UK rail Infrastructure services provider Network Rail is set to reopen the railway line between Dover and Folkestone on 5 September after completing a nine-month repair project.

The revamp work included brickwork repairs on Shakespeare, Abbotscliffe and Martello tunnels, as well as the addition of 2.4km of new track and drainage work in the Abbotscliffe tunnel.

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Completed three months ahead of schedule, the £39.8m project will allow travellers from Dover, Deal, Walmer, Sandwich and Martin Mill to use a full train service again.

After detecting extensive damage on the sea wall at Shakespeare Beach, the line between Dover and Folkestone had been closed on Christmas Eve last year.

“On Christmas Eve last year, parts of the railway between Dover and Folkestone were completely destroyed."

Following the closure, Network Rail’s orange army has been working to build a new 235m-long viaduct supported by more than 130 concrete columns.

Network Rail south-east route managing director John Halsall said: “On Christmas Eve last year, parts of the railway between Dover and Folkestone were completely destroyed.

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“By Boxing Day, engineers were on site and since then have been working around the clock to get our railway back up and running, completing this repair work in just nine months when a job like this would normally take two years.”

Network Rail noted that after opening the line on 5 September, it would again be closed on 11 September, 2 October and 9 October for completing the final phase of the repair work.

During the repair project at Dover, a new timetable was provided with a day and night bus service running to ensure smooth travel experience for the passengers.

Additionally, the passengers who use the line between Dover and Folkestone were also given a compensation package when the line was closed.

During the renovation, Network Rail has also made an additional investment of £3.5m to increase line flexibility.

Image: Network Rail to reopen Dover to Folkestone railway line on 5 September. Photo: courtesy of Network Rail.