Tunnels beneath Ebbsfleet International station

[Jack D]

Hi all,

I was wandering around Ebbsfleet station and decided to look at the half constructed road bridge just south of the station. While doing so I noticed this tunnel connected to carpark A. Please see picture below and second picture of signs fastened to gate.

I didn't enter the tunnel but I was wondering its purpose. I was writing a story set around the station and may wish to incorporate the tunnels into my flat. And I'm just a curious person. Can anyone explain what they are and what their purpose is please?

Thank you in advance.

 

[bananas]

Looking at Google Maps satellite imagery (https://maps.app.goo.gl/bmKp9bmD4fR83oRy6) there appear to be stairs leading down from the southern ends of each platform at Ebbsfleet International, which would line up with an undeground passageway coming out where your photo was taken. A similar thing seems to exist at the northern ends of each platform, with another set of stairs coming out into Car Park C (except that platforms 2/3 are shorter, so there is instead a path between the tracks before you get to the stairs there).

I would've guessed these are emergency exits -- but I'm then slightly surprised the signs on the gates don't say "emergency exit, keep clear", and that there are instead signs that make it sound like you'll end up right on the live railway.

 

[Elecman]

That looks like it’s a lineside access Gate and should therefore be locked as there should be no access whilst trains are running on HS1

 

[Benjwri]

I would've guessed these are emergency exits -- but I'm then slightly surprised the signs on the gates don't say "emergency exit, keep clear", and that there are instead signs that make it sound like you'll end up right on the live railway.

iirc this is correct and they're marked as emergency exits on the platforms. I pressume no keep clear signs as they are at the bottom of a big staircase.

 

[Russel]

On that note, what was the intended purpose of the bridge over the track that has never been used?

 

[Jack D]

I think someone said it was going to be a road bridge but it was either built in wrong place or not needed. Photos below.

 

[Snow1964]

On that note, what was the intended purpose of the bridge over the track that has never been used?

When Blue Circle wanted to develop the site about 30 years ago, various masterplans followed. There was originally going to be housing zones built up over about 20-30 years. There was provision for big multi storey car parks as the surface parking would eventually get built over.

This link was the WWP Architect masterplan with zones. The bridge was for future link (that to date has not happened)

Ebbsfleet Central Masterplan | WW+P

wwparchitects.com