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Dover: Lock and Key of the Kingdom
The Night Ferry
The “Night Ferry” was the first, and until the opening of the Channel
Tunnel the only, through train from London to Paris. The train was
made up of sleeping cars provided by the CIWL (Companie
Internationale des Wagon-lits or International Sleeping Car Company)
of “Orient Express” fame.
The train used the newly constructed Train Ferry Dock at Dover and
one of the three specially constructed train ferries, built by the
Southern Railway to ferry the sleeping cars across the Channel to
Dunkirk while their occupants (hopefully) slept.
The first train left London Victoria Station at 10pm on 14th October
1936 and arrived at Paris Gare du Nord at 8:55am the next morning.
The first return journey left Paris at 9:50pm on 15th and arrived in
London at 8:30 on 16th. From 15th October the service ran daily in
both directions, a return journey costing £9.20 in First Class and £7.10
in Second.
The “Night Ferry” ran as usual the night of 3rd/4th September 1939,
then the French sleeping cars and their crews were returned to France
on a freight sailing and the service suspended. The three train ferries
had an active war service, as did the sleeping cars. In 1942 all twelve
cars were requisitioned by the Germans for use in Germany, from
where only seven returned.
After the war the service restarted on 14th December 1947 from Paris
and in both directions the following night. In 1957 a through sleeping
car from London to Brussels was added to the train. In 1967 a through
car to Basle was also added but this was not a success and was
withdrawn in 1969.
By 1974 all of the original train ferries had been replaced with more
modern vessels. The service finally ended on 31st October 1980 with
the last departures from London, Paris and Brussels.
Tunnel the only, through train from London to Paris. The train was
made up of sleeping cars provided by the CIWL (Companie
Internationale des Wagon-lits or International Sleeping Car Company)
of “Orient Express” fame.
The train used the newly constructed Train Ferry Dock at Dover and
one of the three specially constructed train ferries, built by the
Southern Railway to ferry the sleeping cars across the Channel to
Dunkirk while their occupants (hopefully) slept.
The first train left London Victoria Station at 10pm on 14th October
1936 and arrived at Paris Gare du Nord at 8:55am the next morning.
The first return journey left Paris at 9:50pm on 15th and arrived in
London at 8:30 on 16th. From 15th October the service ran daily in
both directions, a return journey costing £9.20 in First Class and £7.10
in Second.
The “Night Ferry” ran as usual the night of 3rd/4th September 1939,
then the French sleeping cars and their crews were returned to France
on a freight sailing and the service suspended. The three train ferries
had an active war service, as did the sleeping cars. In 1942 all twelve
cars were requisitioned by the Germans for use in Germany, from
where only seven returned.
After the war the service restarted on 14th December 1947 from Paris
and in both directions the following night. In 1957 a through sleeping
car from London to Brussels was added to the train. In 1967 a through
car to Basle was also added but this was not a success and was
withdrawn in 1969.
By 1974 all of the original train ferries had been replaced with more
modern vessels. The service finally ended on 31st October 1980 with
the last departures from London, Paris and Brussels.
