Yes I know this is not really anything to do with the Manor Clinic but here is a page of railway info and links for all you train buffs out there...all one or two of you! The rest of you can simply click to go back and it will be as if you never came here! The first part of the page suggests some useful rail related jumping off points, the second suggests some good places to watch trains, including the Channel Tunnel trains, in the Folkestone area.

The best place to get an overview of the Channel Tunnel Site and its trains, as well as over the whole of Folkestone and beyond to France is from the top of the North Downs at Crete Road West. From here you get a good view of all the loading and unloading of tunnel trains as well as of the passing Eurostars. Crete road is essentially a lane that follows the crest of the hill from Peene to the A260. As you go along there are first, at the Peene end, a couple of laybys with great views then further along there are paths that take you across hills overlooking the actual mouth of the channel tunnel itself. To get there you can approach from either end of the lane. To get to the West end of the lane, leave the M20 at junction 12 and follow the signs for the A20 towards Lyminge, Peene, The Railway museum and the Channel Tunnel; after about 1/4 mile go under a bridge then take an immediate right following Peene and Newington. Keep following the lane taking every right turn and you will eventually come out on top of the hill. The alternative access route is from the East; leave the A20 at its junction with the A260 and travel in the Folkestone Direction. Almost immediately ther is a small lane off to the right called Crete Road West. This is where you go, taking every left turn until you reach the hilltop.

For a close up view of the channel tunnel trains you can take a look over the fence from the A20 just near junction 12 of the M20 (follow directions above but stop before the bridge and look on your right before the staff turn off.). One snag here though, best to park nearby (eg Tescos) and walk as the security guys may not like your car being parked here. The picture below was taken from this location.

For a view into the construction of the tunnel you can do no better than to visit the nature reserve of Samphire Hoe. Take the A20 from Dover and follow the signs to the left just after you start to ascend the hill out of town. (If coming from the West you need to turn round at the roundabout as you enter Dover and go back the way you came.). You start by waiting, usually for quite a while, for the traffic lights to let you through one of the original construction tunnels used in building the Chunnel. This leads you down to the site where all the spoil has been put from inside the tunnel where you can not only see some of the air conditioning plant for the tunnel but also have great views of both the sea and the main Dover To Folkestone railway line.. Incidentally, two other good sites for viewing this are the Warren Country Park (follow signs from the A20/M20 interchange...bit of a walk from the car park though)...and from the Battle of Britain Memorial (in Capel Le Ferne on the old A20).

If you would like a look at the Dollands Moor freight Depot the good news is that there is a great view from the nearby overbridge (leave M20 junction 12, take A20 signed to the tunnel and at the roundabout follow signs to Hythe) but the bad news is that there is absolutely KNOWHERE to park...leaving quite a long walk!

One of the most picturesque sites to see Eurostar trains is Sandling station which is a gem of an old station which will make you feel you have been transported back to a preserved railway line... the Eurostars look great coming through here. (from M20 junction 11 follow Lyminge and look for signs to the station on the right).