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Today marks Dover Priory’s birthday, just 164 years in service – a proud moment in this year’s celebrations for Railway 200, the bicentenary of Britain’s railways. Opened in 1861, Dover Priory has long stood as a historic gateway to the southeast, connecting generations of travellers, tourists, and trade to the Channel coast and beyond. To mark the occasion, AW Rail were invited along as part of White Cliffs Community Rail Partnership, drawing attention not just to the station’s past, but to the exciting future of Britain’s railway infrastructure.

Certainly, a highlight of the event was a speech by Chris Green OBE, a lifelong champion of rail travel and regeneration. Chris reflected on the pivotal role of regional stations like Dover Priory in shaping local economies and national connectivity. “Stations like this are not just places of travel,” he said. “They are places of transformation — for communities, businesses, and heritage alike.”  A great privilege to be able to listen to Chris recount his decades of history within the rail industry.

Dover Priory’s birthday bash allowed us to showcase our Railway200 sign made from daggerboards reclaimed from Blackheath Station. The boards, once part of Blackheath’s architectural detailing, have been carefully put together and repurposed by students from EKC Folkestone, blending historical preservation with creative regeneration – handpainted infills, yet modern technology to mill the logos for Railway200 and AW Rail . The sign serves as a symbol of both legacy and renewal — a fitting tribute as the UK actively celebrates 200 years of railway history in 2025. Just one of the many community projects and recycling initiatives  that AW Group has undertaken – if you are hosting an event for Railway200 and would like to use ou sign then please do get in touch.

The celebration at Dover Priory highlighted not only a significant milestone in the station’s long-standing service but also the spirit of innovation and heritage that defines the Railway 200 initiative. Through speeches, storytelling, and symbolic restoration, these events bring together the past and future of rail – do check out their events and the Railway200 train visiting a station near you soon!

There is a community event this weekend further celebrating Dover Priory’s birthday, Saturday 26^th August from 1000hrs  to 1600hrs – feel free to attend and support.

The White Cliffs Community Rail Partnership (WCCRP) is a collaborative initiative spanning the Dover and Folkestone & Hythe districts, uniting Dover District Council, local town councils, Southeastern Rail, Network Rail, and the Community Rail Network to promote rail travel and community-led projects.

Covering nine stations—from Westenhanger through Sandling, Folkestone West and Central, Dover Priory and Martin Mill to Walmer, Deal, and Sandwich—the partnership aims to turn stations into community assets through health, social and economic regeneration, sustainable travel, inclusivity and local empowerment

Since its launch in 2021, WCCRP has championed local engagement through guided walks departing from stations, community events, heritage boards and accessible travel guides, celebrating the unique landscapes, history and biodiversity of the White Cliffs region. These activities encourage people to explore via train, enriching wellbeing while supporting tourism and sustainable transport across Kent

AW Group is a multi-disciplined construction company providing a broad range of support and manpower across building and rail projects.

Our Fields are:

AW Construction – We offer an outstanding UK-wide fit out service, taking care of everything from scheduling rollouts & ordering materials to assistance with design and onsite delivery

AW Rail – We use the very best labour force and a proactive approach to deliver first-class construction and maintenance projects across the rail industry

AW Labour – We provide a high-calibre blue collar and white-collar workforce with a diverse range of skills, to support the construction and rail industries