Editing Folkestone (section)

==Transport==
Folkestone developed because of its transport links. With France visible across the [[Strait of Dover]], the town became an important transit point for those travelling from the UK to the Continent. Plans to restore ferry traffic to [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]], following termination in 2001, were discussed in 2005, but they did not come to fruition.<ref>{{cite news |title=Folkestone-Boulogne ferry talks |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/england/kent/4389305.stm |work=BBC News |date=29 March 2005 |access-date=16 October 2008 |archive-date=23 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123174654/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/4389305.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> The Channel Tunnel northern entrance is located at Cheriton.

===Rail===
The railway reached Folkestone on 28 June 1843 and a temporary railway station was built while the construction of the line to Dover continued. This started with the Foord viaduct, designed by [[Sir William Cubitt]], completed in 1844. [[Folkestone East railway station|Folkestone Junction railway station]] was then opened and construction through the cliffs between Dover and Folkestone commenced. Once the line was opened to [[Dover]], the town began to prosper (which meant growth westwards), further stations were opened at [[Folkestone West railway station|Folkestone West]] (originally named ''Shorncliffe Camp'') in 1863, and [[Folkestone Central railway station|Folkestone Central]] in 1884. [[Folkestone Harbour railway station|Folkestone Harbour]] station was used to transfer passengers from specific trains; the line from the junction was very steep and needed much additional locomotive help. A local group, the Remembrance Line Association, is actively seeking to retain the harbour branch as a tourist/heritage railway operation, though as at 2019 the future was uncertain.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mileham-Chappell |first1=Molly |title=Mystery surrounds future use of Folkestone Harbour Line as part of regeneration works |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/mystery-surrounds-future-use-of-derlict-railway-198110/ |access-date=2 October 2022 |work=Kent Online |publisher=Kent Messenger |date=1 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624151059/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/mystery-surrounds-future-use-of-derlict-railway-198110/ |archive-date=24 June 2022 |location=Rochester}}</ref> Today the domestic services from Folkestone use the Central and West stations on the [[South Eastern Main Line]]. [[Venice-Simplon Orient Express]] passengers now change at Folkestone West for road coaches and the onward journey through the [[Channel Tunnel]].<ref name="CheritonProfile">{{cite web |title=Chertion Ward Profile |url=https://www.shepway.gov.uk/media/2995/Cheriton-Ward-V2/pdf/Cheriton-Ward_V2.pdf |website=Shepway District Council |access-date=10 February 2018 |date=2015 |archive-date=11 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211072403/https://www.shepway.gov.uk/media/2995/Cheriton-Ward-V2/pdf/Cheriton-Ward_V2.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[High Speed 1]] (HS1) is a high speed railway built to French 'LGV' (Ligne à Grande Vitesse) standards, connecting the Channel Tunnel to London. Since December 2009, high speed commuter services from Dover have called at Folkestone and then, using the South Eastern Main Line to [[Ashford International railway station|Ashford International]], the services join HS1 for the journey to [[Ebbsfleet International railway station|Ebbsfleet]], [[Stratford International railway station|Stratford International]] and [[St Pancras railway station|London St Pancras]]. The journey time to London via this route has been reduced to under 1 hour; some trains from Folkestone West take as little as 52 minutes to reach the capital by High Speed Train.

The [[Eurotunnel Shuttle]] terminal, for car transport to [[Calais]] by train using the Channel Tunnel, is in the Folkestone suburb of [[Cheriton, Kent|Cheriton]].<ref name="CheritonProfile" />

The [[Leas Lift]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hows.org.uk/personal/rail/folk.htm |title=Folkestone Cliff Railways |first=Mark |last=Hows |access-date=16 October 2008 |archive-date=20 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820045308/http://www.hows.org.uk/personal/rail/folk.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> a Victorian water lift that opened in 1885,<ref>[http://www.leasliftfolkestone.co.uk/index.php?page=history Leas Lift. Folkestone, Kent – History of the Leas Lift] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810035152/http://www.leasliftfolkestone.co.uk/index.php?page=history |date=10 August 2013 }}. Leasliftfolkestone.co.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2013.</ref> connects the Leas with the beach.[[File:N-E-S-W.jpg|thumb|Bandstand near the Leas Cliff Lift]] There were two other lifts on the Leas in Folkestone history: the Metropole Lift (closed in 1940) and the Sandgate Hill Lift, which closed in 1918.<ref>[http://www.hows.org.uk/personal/rail/folk.htm Folkestone Cliff Railways] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820045308/http://www.hows.org.uk/personal/rail/folk.htm |date=20 August 2008 }}. Hows.org.uk (31 March 1904). Retrieved 17 July 2013.</ref>

===Roads===
The town is located at the eastern end of the [[M20 motorway|M20]] which provides fast access to [[Ashford, Kent|Ashford]], [[Maidstone]], [[London]] and also to the [[M25 motorway|M25]]. The [[A20 road (England)|A20]] is motorway-standard to [[Dover]] and runs locally towards Ashford and London, following the M20 but runs locally via [[Sellindge]], Ashford, [[Lenham]], Maidstone, [[Aylesford]], [[Wrotham]] and [[Swanley]] where the A20, M20 and M25 meet and the A20 continues through [[Sidcup]] and [[Lewisham]] to [[Central London]]. Folkestone marks the eastern end of the [[A259 road|A259]] although this is no longer part of the South Coast Trunk Road east of Brenzett, although it remains a primary route. The road gives access to the [[Romney Marsh]], [[Hastings]], [[Eastbourne]] and beyond. To the north, roads connect Folkestone to [[Canterbury]] and the nearby villages of [[Elham, Kent|Elham]] and [[Lyminge]].

[[Stagecoach in East Kent]] operates local buses from the town. It is served by The Link services to [[Canterbury]], [[Stagecoach The Wave routes|The Wave]] service to [[Dover]], [[Romney Marsh]] and [[Hastings]]. Other bus routes run to [[Hythe, Kent|Hythe]], Ashford and Maidstone.

[[National Express Coaches|National Express]] runs coaches to Ashford, Dover, Hythe, Maidstone and London.