Recovering the Railway

This section deals with the operational railway that is presently a double track with only one track having been used over the last 10 years.

We aim to ensure that fences are secure and that the last operational track is in a condition that will allow trains to operate at up to 20mph. If Shepway District Council decide to take our advice to operate a park and ride service between the spare land at Folkestone East and the Leas Lifts then the second track will require to be brought back into use. If they decide that this does not solve potential parking problems in the seafront area then we would recommend that the track be removed and turned into a cycle track as far as Dudley Road where there is an existing foot crossing of the railway.

The initial plan is to operate trains by the method known as "One Train Working" and this means that no driver will move his train unless he holds the branch line train staff. At the planned frequency of services this should be quite satisfactory although the eventual ambition is to fully signal the branch.

There are two road crossings on the branch - Folly Road and Harbour Approach. Neither is properly gated and at Folly Road we will first aim to get the barriers working locally (there will be a man present). In the medium term we will control the barriers from Folkestone Harbour signal box using CCTV equipment.

At Folkestone Harbour we will install traditional swing gates that will be manually operated. This style will ensure that when the gates are closed against the railway they will add security to prevent access to the viaduct and station.

Before we can run trains we will have to prove to HM Railways Inspectors that we have an acceptable safety case and, of course, proper insurance.

Our trains will be contracted from existing train operators and be diesel powered on the branch. We hope that they will be electrically powered on the mainline.

The consultants planning the ferry service have asked if we could operate high speed electric services from Folkestone Harbour to St Pancras. This is not something we plan at this stage but we understand that, given suitable electrical bonding being in place and about 150 metres of third rail being laid, the reconnection is not a difficult task. It costs money that, on opening, we would simply not be able to afford. Folkestone Harbour to St Pancras in 70 minutes might be attractive to the planned 750 homes so we would not reject it totally for some point in the future - 2½ hours from Boulogne to London would be very competitive.

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