MP Gywn Prosser calls for cut to Folkestone high speed train service
An MP has called for one of Folkestone’s High Speed train stops
to be dropped from the timetable – to improve the service to
Dover.
Folkestone is the only big town with two stops on the route, at
Central and West, and MP for Dover Gwyn Prosser has said it should
lose one.
In a weekly column, Mr Prosser said: “It’s glaringly obvious what
needs to be done – by dropping one or other of the two Folkestone
stops from the time table both Dover and Folkestone would come
within the psychologically important “one hour” threshold. After
all they are only a two minute train ride apart – and that’s using
the slow train.”
This brought a great deal of anger from Folkestone rail
campaigners, who spent several years negotiating for a high speed
service, which was originally not intended to come further south
than Ashford. What makes it worse it that there was some doubt over
the trains reaching Dover at all thanks to the narrow Shakespeare
tunnel, but campaigners won an exemption. There were originally
going to be sidings put in at the former Folkestone East to store
the stock.
Cllr Susan Carey, a high speed rail expert, said: “We always
supported Dover being on the high speed network and we have already
lost Sandling from the timetable.
“We need Folkestone West because that is where the parking
is.”
Folkestone Central is the most used station in the town thanks to
its location, but because it was built in the days before cars,
there is little parking. Commuters from further afield, including
Hythe thanks to the absence of Sandling from the timetable, are
expected to use the West station with its ample parking.
The marketing fillip provided by a one-hour journey has long been
known and the Rail for Folkestone group were in the headlines
several years ago with their campaign to get Folkestone such a
service.
07/05/09
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