ran a railtour to the branch using the Southern Railway preserved diesel electric Class 201 No. 1001. On 20 March 2009, Network Rail announced they had begun the formal process to close the line and station on cost grounds, having redeveloped Folkestone West with new waiting facilities for the VSOE passengers. By August 2010, the closure process had not proceeded past the statutory "mothballing" stage, making the railway still officially operational so that all objections could be properly addressed. On 20 November 2013, the DfT published a proposal to close the line and station serving Folkestone Harbour. Consultation on the closure ended on 28 February 2014, and the line was formally closed on 31 May. Restoration In 2015, the Folkestone Harbour Company commenced a £3.5 million project to refurbish the viaduct and the station, retaining the remaining tracks, and repairing the canopies and the customs house. The viaduct across the harbour was opened as a pedestrian route in 2017. The station and harbour front were redeveloped into markets and food stalls. The station is planned to become integrated into the wider development of the beachfront and the harbour. Though the station, viaduct and harbour have been extensively redeveloped, the northern part of the link to the main line has been mothballed, with no definitive plans. Incidents On 19 March 1844, a platelayer was killed on the incline leading into the station when he was hit by a coal train without brakes. References Citations Sources Further reading External links History of Folkestone harbour Transport in Folkestone and Hythe Disused railway stations in Kent Former South Eastern Railway (UK) stations Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1849 Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 2014 Railway stations serving harbours and ports in the United Kingdom Folkestone 1849 establishments in England 2014 disestablishments in England