Kent Coast Line

The Kent Coast Line is the that runs from Dover Priory to Margate.

It was electrified (750v DC third rail) by BR under the 1955 modernisation plan.

Services

Services are operated by Southeastern.

Typical service is hourly from Charing Cross to Ashford, dividing there into a part to Ramsgate via Canterbury West, and a part via the Kent Coast Line. See South Eastern Main Line.

History

The South Eastern Railway's (SER) first mainline went to Dover via Folkestone and Ashford. The SER Ashford to Margate Broadstairs and Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) line was then extended south to Deal. This was linked up by the "Dover & Deal Joint Railway" with their bitter rival the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR).

Upon the joint management of the SER and LCDR in 1899 the track layout at Ashford rationalised, with Thanet receiving similar treatment (by Southern) in the 1920s.

The line was electrified under the 1955 BR Modernisation plan, in "Kent Coast Electrification(Stage 2)" opening January 1961.

The building of the railway was significant in the development of seaside resorts like Broadstairs.

Dover track layout

The Railway Clearing House produced a map that shows the compex layout of this area [ [http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cj.tolley/rjd/rjd-033.htm Railway Clearing House pre-1923 Junction Diagrams] ] . This shows the separate connection to the pier where trains used to board ferries.

References