Task force established to rebuild damaged Kent line

A task force has been formed to help with the work to rebuild the line between Dover and Folkestone.

The line was washed away when storms damaged the sea wall at Shakespeare Beach, near Dover, on December 24 (RAIL 792).

Network Rail spokesman Chris Denham explained that storms lowered the beach level at the site by almost two metres in the lead-up to Christmas, exposing the foot of the wall to the full force of the sea. This led to sink holes appearing in the railway above, and these have continued to develop as the chalk infill has become destabilised.

Led by Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke, the task force will work to reduce the impact on passengers. The working group includes Network Rail, Southeastern, Elphicke and fellow MPs Damian Collins (Folkestone and Hythe) and Craig McKinley (South Thanet), Dover District Council and Kent County Council. It is planned to share information and tackle any administrative or bureaucratic hurdles that could affect work to rebuild the railway.

• For more on this, read RAIL 793, published on February 3.