The “Night Ferry” being loaded to cross the English Channel.
The “Night Ferry” was the first, and until the opening of the Channel Tunnel the only, through train from London to Paris. The train was made up of sleeping cars provided by the CIWL (Companie Internationale des Wagon-lits or International Sleeping Car Company) of “Orient Express” fame.
(Left) The Duke and Duchess of Windsor used both the “Night Ferry” and the “Golden Arrow” – they didn’t like flying. Dogs substituted for children. The train used the newly constructed Train Ferry Dock at Dover and one of the three specially constructed train ferries, built by the Southern Railway to ferry the sleeping cars across the Channel to Dunkirk while their occupants (hopefully) slept.
The “Night Ferry” arrive at Victoria during the 1960s – approaching the end of the run.
The first train left London Victoria Station at 10pm on 14th October 1936 and arrived at Paris Gare du Nord at 8:55am the next morning. The first return journey left Paris at 9:50pm on 15th and arrived in London at 8:30 on 16th. From 15th October the service ran daily in both directions, a return journey costing £9.20 in First Class and £7.10 in Second.
