Great Western Coffee Shop

Just to let you know that we've hit 3000 signatures on our petition to save Fokestone Harbour Station and by implication the Harbour Railway!

...and the total is still growing. Folkestone Harbour Company have publicly stated that the station is beyond repair. That is a ludicrous statement- currently the heritage railway movement is building steam locomotives from scratch and long demolished station buildings have been totally rebuilt to the original specification. Folkestone Harbour Station could easily be restored-and the Remembrance Line Association are poised to take on the task. Folkestone Harbour Company also reaffirms that the Harbour Railway is closed. So what- railways all over country which have been closed for 50years or more are being revived from what has been returned to green fields.

In Folkestone's case, a railway with the essential features of its infrastructure still in position is under threat because the plans of the seafront developer deem it necessary to sweep it away. However this appears to be a threat without substance as clearly the developer has totally failed to attract UK investors and is now hawking its aspirations on the international market. Obviously the UK investors have dismissed the seafront development as not viable and Folkestone Harbour Company appears to believe that the international investors are less wily. I think not. I might add that government schemes like the one the harbour company is using is notoriously lumbering and could add years to the commencement of seafront building if any.

Furthermore when Folkestone Harbour Company present their Harbour Revision Order to the Maritime Management Organisation they will say 'look this harbour is useless- it has no rail link- I wonder how that happened?' If you haven't signed and shared-please take the opportunity!

HALT THE DESTRUCTION OF FOLKESTONE HARBOUR RAILWAY STATION.
TO: FOLKESTONE HARBOUR COMPANY AND NETWORK RAIL

Retain and restore, this unique, iconic, heritage structure, of national importance.

Why is this important?

In 1843, the first sea/rail service in the world, was implemented between Folkestone and Boulogne.  This is what makes it an iconic location.

The existing station represents over 100 years of this type of operation.  The Harbour Railway and Station was singularly instrumental in making Folkestone a vibrant successful town.  It's cross channel ferry service rivalled that of Dover in intrinsic value, if not in volume.

During The Great War, Folkestone Harbour Station was the departure/arrival  point for eight million troop movements and five million tons of supplies, munitions and regular mail, to and from the Western Front.  Ships and trains were also used to whisk men from the front, back to blighty, in just a few hours, the wounded brought to hospitals in Folkestone and other points.  This makes it the most important World War One heritage site in Britain, particularly in this year, marking the centenary of the start of hostilities.

The Golden Arrow, one of the best known trains in our time, was regularly seen here.

Mata Hari was arrested here.

In 1855 The first Great Train Robbery occurred  here. Just one of many colourful historical events that took place  here.

Folkestone Harbour Company tells us  they have "saved the harbour station". This is not accurate.  In fact, they have only saved the harbour arm canopy, which is not in the recognised station area. In reality, the track has been torn up in the "saved" area.

Back in the summer of 2014, the Folkestone Harbour Branch Railway was closed by Network Rail and the DfT. This was very short sighted, as this railway and its harbour station are still potentially  valuable assets to the town, boosting local district and county commerce, tourism and employment. There is also scope for expediting the traditional role as a feeder for a possible cross channel passenger ferry operation connecting with Boulogne. Dover is not currently encouraging this type of service and it is believed that Folkestone could corner this market.

There are currently plans to demolish Folkestone Harbour Station to make way for a luxury seafront housing scheme. Common sense tells us all, that the station and the railway it serves would easily co-exist with, enhance and complement the proposed development.
 

This is the last chance we have of saving this iconic edifice, let it be a lasting monument to our local heritage and a tribute to our past endeavours. Please sign this petition.

You mean 26th?

I thought the railway and station had already closed according to the DfT.

Locking the stable door?

Paul

As a result of responses to this consultation we modified the proposal so that the area affected is limited to the Network Rail lease area. We referred the proposal to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for ratification in May 2014, as required under legislation.

The ORR has now completed the ratification process and is content for the closure of the railway branch line of Folkestone Harbour and associated station to go ahead. The ratification notice (PDF, 120 KB), dated 31 July 2014, is available to view on the ORR website.

The closure will not take effect until 4 weeks after the date of ratification. There are no passenger services affected by this closure.

From the beginning of February to April 2019, most of the old track, sleepers and lineside equipment will be removed and overgrown vegetation and litter cleared along the the route.  Railway equipment at the rail-road and the footpath crossings at Folly Road will also be removed and the crossings converted to a public highway and public footpath. 

Discussions with local stakeholders on potential new community uses are now underway with a decision to be made in the summer of 2019. Enquiries about about the old line and potential future uses can be directed to CRSouthEast@networkrail.co.uk

I know that there were several aspirations to run a rail based heritage service; I have no idea of the practicality or currency of them.  It does strike me that removing equipment and converting in the spring, then announcing a decision in the summer, seems the wrong way round and renders certain aspirations as impractical. Perhaps that is the intent?

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I know that there were several aspirations to run a rail based heritage service; I have no idea of the practicality or currency of them.  It does strike me that removing equipment and converting in the spring, then announcing a decision in the summer, seems the wrong way round and renders certain aspirations as impractical. Perhaps that is the intent?