Network Rail is preparing to begin a programme of essential work this summer to secure the railway line that runs through Folkestone Warren - which means the walkway and Western beach will be closed so that the work can be carried out safely.
Network Rail will be carrying out essential work this summer to protect the Folkestone Warren and secure the railway line that runs through it.
The sea defences below the railway line at Folkestone Warren will be strengthened with 18,000 tonnes of rock armour that will be brought in by barge. The footpath along the beach will be repaired at the same time.
The work will start from July 2025 and is expected to be finished by March 2026. The railway line will remain open during the work but the path along Western beach and the beach itself will close during the length of the repairs. The carefully-planned project to protect the railway from a long-term active landslide in the famous white cliffs has been designed to minimise the impact on the local community.
The 16,000 tonnes of rock armour at the toe of the Warren will protect against erosion from the sea and stabilise the line protecting both the track and the Warren itself.
Drainage systems will be repaired to stop water building up, as the existing drainage system has subsided by a metre as the cliff has slipped.
Approximately 50 sheet piles will be installed behind the sea wall to provide a barrier and stop seawater going underneath the abutments – part of the structure that supports the railway.
Network Rail has previously carried out ground investigations to assess the extent of current movement at the Warren and has drilled exploratory boreholes.
These investigations and enhanced monitoring helps engineers to understand the size and scope of the problem so that interim, medium and long-term solutions can be put in place.
Rail passengers’ journeys will not be affected, as the work will be undertaken away from the track itself.
David Davidson, the South Eastern Railway's chief operating officer said:
“There is a long history of landslips at Folkestone Warren, with ongoing movement for many years.”
“To keep passengers, the public and our colleagues safe we closely monitor the area with hundreds of ground sensors that share real-time data and alerts, allowing us to caution or stop trains if movement is detected.
“And, while monitoring allows us to keep people safe, we also need to be proactive and protect the railway and the Warren, which is why we are carrying out these major interventions over the summer.
“The railway line will not close and trains will still run whilst we undertake the work but the path along the beach will be closed during the length of the repairs.”
Image credit: Network Rail
