18:05384168Button wrote:Would you keep Dover Priory, or reinstate the Kearsney curve and go for a Dover Parkway?
Dunno. Grandson doesn't have enough Brio to model it.
Button likes this"The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it".
Dr. Hunter S Thompson - 20 March 2024 20:04384170If the Dover to Folkestone line is closed then all the DFL's in Deal would move out. Deal would then return to being a nothing place again.
- Button
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,109
20 March 2024 20:28384171Karlos wrote:If the Dover to Folkestone line is closed then all the DFL's in Deal would move out. Deal would then return to being a nothing place again.
Why would they move out?(Not my real name.) - 20 March 2024 20:49384172Quickest way back to London is via Dover. Can imagine they'd prefer to be somewhere else on the coast with better transport links.
- Button
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,109
20 March 2024 20:57384173Karlos wrote:Quickest way back to London is via Dover. Can imagine they'd prefer to be somewhere else on the coast with better transport links.
True, but "fast" trains from Deal could be routed via Minster perhaps?(Not my real name.) - 20 March 2024 21:06384174Yes, the via Minster option could be the answer.
But for us in Dover a permanent closure of the line to Folkestone would be a complete nightmare.
I can't ever see myself going Dover Priory - Canterbury East (if a line was ever built)- Ashford - London. Would just drive to Folkestone. - Weird Granny Slater
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 7 Jun 2017
- Posts: 3,095
21 March 2024 10:13384176Are there any sources other than a local council X account with engagement levels lower than the number of houses in my property portfolio, and a notorious clickbait site posing as a local news source?
If not (and I can find no specific reference to this on the southeastern website) then I am assigning it the status of 'nothingburger'.'Pass the cow dung, my dropsy's killing me' - Heraclitus - 21 March 2024 11:27384177As I pointed out that line will close permanently one day might not be in our life time ,but close it will the cost of keeping it open will be to much for the railway to pay out.
- Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,397
21 March 2024 12:40384181Weird Granny Slater wrote:
If not (and I can find no specific reference to this on the southeastern website) then I am assigning it the status of 'nothingburger'.
National Train info for next few trains show leaving Deal AND arriving StP 'on time'."The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it".
Dr. Hunter S Thompson - Weird Granny Slater
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 7 Jun 2017
- Posts: 3,095
22 March 2024 09:14384198Indeed.
Evidence-gathering mission planned for Monday.'Pass the cow dung, my dropsy's killing me' - Heraclitus