10-year vision for Thanet Parkway train station given Government boost

Thanet Parkway Railway station vision
How the new station could look Credit: Kent County Council

For ten years Kent County Council have been talking about it.

Consultations have taken place and funding agreed but plans to create new train station in Thanet are yet to be delivered.

The controversial project has taken a huge step forward though with the Government putting £12 million towards the £34.5 million scheme.


So why is a new station needed?

Those supporting the scheme say a new station is needed to bring down journey times to London.

At the moment some passengers have to spend up to two and a half hours on a train to get to the capital from stations such as Ramsgate.

By creating a new station in Cliffsend, close to Manston Airport, passengers would see their journey times cut to under an hour.

Critics argue the scheme is a waste of money considering High Speed rail services already continue to places such as Margate.


The station, which wouldn’t be staffed, would have two platforms and space for 300 cars. 

The council says the project would create jobs and encourage investment in the area.

Councillors will decide whether to give the scheme planning approval next month, a decision which was supposed to happen in May but was pushed back because of the pandemic.