Folkestone Harbour station, as well as historic branch lines in coastal Taiwan
Folkestone is a coast town in England. The nearest current station, Folkestone Central, is located away from the coast which needs 20-min walk. But can you imagine if the train could reach next to the sea so that it was also possible to connect a ship to France? Yes, and Folkestone Harbour station with the viaduct and the old carriage have been preserved and even converted into public space and some facilities nowadays. The old railway has made me think of Hualien (花蓮) and Taitung (台東) in Taiwan, and the current arrangement has led me to the High Line in New York!
Folkestone Harbour station and High Line, New York
Folkestone Harbour station was the final station of the branch line from the main railway line between London and Dover from 1850 to 2009. Five years later, the development company there took possession and underwent restoration until 2017 to 2018, resulting in linear park along the curve platform and viaduct with oak seating for the public. On platform 3, you can also see the old carriages which has become a restaurant for seafood.
The revitalization is indeed similar to High Line in New York, which makes the part of the abandoned railway available for the public, but in a larger scale than Folkestone. We will see more planning like this, especially in Camden, London too!
Probably the most beautiful station in the world
The old carriages now become the restaurant.
On the bridge of the branch line
High Line, New York. Photos taken in 2012.
Hualien and Taitung
Hualien and Taitung are two cities in the east coast of Taiwan. Both main stations are not close to the sea. According to Google Maps:
Hualien: 40-min walk is needed from the station, or by bus
Taitung: the station is even far away from the town centre, or high street. If you insist on walking, it will take around 1 hr 35 min; while as short as 26 mins will be needed by bus.
Both cities used to have their own branch lines to the coast from their main stations, especially in Hualien transporting cement, sand, and gravel found there to the nearest harbour shipping for industrial uses. The track between the harbour and the main station has been demolished, and the track remained is another branch to Beipu (北埔) station, which is now still in operation for cargo and transporting new trains.
The track along Hualien harbour still in use
The Taitung branch line has been converted into cycling path. While Taitung main station has been refurnished and redecorated as a new architecture, the other two stations has been preserved, especially the coastal end station has become the bus station with a park including an old train carriage.
The map created by me showing the old branch line to the coast of Taitung
The old train in the previous platform of Taitung station, which is now the park beside the bus station
The old Malan station. The track has become the cycling path.
The history, economy and revitalisation
I have been to many coastal towns or cities around the world. A lot of them have their own main train stations but not very close to the sea and the coastal town centre. Some of them used to have their own branch lines due to strong economic demands. As the needs declined, they were closed and may be revitalised for tourism and better urban planning to local people.
Through the history of train stations, I learnt not only the transport but also the life and economic development of an area.