Park Farm rail halt may be too costly

Funding would be a problem for a proposed new railway station in Ashford.

Plans to install a rail halt on the Park Farm estate have been on the cards for more than a decade.

However, a report from engineer company, Peter Brett, brought in as consultants by Ashford Borough Council, states stations similar to the one proposed for the Kingsnorth estate have cost between £6 million-£10m.

The report, due to be discussed at the Joint Transportation Board meeting on Tuesday (March 8), says: “Given the broad range of costings and the current funding available through the developers section 106 contributions, there is likely to be quite a shortfall in funding for the station. Further funding would have to be sought elsewhere.”

Suggestions include asking the SELEP group for a grant or Network Rail’s New Station Fund.

Despite these issues, the report explains the next stage in the development process is to prepare f or the “preliminary design”. It is suggested that if built, the station would need to be long enough for a “six-car train” to stop. In addition, it says a footbridge would not need to be installed.

The scheme for the stop was first put forward in 2001.

Plans include constructing a small railway platform on the Marshlink Line, four kilometres south of the Ashford International Station and five north of Hamstreet station.

Councillors have previously described the rail halt as a vital development for suburban Ashford, adding it would improve transport links for thousands of people living in Park Farm.

A full report on the meeting will be in next week’s Kentish Express

Funding may be a problem