© www.dover-kent.co.uk 2024
Dover: Lock and Key of the Kingdom
Dover Harbour - The Train Ferry Dock
In 1933 work started on the construction of the new train ferry dock
to the east of the Admiralty Pier. The dock was built like a large lock
because the linkspan which connected the train ferry to the land
had to be more or less level to operate. A large steel gate was
raised from the floor of the dock once the ferry had entered and the
water in the dock pumped to the required level.
The Southern Railway built three train ferries to operate in
conjunction with the new dock, the “Hampton Ferry”, “Twickenham
Ferry” and “Shepperton Ferry”. On 28th September 1936 the
“Hampton Ferry” was manoeuvred into the dock and the first
railway freight trucks were shunted aboard.
The dock was used mainly for freight but carried one passenger
service daily in each direction - the famous “Night Ferry” London to
Paris sleeping car service. The old dock was closed in 1988 when a
new train ferry dock was built on the Admiralty Pier extension.
had to be more or less level to operate. A large steel gate was
raised from the floor of the dock once the ferry had entered and the
water in the dock pumped to the required level.
The Southern Railway built three train ferries to operate in
conjunction with the new dock, the “Hampton Ferry”, “Twickenham
Ferry” and “Shepperton Ferry”. On 28th September 1936 the
“Hampton Ferry” was manoeuvred into the dock and the first
railway freight trucks were shunted aboard.
The dock was used mainly for freight but carried one passenger
service daily in each direction - the famous “Night Ferry” London to
Paris sleeping car service. The old dock was closed in 1988 when a
new train ferry dock was built on the Admiralty Pier extension.
