Dover Harbour station officially closed on July 10, 1927. It was replaced to accommodate new custom sheds and warehouse space. The station building itself was retained, but the platforms and train shed were demolished. It should not be confused with the later Dover Marine/Western Docks station, which closed in 1994.
It was renamed again to Dover Western Docks on 14 May 1979, and was closed by British Rail on 26 September 1994 with the demise of boat trains and the opening of the Channel Tunnel. It has since been turned into a cruise-liner terminal.
For a number of years, Eurostar stopped at Kent's Ebbsfleet and Ashford International stations, but these services were stopped in 2020. Since then, there has been uncertainty as to if, and when, services to either station will be reinstated.
Dover Priory is the nearest train station to Dover ferry Terminals, just over 1 mile away, with High-Speed 1 (HS1) train services to London in just over one hour.
Dover Port is situated 0.7 miles from Dover Priory train station (15-minute walk) with train links to London numerous times a day. Dover priory ticket buying within the station is open from Monday – Saturday 05.30 to 21.30 & Sunday 06.15 – 21.30.
A Eurostar spokesperson said: “Our Kent stations will remain closed throughout 2025 and will be reviewed in 2026. We understand that this may be frustrating, and we want to stress that we are closely monitoring the situation.”
In northern France, outside Valenciennes, there is a strange spectacle: an abandoned high-speed train that, not long ago, was moving at full speed through the tunnel of the Canal. The train in question is the Eurostar 373018, one of the many Eurostar Class 373 trains that began operation in 1994.
If you ever find yourself at Elton and Orston railway station, it's almost certain that you will be the only person there. The Nottinghamshire railway station has been dubbed the “loneliest” in the country after it recorded just 68 entries and exits through its gates in 2023 and 2024.
What is the most isolated train station in the UK?
The most remote train station in the UK is widely considered to be Corrour Station in the Scottish Highlands, situated on Rannoch Moor and accessible only by train or a lengthy walk, offering a true wilderness experience with links to Glasgow, Fort William, and even London via the Caledonian Sleeper. It's known for its isolation, stunning scenery, and as a gateway for outdoor activities, despite being a stop for major services.
The Port of Dover is Europe's busiest ferry port, a vital international gateway for the movement of passengers and trade. It is also an award-winning cruise port, the second busiest in the UK and hosts some of the world's most prestigious cruise lines.
Such buildings are often simply demolished (such as Broad Street railway station in London), or they may be preserved as part of a heritage railway. Abandoned railway stations can be repurposed to be retained as commercially viable structures within an urban environment, or as part of an urban regeneration project.
The Channel Tunnel is made of three separate tunnels running parallel to each other. One train tunnel running south (UK to France), one train tunnel running north (France to UK) and one service tunnel.
Until 2020 a certain proportion of Eurostar trains stopped at one or the other station. It was an expensive operation: passengers needed to be screened by French Police aux Frontieres officers and security staff before boarding. Once Covid struck, Ebbsfleet and Ashford International were promptly shut down.
In November 2017, the Conservative government announced that it was formulating plans to reverse a number of closures made as a result of the Beeching Report of the 1960s, reintroducing services at stations that, at the time, were either serving as hubs for heritage rail journeys or lay dormant altogether.
On 8 January 1996, the UK's second Eurostar station opened - Ashford International Station after an 18-month, £80 million construction project that started in 1994. It heralded a new era in international rail travel for Ashford and East Kent passengers and transformed our town's station in 'Ashford International'.
While "underrated" is subjective, recent studies and travel discussions frequently highlight Hastings, Royal Leamington Spa, and Shrewsbury as top contenders, praised for their culture, independent shops, events, and history, often overshadowed by bigger names like Brighton or Birmingham. Other strong contenders include historic Chester, revitalized Swansea, and the charming, remote Scottish village of Inverie, depending on whether you prefer history, coastal vibes, or seclusion.
What is the longest single train journey in the UK?
The longest direct train journey in the UK runs all the way from Aberdeen to Penzance (southbound only). It takes more than 13 hours and covers 774 miles and rather a lot of stations along the way.
