The Chairman of the Broadstairs & St Peter’s Chamber of Commerce says the impact of railway works – and resulting replacement buses- over Easter will significantly impact trade in the town.
Network Rail is carrying out work at Margate station to install 820 yards of new track and is replacing timbers and ballast – the small stones underneath the track – and repairing the steelwork of the central span of the St Peter’s Road railway bridge in Broadstairs.
The works mean replacement buses will replace trains between Herne Bay and Ramsgate via Broadstairs over all four days of the Bank Holiday.
‘Reduced footfall and lost revenue’
Chamber of Commerce chairman Neal Parton has written to Network Rail CEO Jeremy Westlake to ask for the timing of works to be reconsidered due to the ‘economic impact’
In his letter Mr Parton says: “ This is not a minor inconvenience. It is a decision that will have a direct and damaging effect on a coastal, visitor-led economy at one of the most critical trading points of the year.
“Local businesses are operating in extremely challenging conditions. Rising costs, reduced consumer confidence, and sustained economic pressure mean that key trading periods such as Easter are not simply important — they are essential to ongoing viability. For many independent businesses, this weekend helps determine whether they can move forward with confidence into the spring and summer season.
“Against that backdrop, the removal of normal rail services and their replacement with buses over the entire four-day bank holiday weekend significantly reduces accessibility into Broadstairs at precisely the moment it is needed most.
“The reality is straightforward. Visitors do not view bus replacement services as an acceptable alternative to direct rail travel. They represent longer journeys, inconvenience, and uncertainty — and in practical terms, that leads to fewer people choosing to visit.
“That reduction in accessibility will translate directly into reduced footfall, lost revenue, and increased financial strain across the local economy.
“The timing further compounds the issue. The Broadstairs Food Festival is taking place across the same weekend, bringing thousands of visitors into the town and providing vital early-season trade for local businesses. Restricting access during this period undermines not only the event itself, but the wider economic benefit it generates.”
Mr Parton says it is understood that infrastructure works are necessary but he asks why they have been scheduled for “one of the most commercially significant weekends of the year for a destination such as Broadstairs.”
He is requesting that Network Rail urgently reviews the timing of the works and considers whether they can be rescheduled to a less economically sensitive period.
‘Essential upgrades’
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “There’s never an ideal moment to close the railway, and we appreciate that delays and line closures are frustrating. We do everything we can to cause the least disruption to passenger journeys.
“These essential upgrades are important to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the railway in Broadstairs and across Thanet.
“We plan many of our engineering projects far in advance – in some cases, up to five years for the large bank holiday works. Work is scheduled with enough time to complete large pieces of work, including contingency time at the end of our projects in case we run into delays.
“We do this so that we can agree access to the railway with passenger train and freight train operating companies, giving them ample time to plan their services and minimise disruption to passengers and freight.
“We have to make sure we have the right people available at hundreds of sites all over the country, and allocate equipment such as cranes and wagons, which are always in high demand. We also have to ensure separate engineering projects don’t conflict with each other, because this could cause too much disruption to passengers or freight.”
An independent review concluded that Christmas, Easter, and bank holidays are the best times for upgrades that need major lines to be closed, as train services are significantly quieter.
The programme of works in the Thanet area over the Easter weekend — including the installation of new track in Margate, timber and ballast renewal, and repairs to the steelwork on the central span of the St Peter’s Road railway bridge in Broadstairs — has been part of Network Rail’s delivery plan since the start of Control Period 7 (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2029). The five‑year funding plan sets out the activities and investment required to operate, maintain and renew the mainline railway.
Rail‑replacement buses will operate between Herne Bay and Ramsgate from Friday to Monday. Journeys between Ramsgate for Broadstairs and Margate only, the additional journey time is expected to be around 10 minutes. Journeys between Herne Bay for all stations to Ramsgate, and for Birchington, Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, will take around 25 minutes longer.
At Herne Bay station, pick‑up and drop‑off will take place in the station car park.
At Broadstairs station, buses will stop either at the bus stop outside the convenience store on the High Street (towards Margate) or at the stop directly opposite (towards Ramsgate).
Journey planners have been updated, so visitors can plan their trips.
I don’t see too much of a problem, if people are coming from London via Canterbury, it’s only a bus from Ramsgate.
The Broadstairs Easter food festival might lose out , but railway engineering works are planned around a year in advance, and all the works being carried out Inc the bridge by Broadstairs station it seems a good time to do it, could be worse , could be over folk week!
The works have got to done, can’t see what the problem is , getting a bus is no problem
Stop complaining and welcome the investment in the local infrastructure network. Another case of someone trying to justify their position. One thing is clear no one at Network Rail care what you think! Yes,they have to go through the motions of responding, but after that your letter/email can find it’s way into the delete file!
Tough!
Rail safety comes before retail therapy, even in entitled Broadstairs.
I think the bad weather predicted over the bank holiday minus 5 and the snow from Saturday to Monday will probably stop the footfall trade more than the choo choos not running. People will be battening down the hatches. Sunday is like Xmas day not alot open anyway. It’s like Network rail almost chose a public holiday where people will be choosing to stay home with family?