Leas Lift carriages removed for restoration

Two carriages have been removed at Leas Lift as part of a restoration project

Two carriages have been winched off the tracks at Leas Lift by a crane and are set to be inspected as part of a restoration project.

The 140-year-old Grade II listed funicular in Folkestone, Kent, is set to reopen in early 2026 after closing in 2017 due to issues with its braking system.

The work to remove both carriages began on Thursday, followed by the two bogies with wheels, The Leas Lift Charity said.

Mark Robinson, director of rail refurbishment company Rapid Consulting, said it was a "large project for us doing a full renovation" and explained the company would "strip down" the carriages and do "non-destructive testing".

A 100 tonne crane arrived at Leas Lift on Thursday

Work began on the overall restoration on 10 February after a £6.7m fundraising target was met, alongside a £4.8m grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Each carriage weighs 1.5 tonnes and the bogies weigh three tonnes each, along with a 500kg lifting cradle.

The carriages and bogies will be taken to Northamptonshire for approximately six months, depending on the amount of restoration work needed.

The funicular was built after the extension of the South Eastern Railway in 1843

Apex Contractors was appointed by the charity in 2024 to oversee the work, which includes the excavation of the cliff to extend the station footprint and the repair of the track and carriages.

The building company will also replace the sheave wheel and restore the pump room and existing buildings.

The Leas Lift Charity chief executive Floortje Hoette said: "There is still a little way to go, but there will be many key moments and milestones for the public to see.

"This is a very special place, and we are bringing it back to life."

The funicular was built after the extension of the South Eastern Railway in 1843 bought hordes of Victorian visitors to the seaside.

Since its opening, the rail lift has carried 36 million people, the charity said.

The Leas Lift is one of only four water-balanced lifts in the UK.