or to London, albeit with a change of direction (reversal) at Folkestone Junction. The SER planned to extend the branch line from to to reach the harbour directly, but were blocked by the Earl of Radnor who owned the land. Nevertheless, the station became popular with passengers in Folkestone as it avoided climbing a steep hill on foot to meet the mainline stations. The station was opened on 1 January 1849, but was replaced by another on a different site in 1856. This second station went through periods of temporary closure, particularly in wartime: from 29 November 1915 until 1 March 1919; from 4 September 1939 until 1945; from 13 to 20 March 1960; and between 1 January and 11 April 1992. A three-track-wide goods shed was added to the station in 1881. It was moved in 1899 and 1910, before closing in 1919. It continued to be used for rail purposes until it was demolished in the early 1960s. The swing bridge over the harbour was replaced in 1893. The current bridge was constructed by the Southern Railway in 1930, designed by the company's chief engineer George Ellson. In 1899, the SER merged with the rival London Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR) to form the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR). As a consequence, all goods services along the Chatham Main Line were diverted to Folkestone Harbour to serve Boulogne or Calais. 20th – 21st century In 1900, the SECR proposed a extension to the pier, allowing for more berths. The SER's original wooden pier was replaced with a granite one. Work was completed by 1903 at a cost of £436,000 (£ as of ). At the same time, the swing bridge over the harbour was replaced. The improved station was opened by the British Ambassador to France, Sir Edmund Monson on 12 July 1904. In 1911, some international goods services transferred from the Port of Queenborough to Folkestone Harbour. The station was frequently used during World War I, where soldiers would disembark for a ship to Flanders. Around 10 million military personnel and over a million tonnes of freight passed through the harbour. In December 1914, a daily service opened for war refugees from Folkestone Harbour to via and . Following the war, there was a shortage of steamers and so for a time, there were no passenger services. The station was substantially rebuilt in 1938–39. The line