Does anybody have information on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) domestic services route?

Question

I am aware that the CTRL will be available for domestic commuters in 2009, yet can only find info relating to the Ebbsfleet terminal. Surely it will start at the coast or perhaps Ashford. I am particularly intersted in how this will impact on Folkestone, Kent

Answer 1

Below I give you excerpts of a report about the impact of CTRL on Folkestone. If you need the full report you can clcik this link in PDF format,

http://www.medway.gov.uk/oco20030128r-7.pdf#search=%22folkestone%20CTRL%22





"Inward investors are telling us, existing companies are telling us … one
of the great problems of Folkestone is the problem of getting to and from
London. It’s the transport infrastructure. If you could improve that service
and, for example, the Chairman of SAGA Roger De Haan is saying that it
will add tremendous value to his company and other businesses are
saying the same. Portex in Hythe, exactly the same message. Get the
transport infrastructure improved and that will aid the investment that we
can put in to the town. Inward investors are giving us the same message.”
(Stephen Hagues, Strategic Planning Director Shepway District Council)


the opportunity to make sure that in making capital investment we
make sure to also look at the issue of …Folkestone Tunnel, £40m is the
estimate that we have, £40m to enable rail freight to connect up to what we
believe is the country’s number one port where there is recognised and
sustained growth that will result in a doubling of freight traffic in the next ten
years. If we don’t do something that at least gives us the opportunity to begin
taking some of those lorries off the roads and on to rail I think that will lead to
local, regional and indeed national problems.” (Nadeem Aziz Managing
Director, Dover District Council)

Work carried out by Shepway District Council indicates that if CTRL (D) services
were to go to Folkestone Central and connect to shuttle services to Dover
(journey time of 11 minutes) then the overall journey time from London could be
an hour or slightly less.






Dover District Council Chief Executive Nadeem Aziz made the case for a CTRL
link to Dover via Folkestone. But also emphasised the need for connecting
services that served the whole of the District and the wider East Kent area
“The real challenge is to make sure that the local services that we all rely
on in our towns and villages actually connects to these hubs in an
improved way. So improvements to the franchise operation and in
particular Connex’s performance remains central to this theme.” (Nadeem
Aziz Managing Director Dover District Council))




For seeing a nice pictures of the construction in progress click this link

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/misc/CTRL/pix.html

Answer 2

Last I heard was canterbury and medway, with folkestone/dover to follow once issues with the tunnels are ironed out.

But Fares on the high speed services will have a 1/3 premium, with the 'classic' trains being slowed to drive people onto the highspeed

Answer 3

the tunnel is only open to european trains....kings cross eurostars will be using it ... shouldnt make any difference to folkestone kent its as it is now......