Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
Anyone heard the rumours that they're putting railway tracks back into part of Dover Marine station (aka the Cruise Terminal)? I've heard this through the grapevine, and there does seem to be a lot of Balfour Beatty-esque activity down by the former Beach Street area near Shakespeare beach.
Now that would be great; just think what a natural terminus for some High Speed Trains the old Marine would be, our own little bit of St Pancras-style Victorian railway grandeur.
Shame it shut in 1994, before the High Speed service was conceived - the Marine would have been a shoo-in as our terminus.
And what with the cruise-liners there too...excuse the joined-up integrated-transport thinking, I must be coming down with something...
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Not heard anything but am sure it would require planning permission ?
Been nice knowing you :)
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
it would be nice to see it back in use again,rather than leaving it to rot.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Would be nice to see this happening alright but I wouldnt get too excited as to the Balfour Beaty activity level. The Highway Agency came down here to the seafront yesterday with a great entourage of trucks and bods...all to fill in some potholes in a 6ft x 12ft area...we are talking overkill here!! - strewth have just looked out, theyre back again!
I was lead to believe that a Public track required an act of Parliament let alone planning.
Was disturbed to learn that there is a plan to demolish the track down to Folkestone Harbour. The action group was at the Hellfire weekend and it seems to me that yet more short term thinking is in that plan.
look at the work done by Shepherdswell and others and it is obvious that in the future all track has a use.
Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
Absolutely, David. There's even talk in the media this week that some of Butcher Beeching's wholesale civic vandalism perpetrated in the 1960s may be reversed.
We need more trains, more track, more trams and fewer cars. Simply really.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Saying that I did hear (possibly rumours) that they left the track in the Marine Station when the filled in between the platforms so that they didn't have issues if they wanted to reinstate it (it is a listed building)
Been nice knowing you :)
It would help the tourists from the cruise ships get straight to London without going through Dover. Even so it would be nice to see the marine station back in use again. Its a wonderful building
Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
...or alternatively get people straight from London to Dover, into our very own railway/cruise cathedral. The glass half-full option!
I've heard the same rumours about the track at the Marine, Paul. From good sources. Let's see.
Guest 664- Registered: 23 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,039
Would be a grand way to arrive for sure, Andy, without cluttering up platform space at Dover Priory. The Marine was nothing if not atmospheric.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
It's not been mentioned in any of the Harbour Board meetings - not ones that I've attended anyway.
Roger
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Hi Andy passed the renew track or part of it today and we reckon it could be because of the engineering works as they are due to shut the tunnel again for 6 weeks from July.......possible.......or they will need the sidings for the high speed line .......unlikely....or the start of bringing it to the Western Docks.....possibly but how.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
would be great for dover though.
as already mentioned there are plans to reopen old lines and stations.
not being mentioned at a harbour board meeting means nothing, remember the water quality thing.
it appears that mr goldfield gives info on a need to know basis.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,696
As far as I can ascertain from my contacts at Network Rail it is prep work for the tunnel works in July. they are shifting the 2 track beds over to create an exit walkway in each bore; without this the High Speed Service would not be able to come beyond Folkestone as the trains only have side exits.
DHB Western Dock expansion plans did include an outline of a railhead for unaccompanied freight, but as David H said it needs more than just planning consent etc.
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My understanding is that the Old Town Yard area will be re-connected at the same time as the HSL works are done at Shakespeare Tunnel in late July. A rail freight requirement is part of the Port Development [however small]. There is supposedly a potential to connect a single line into old Dover Marine [i.e. cruise terminal]. ? HSL trains?
Nigel & I with Roger Frayne travelled the new Hitachi train from St Pancras to Ashford yesterday. 28 minute journey-apparently broke the speed record. Great train ,great speeds. We arrived at Ashford whilst chatting away to David Foley who taken over from the late Ray Haines. The bug bear was waiting at Ashford for the scheduled train to Dover and taking another 30 minutes to reach Dover stopping at every station on the way. When it reached Dover it terminated and it took me another 45minutes to get home to Deal. What a contrast.
Watty
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
The first major works that DHB need to start work on is the old railway elevated walkway next to the newly repainted Lord Walden House. At the moment in time it is just used for anglers access to Admiralty Pier. Its an eyesore, I'm sure that the DHB are waiting for it to fall down! Probably they feel it would be a better option than renovation as it is a 'listed building'. It could be a massive draw to the tourist industry, sandblast the ironwork strip the top away and replace it with a cost effective perspex domelike roof with shops, cafes etc, the monies would I'm sure come rolling in
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
To give DHB a chance, they have spent a lot of money on the Lord Warden recently...
I notice in the paper that they are talking of moving the clocktower again
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
The walkway has and is in a sorrier state than Lord Walden House has ever been, taking into account that this is the first structure of note that international cruise customers see when they first set foot in England the DHB should make it a priority and do something about it
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
you are right there posh, that walkway is an utter disgrace, smells of neglect and urine.
even someone like myself can see the great achitecture.
so close to the crusie terminal too.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Having stood with Posh Barry today as we lookes at the walkway I can see what he means it is an eyesore and rusting away not a good site if you are a newly arrived cruise passenger.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!