Costain is continuing with work on a £39.8 million project to rebuild the railway between Folkestone and Dover.

Network Rail has now confirmed the route will be reopened this autumn.

Engineers are working to build a new 235-metre-long viaduct after bad weather caused severe to a sea wall on Christmas Eve.

The structure will be supported by 134 concrete columns sunk into the beach and is designed to last 120 years.

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Network Rail’s area director, Paul Rutter, said: "We understand the impact of this closure has had on passengers, and our engineers have been working round the clock to finish the repairs and get trains running again between Dover and Folkestone.

"We had set aside time for interruptions to the project through bad weather and other issues which can occur on major projects, but so far that contingency has not proved necessary. As a result we are much further ahead than we had expected and have seen the overall cost of the project decrease.

"As soon as we have a firm date for reopening the railway line, we will let passengers know."

(LM/MH)