Open Access and Charter Trains
There are two types of passenger trains that are additional to the regular timetable: -
Open Access Trains – Trains that are shown in the National Timetable and operated by various certified operators. Usually they charge much lower fares than the government franchised ones (in our area this would be Southeastern) but provide very good accommodation. In some cases the very presence of an open access operator will cause the franchised operator to introduce new lower fares where there is a risk of them losing income.
Charter Trains – Trains that are not shown in the National Timetable also operated by various certified operators. They can start from various stations across the railway network and are usually a single train with a single theme. The odd one out is the Venice Simplon Orient Express that has about 30 trips a year to Folkestone, usually in connection with through journeys continuing by coach through the Channel Tunnel to Calais where passengers pick up the continental sleeping car train.
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The most recent type of charter train and a type that always raises the footfall for local businesses. Whether steam trains will be as frequent as over the last two years is debatable but there is a market for them.
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Perhaps the weirdest of all Charter Trains – the “Emerald Water Witch” – a London suburban train that was dragged out to No 1 Berth by two Motor Luggage Vans from the 1st boat train era.
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We would certainly wish for the Venice Simplon Orient Express to divert its passengers to Folkestone Harbour for connection to Boulogne and onwards journeys. This would also introduce the very types of day trip visitors to the Creative Quarter galleries. It is also likely that the addition of Boulogne as a day trip or short break destination would increase the chance of attracting additional charter trains. It is also likely that charter trains run for people arriving from France will commence, the most likely destination being London as well as passengers who will wish to explore Folkestone.
Forcing passengers to alight at Folkestone West or Central, both some distance from the area to which they wish to go will not prove popular and will not generate volume tourist business in the long term. Charter trains will operate according to market forces so Folkestone needs to be an attractive destination that is at the end of a seamless journey. The job for the local authority is to create a “reason to travel” which is either an attractive place to visit or an event that will cause promoters to apply for charter trains to visit. Given the volumes experienced in similar seaside towns around the UK we might expect a minimum of 4 trains per annum by doing very little. If the town creates the “reasons to visit” then that number will be higher and may be increased further by promoters seeing Boulogne as an additional option and from French promoters wanting Folkestone with an addition of London.
The Remembrance Line would simply form the conduit along which the trains will operate in addition to scheduled boat trains. All of this should add to visitor numbers and thus an increase in business and employment potential within the town.