25 September 2008
10:496595I see in my travels that work is moving on apace at Folkestone West station, which looks like it's being geared up to be the main local hub when the Hitachi trains start roaring our way at the end of 2009.
Folkestone West's third new car park - and a big one too - looks only a couple of weeks from completion.
A dickie bird tells me - I have my sources, you know... - that work on redeveloping the chav hangout which is Dover Priory concourse has, however, stopped due to "lack of money".
Forgiving my arch if well-placed and long-nurtured cynicism again but, er, does this mean we might end up not getting the High Speed Rail Link after all, Shakespeare Tunnel issues notwithstanding?
Hope I'm totally off track here or is yet another 'grand projet' for Dubris Hubris careering towards the buffers?
Please derail my fears (ahem, sorry about that...)
Choo-choo!
Andy
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
25 September 2008
22:016612we will get the train.
whether the station does credit to it, is a moot point.
i hear so many things.
the ones that have emanated from the council have all proved untrue.
26 September 2008
10:146623It's a shame the high speed rail link didn't come a few years earlier - it could have saved Dover Marine as a railway hub. The Marine station would have been a natural and fitting terminus for it.
Imagine that: St Pancras to Dover Marine. How wonderful would that have been?
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
26 September 2008
12:546628We are where we are Andrew, There is an uproar around Folkestone West station by locals who are fearing the knock on effect the building taking place at Folk west station.
It appears the railway is to charge a fair amount to use there car park, in effect what locals are saying is, that if this happens coomuters won't use the car park, and will use th surrounding roads free and these roads already cant cope with all these cars.
As for Dover priory, was it all realy worth it? how much was spent? does it look that much better? without doubt its an improvement, but costs millions and realy I dont see it being worth that amount that was spent on it.
what do you all think?
Guest 668- Registered: 13 Apr 2008
- Posts: 91
26 September 2008
13:116633Dover station is actually really nice, they've done a great job! You jump on the train and compare it to Canterbury, Faversham, Sittingbourne, Whitstable.. Only one winner!
The only thing I'm still waiting for is the linking of the steps to Tower Hamlets into the station grounds.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
26 September 2008
13:166635CHRIS
That last thing you want is a debate in itself, who does have the real answer?
iv heard loads of different versions
26 September 2008
15:336642Er Chris, I think "really nice" is stretching it a bit, regarding Dover Priory. The waiting room is still a bit cut off and gloomy, and as for outside...well, that's a vile rozzer-free repository for some right royal ne'er-do-wells: screaming, shouting, spewing, swearing, dealing and boozing; an unofficial dysfunctional meeters-and-greeters arrangement for the Priory Hotel's all-day bender crew. No wonder cabs are increasingly hard to come by outside the station. I wouldn't want to hang around there while some Burberry-clad scuzzball orders charlie from the phonebox.
Yet again, what a terrible "Welcome to Britain" message Dover Priory concourse sends to our foreign visitor(s). Plus ca change.
For a genuine "really nice" scenario on a similar scale, Hastings' newish open-plan glass station has got it just about right.
Oh for the grandeur of our very own noble old dame of railway cathedrals, Dover Marine. At least it's still being used for a good purpose these days, though.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
26 September 2008
16:436645I have to say I have a few concerns about the ease of access for cars promised by the revamped approach to Priory Station. The plans do not include any improvement to the pedestrian crossing leading into the station and I have often had to dodge cars coming in too fast and one or two doing so while talking on their phones (doubtless saying they had just arrived at the station and some idiot has gone under their wheels).
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
27 September 2008
14:376683As someone who uses Dover Priory pretty much every day - the improvements to date are good, the staff helpful and friendly and overall the service, including the trains themselves, good.
Yes it is disappointing that work has not continued on the second phase, giving us a new concourse, steps to Folkestone Road, taxi rank, bus stops and link to the Priory steps.
Regarding the High Speed train all the information is that it will indeed start at Dover, though Folkestone West will be an important stop due to the availability of land for car parking. I suspect what will happen is lots of people will drive to Westenhanger get the "classic" service to Ashford and then make a choice as to the onward service they use. To a degree this is happening already due to charging at Sandling and Folkestone West.
As for the local ne'rdowells this is a job for both the Kent & Transport Police to sort out - perhaps a couple of PCSO's from the two forces to back up the existing security chaps might help?
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi