Folkestone Central
National Rail
View taken in the 1990s before the up platform (on the left) was closed and all trains use the down platform (on the right).
General information
LocationFolkestone, Folkestone & Hythe
England
Grid referenceTR220362
Managed bySoutheastern
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeFKC
ClassificationDfT category C1
Key dates
1 September 1884Opened as "Cheriton Arch"
September 1886Renamed "Radnor Park"
1 June 1895Renamed "Folkestone Central"
Passengers
2018/19Decrease 1.055 million
 Interchange Decrease 11,487
2019/20Decrease 1.031 million
 Interchange Decrease 11,123
2020/21Decrease 0.268 million
 Interchange Decrease 2,144
2021/22Increase 0.683 million
 Interchange Increase 7,455
2022/23Increase 0.812 million
 Interchange Increase 15,263
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road
A 1908 Railway Clearing House map of lines around Folkestone (lower left)

Folkestone Central railway station is on the South Eastern Main Line in England, and is the main station serving the town of Folkestone, Kent. It is 69 miles 73 chains (112.5 km) down the line from London Charing Cross. All trains that call are operated by Southeastern.

History

The South Eastern Main Line reached Folkestone in 1843, with a station being opened at Folkestone Junction (Folkestone East) on 18 December 1843. Folkestone West was then opened in 1863, with a station named Cheriton Arch being provided between the two on 1 September 1884. The name Radnor Park was adopted in 1886, and for a few years with just two platform faces, the station was rebuilt in 1890 to add a bay.[1] The station was renamed Folkestone Central in 1895.

The station was rebuilt at the time of the route's electrification in 1961[2] with two island platforms, linked by a subway and with ramps leading up from the ticket office and concourse, which is itself above street level (an approach road and accompanying pedestrian ramp leads up from Cheriton Road). In 1999 one island platform was abandoned, along with the subway; the platform has not been demolished, although all buildings have been removed.[1]

Services to and from Dover Priory were suspended on 24 December 2015 due to major damage to the track and sea wall near Dover harbour caused by strong winds & tidal surges.[3] A replacement bus service was operation between the two stations, along with a modified timetable whilst repair work was carried out. A new £44.5 million viaduct was constructed to replace the old rail embankment and sea wall.[4] The line reopened on 5 September 2016, as the work progressed faster than originally anticipated.[5]

Services

All services at Folkestone Central are operated by Southeastern using Class 375 and 395 EMUs.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:[6]

During the peak hours, there are also services to and from London Cannon Street and there is also 1 train per day to London Victoria.

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Southeastern
Southeastern
Disused railways
Folkestone West
Line and station open
  British Rail
Southern Region

  Folkestone East
Line open, station closed
    Folkestone Warren Halt
Line open, station closed
Line and station open
South Eastern and Chatham Railway
Line and station closed

References

  1. 1 2 "Folkestone Central". Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  2. Body, Geoffrey. PSL Field Guide – Railways of the Southern Region (1984), pages 96–97. Patrick Stephens Ltd, Cambridge. ISBN 0-85059-664-5
  3. "Railway between Dover Priory and Folkestone Central closed after damage to sea wall"Network Rail Media Centre 27 December 2015; Retrieved 5 February 2016
  4. "Dover to Folkestone railway expected to reopen in December" Archived 13 April 2016 at the Wayback MachineNetwork Rail press release; Retrieved 8 April 2016
  5. "Dover to Folkestone railway to reopen on Monday, 5 September, three months ahead of schedule."Network Rail press release 22 August 2016; Retrieved 25 August 2016
  6. Table 194, 207 National Rail timetable, December 2021

51°04′58″N 1°10′11″E / 51.0827°N 1.1697°E / 51.0827; 1.1697

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