The
first
passengers


have
been
boarding
trains
at
a
new
station
in
Kent
today.

Thanet
Parkway
between
Ramsgate
and
Minster
opened
for
business
this
morning,
and
the
first
train
of
the
day
was
the
04.58
High
Speed
service
to
London
St
Pancras
International.

Southeastern
has
predicted
that
the
station
will
be
used
by
more
than
100,000
passengers
in
its
first
year.

The
station
has
two
250m
platforms
which
are
long
enough
for
12-car
trains.
As
well
as
High
Speed
services
to
London,
local
journeys
can
also
be
made
to
places
like
Canterbury,
Margate,
Ashford
and
Broadstairs.

The
station
is
fully
accessible
and
will
be
staffed
on
weekdays
between
08.00
and
16.00
for
the
next
six
weeks.
Southeastern
said
it
was
‘committed
to
keeping
staffing
of
the
station
under
review’.

As
well
as
rail
connections,
Thanet
Parkway
is
a
potential
integrated
transport
hub.

A
new
road
provides
access
to
the
station
from
the
A299
Hengist
Way,
with
parking
available
for
293
vehicles,
including
16
for
Blue
Badge
holders,
as
well
as
several
charging
points
for
electric
vehicles.

Pick
up
and
drop
off
zones
have
also
been
set
out,
along
with
a
station
bus
stop
which
will
be
served
by
an
electric
minibus
shuttle
to
nearby
Discovery
Park.

Cliffsend
and
Sevenscore
level
crossings
have
been
upgraded
at
the
same
time.
At
Cliffsend
the
current
AHBs
are
being
replaced
with
full
barriers
with
CCTV
monitored
from
East
Kent
Signalling
Centre
in
Gillingham. 

The
station
and
level
crossing
works
has
been
jointly
funded
by
the
Department
for
Transport,
South
East
Local
Enterprise
Partnership,
the
Department
for
Levelling
Up,
Housing
and
Communities,
Thanet
District
Council
and
Kent
County
Council.

The
station
forms
part
of
Network
Rail’s
Thanet
Corridor
Enhancements
Programme
which
includes
upgrades
to
Dibleys,
Ships
Meadow
and
Grove
Ferry
crossings
to
allow line
speed
increases
between
Ashford,
Canterbury
West
and
Ramsgate.

Southeastern
managing
director
Steve
White
said:
‘We
are
delighted
to
welcome
another
fully
accessible
station
to
our
network
offering
sustainable
travel
options.
Each
customer
who
parks
at
this
new
station
and
takes
our
all-electric
railway
to
London
will
reduce
their
CO2
emissions
by
approximately
11
kilos
compared
to
driving.
Additionally,
the
station
offers
charging
points
for
electric
vehicles
as
well
as
ample
parking
for
cycles,
supporting
aspirations
for
active
travel.’

Thanet
Parkway
is
one
of
two
National
Rail
stations
opening
this
week.
The
other
is
Portway
Park
and
Ride
on
the
Severn
Beach
line
in
Bristol,
which
was
officially
opened
by
transport
secretary
Mark
Harper
this
morning.
Train
services
will
begin
tomorrow.