New Station: Thanet Parkway

Stuart • 3 August 2023

Kent's first new station in 15 years opens to the public!

On 31st July at just before 5am Thanet Parkway became Britain's newest station in Great Britain (at the time) and is the first station to open in Kent since Ebbsfleet International opening in 2007.

As you approach the station you are greeted with what looks like a lovely and well designed station. The car park complete with 293 spaces which includes 16 spaces for Blue Badge holders and a number of charge points for electric vehicle charging. BUT, here is the stations first of several oversights: none of the vehicle charge points are in one of the 16 Blue Badge spaces and the charging bays don't have enough space for those with limited mobility to get in and out of their cars.

As we approach the station from the car park the actual station looks rather impressive. The brick work along with the stylish mettle mesh on the stair case and lift shaft really makes it look the part. There is also some raised flower beds which add to the overall positive experience of the station . 

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Thank you to @SimOnTrains on twitter for use of daytime photo

Sadly this is pretty much where the positives for this station run out... As you arrive on the platform you are met with quite possibly the most dull pair of platforms that have ever been built in Britain! The narrow platforms are made to feel all that much smaller by the soundproof walls that are almost as tall as the platform is wide. The tactile paving is welcome, but the additional paving slabs down the middle will hinder wheelchair & mobility scooter users due to its closeness to the tactile paving.


Earlier today (3/8/23) I had a conversation with @LordOrk who is a Equality & Disability Rights Campaigner and this is what he had to say about Thanet Parkway and it's poor accessability: "Regrettably, NR have again cut costs by treating PRM compliance as a target rather than a minimum standard. Disappointing disabled people have been treated as an afterthought at this new station and will suffer the consequences. For example, it is outrageous a new station has no accessible or changing places toilets, no EV chargers in the blue badge bays, platforms are narrow so wheelchair users and scooter users have reduced turning circles for boarding and their legal right to TUAG has been eroded at this unstaffed station"


The station platforms in total have 10 shelters (2 double up as platform entrance areas). This is good news, but sadly none of the shelters have benches in, there is just perch rails which to be quite frank, are completely useless! There is also no toilet facilities at the station which is a massive oversight. It's not like there isn't space for them!


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The station will be served by the Margate to London St Pancras SouthEastern Highspeed services that are run using the class 395 Javelin units. This will be strengthened by additional peak time calls on the London Cannon Street & London Charing Cross services. The last service of the day, the 0051 arrival is to drop passengers off only and as such won't be advertised at the station as a departure. Sadly if you want to catch a train from here to Dover at off peak you are out of luck, which again is a massive over sight! Passengers want options, and by mostly only stopping London services here they have removed such options.


From the station you will be able to travel to:

  • Ramsgate (5 minutes travel time)
  • Broadstairs (11 minutes travel time)
  • Margate (16 minutes travel time)
  • Canterbury West (15 minutes travel time)
  • Ashford International (31 minutes travel time)
  • London St Pancras (70 minutes travel time)

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It is rather sad that a new station has got so much wrong, from the initial design right down to the schedule of calling services at the station there has been errors made with this station. This is a station that has been designed to meet the minimum legal requirements, it has done very little to exceed this.


People that are saying it is "fully accessible" are saying that because it meets the design MINIMUM requirements. For example, minimum requirements allow for one wheelchair to be on the platform at a time. If two wheelchairs was to try passing on the platform it would force one of the wheelchairs to the wrong side of the yellow line. How that is not even thought about in the minimum requirements blows my mind!


To sum up: Thanet Parkway is a station that on paper delivers everything perfectly. In the real world it delivers nearly everything poorly. Going forward, the minimum requirements for new stations MUST be more passenger focused and less cost focused. They must also be discussed with people who live everyday with limited mobility.


Thanks for reading.


Until next time.



All photos (Unless stated) are © Every Last Station.

Reuse only by permission

DAY 3 Look back - Walking the scenic railways of Wales

by Stuart • 21 September 2024
Day three of the walk saw me starting nice and early at Llandudno Junction. With one simple aim, to get as far along the Conwy Valley as possible! Betws-y-Coed was the minimum target for the day. On this day I was joined by KD ( @roadsignreporter over on YouTube ). Walking to Glan Conwy was easy enough for us both, I kicked myself that I hadn't pushed myself the day before! Blooming beer! After Glan Conwy it was time for the first of the many hills that Wales was going to throw at me during this walk. We had to head up the steep hills to avoid walking along the very busy footpathless A470. You can see the scale of the diversion on the Strava map at the bottom. Things improved at Tal-y-Cafn when we arrived at the lovely station. Had a good chat with the Network Rail level crossing staff there who refilled our water bottles for us. After this we headed across the fields and along the B5106 which we would follow mostly until Betws-y-Coed. Only really leaving the road to pop to the required stations to walk too. We had a nice surprise at Dalgarrog when we came across the Dolgarrog Railway Society platform where we chatted with one of the members. They told us about the work they are doing with the site. Was a really nice break from walking. Between Dolgarrog and Llanrwst our pace slowed down a fair bit, I think this was down to the heat, and it became clear Betws-y-Coed was going to be the end point for the day! We reached the village and the road kindly dropped us off at the Spar shop and bakery so was able to stock up on some essential cakes and drinks. Shout out to the TfW guard on the train back to Llandudno Junction who kindly wavered the fare for the journey. Was much appreciated!

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by Stuart • 21 September 2024
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by Stuart • 20 September 2024
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by Stu • 4 September 2023
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