Who are the Rail for Folkestone Group?

The campaign to bring Folkestone’s case to the attention of the Government was originally spearheaded by the Rail for Folkestone Group in 2001. The Group was set up by Shepway District Council and consists of the following members of the council:
Councillor Robert Bliss (Leader of the Council), Councillor Rory Love (Cabinet Member for Environment), Councillor George Bunting (Chairman of the Council), Councillor Miss Susan Carey and Stephen Gasche who is the council’s Transport Planning Officer. Representatives from other organisations also attend meetings such as Philip Carter (Chairman of Shepway Economic and Regeneration Partnership).

What has already been achieved?

• The inclusion of both of Folkestone’s stations in the final timetable
• The assurance of a through high speed rail service to London St Pancras
• The retention of a frequent semi-fast service to London Charing Cross

What we want to see now

• An under-the-hour journey time from Folkestone Central to London St Pancras
• Good quality stations at Folkestone Central and Folkestone West
• Improved bus and rail connections at both stations

Newsletter

The Rail for Folkestone Group publishes occasional newsletters to keep supporters and the wider public informed about its progress. The latest edition – issue 5 – published in summer 2008 can be found here.

Rail service on track

Sunday 13 December 2009 is the start date for high speed rail services between Folkestone and London. Rail operator, Southeastern, has confirmed that it is still on target for the new service. The first of the new high speed trains, Hitachi class 395, was delivered to the Ashford depot last October and has been making test runs since then, mostly at night. The full fleet of 29 trains, which will run at speeds of up to 140 mph, is scheduled for delivery by summer 2009.

Councillor Robert Bliss, Leader of Shepway District Council and chairman of the Rail for Folkestone Group, says:

“We are delighted that so much progress has been made. We are having regular meetings with Southeastern and Network Rail and we are determined to keep up the momentum to make sure that Shepway gets the most out of this exciting new rail service. Our top priority is to ensure that the journey time is under an hour to London.

“We shall have a modern, efficient high speed rail service that is fit for the 21st century and an artery of economic regeneration, providing new ladders of employment, opportunity and enterprise for all. This will bring about a better tomorrow for all the people of Shepway.”

Sandling for Hythe

One disappointment in Southeastern’s plans is that the rail operator has dropped Sandling as a stop on the high speed service, although it was in the service specification when Southeastern bid for the franchise. The Rail for Folkestone Group supported high speed services for Sandling which serves more than 15,000 people in Hythe and several thousand more in the Elham Valley. The Rail for Folkestone Group has been pressing the case for Sandling to be included in the peak hour services to at least serve the important commuting market, but this is now unlikely. However, the short drive to Folkestone West will still enable Hythe commuters and leisure travellers to benefit from the high speed service.

The new high speed route

The new high speed trains will provide a journey time of about an hour between Folkestone Central and the newly opened international terminal of London St Pancras. Southeastern has announced the outline of the off-peak timetable. Trains will use the existing route between Dover Priory, Folkestone Central and Folkestone West to Ashford International, travelling at speeds of up to 90 mph. From Ashford the new high speed trains join the High Speed 1 route (formerly known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link), and travel at up to 140 mph via Ebbsfleet and Stratford to London St Pancras.

Semi-Fast Trains to Charing Cross

Many people are understandably also concerned about the existing service to Charing Cross. The draft off-peak service timetable has semi-fast trains every half an hour, which would serve Folkestone Central, Folkestone West, Sandling and Westenhanger, before continuing to Ashford International, Staplehurst, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge, London Bridge, Waterloo East and Charing Cross. Southeastern intends to announce the draft peak service timetable later this year.

Thanks to supporters

The campaign to bring Folkestone’s case to the attention of the Government was originally spearheaded by the Rail for Folkestone Group, and the inclusion of both the town’s stations in the final timetable is due in large measure to the many meetings with the potential – and eventual - railway operating companies during the past seven years. The knowledge that we have had the support of about 2,000 people who are committed to our cause has been an essential encouragement in that task. To everyone involved, at whatever level – thank you. High Speed rail will be arriving at a station near you on Sunday 13 December 2009.