Thanet Parkway, the £44 million railway station in Kent, has celebrated its first anniversary, despite falling short of its projected passenger target. While train operators celebrate the station's success, local critics remain unconvinced, raising concerns about the escalating cost and the station's impact on local services.
Located between Ramsgate and Minster, Thanet Parkway boasts high-speed services to London St Pancras in just over an hour, alongside regular mainline trains. The station is a joint venture between Network Rail, Southeastern, Kent County Council (KCC), and Thanet District Council.
Despite initial criticism surrounding the quadrupling of the original estimated cost, KCC, Network Rail, and Southeastern are claiming success. The station has attracted 92,000 passengers in its first year, just 8,000 short of the target which they anticipate achieving next month.
David Wornham, Passenger Services Director at Southeastern, highlights the station's positive impact on the region: "Itâs fantastic to see the number of people travelling to and from Thanet Parkway and neighbouring stations growing every month." He emphasizes the station's contribution to a "better, more reliable and sustainable railway," promoting environmental benefits and enabling further economic growth.
However, Labour Thanet County Councillor Barry Lewis remains critical, branding the station a "huge waste of money." He argues that the 92,000 passengers represent only 3% of passenger journeys in Thanet, suggesting the money could have been better spent elsewhere. Lewis expresses concern about cuts to essential services like children's centres in Thanet due to funding shortages.
Despite these criticisms, some commuters, like Adam Campbell, are satisfied with the station. He finds the journey time and parking options convenient, especially compared to other nearby stations. He acknowledges the substantial construction cost but points to the potential benefits of the station alongside the growing development and potential of Manston Airport.
While the final cost of the project remains uncalculated, KCC maintains that the figures released so far are estimates. They will be confirmed once final accounts with contractors are settled.
Despite the lack of amenities like cafes or easily accessible toilets, the station's size, with its 250m platforms and near-300 space car park, caters to long trains and large numbers of passengers. The introduction of a £5.10 daily parking charge, following six months of free use, sparked concern, but passenger numbers have increased by nearly 40% per month since then, reaching an average of 8,500 in recent months. This increase seems to have had no negative effect on passenger journeys from Ramsgate and Minster stations, which have seen an 11% increase.
Since its opening, Thanet Parkway has witnessed an expansion of services. The initial hourly high-speed service alongside limited peak-time mainline services to Charing Cross have been supplemented by an hourly mainline service throughout the week and extra weekend services. This has improved connectivity for passengers travelling to destinations like Canterbury, Ashford, and Ramsgate, with two trains per hour now running to these locations.
Network Rail Kent Route Director, David Davidson, emphasizes the station's role in encouraging people to use public transport: "Thanet Parkway is Kentâs first new station in eight years and is playing a critical role in encouraging as many people as possible to ditch the car and use the train as their preferred method of travelling.â
Thanet District Council leader, Cllr Rick Everett, commends the station as a welcome addition to the district's transport network. He highlights the alternative it provides for driving into Ramsgate and the improvement in rail options for residents and visitors without increasing journey times.
Thanet Parkway's first year has been marked by both positive and negative feedback. While the station has successfully increased passenger numbers and expanded services, critics remain concerned about its cost and the potential impact on local services. Ultimately, only time will tell whether Thanet Parkway will become a vital part of the region's infrastructure or remain a costly "white elephant."