Seaford Branch Line

Seaford Branch Line
Legend
East Coastway Line to Lewes 51 mi 11 ch 82.3 km Southerham Junction East Coastway Line to Eastbourne and Hastings 53 mi 40 ch 86.1 km Southease 55 mi 58 ch 89.68 km Newhaven Town Yard 56 mi 25 ch 90.63 km Newhaven Town 56 mi 51 ch 91.15 km Newhaven Harbour 56 mi 55 ch 91.23 km Newhaven Harbour Jn 56 mi 67 ch 91.47 km Newhaven Marine 57 mi 34 ch 92.42 km Bishopstone Beach Halt Bishopstone Tide Mills 58 mi 03 ch 93.4 km Bishopstone 58 mi 77 ch 94.89 km Seaford
Mileage from London Bridge via Plumpton

The Seaford Branch Line is a rural railway line in East Sussex constructed in 1864 primarily to serve the port of Newhaven and the town of Seaford. It now sees fairly regular trains across the line except for the Newhaven Marine branch, which is still technically open but is fenced off from the public and not on any timetables.

History

Engineered by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway's Chief Engineer Frederick Banister,^[1] the first section of the line was opened in 1847 to aid the transport of goods to and from Newhaven. The line was extended in 1864 to serve the holiday town of Seaford. There used to be large sidings at Newhaven Docks and even a railway swing bridge over the River Ouse to connect to the other side. These have now been removed or have overgrown, as has the defunct Newhaven Marine station, which has been fenced off from the public. Once a thriving station to and from ferries to France, the under 1/4 mile walk to Newhaven Harbour station and the now lack of winter ferries forced its closure. The line was electrified (750 V DC Third rail) by the Southern Railway in 1935. The line between Newhaven Harbour and Seaford was reduced to single track to save costs in 1975.

Route

• Services stop at Lewes on the East Coastway Line, the last before the branch line splits off
• Branch Line starts at Southerham Junction on the East Coastway Line
• Southease (serves the South Downs Way)
• Newhaven Town (town centre of Newhaven across swing bridge over River Ouse, and ferries to France a short walk from here)
• Newhaven Harbour (does not anymore serve ferries to France)
  • Small branch splits off to Newhaven Marine, now closed to passengers
• Line becomes single track, one of a few single track third rail lines in the country
• Closed station of Bishopstone Beach Halt
• Bishopstone (on the edge of Seaford)
• Seaford (end of the line)

Train services

Train services are operated by Southern. Class 313s and Class 377 "Electrostars" are used on the line to transport passengers to Lewes, Brighton and even London.

The normal off peak train service on the line is two trains per hour between Brighton and Seaford calling at London Road, Moulsecoomb, Falmer, Lewes and then all stations on the branch line.

Occasional peak hour services continue towards London Victoria via Haywards Heath, Gatwick Airport and East Croydon.

At off peak times, connections with services towards London can be made at Lewes.

Passenger volume

Comparing the number of passengers in year beginning April 2002 to the year beginning April 2010, Southease has increased by 96%, Newhaven Town by 45%, Bishopstone by 58% and Seaford by 56%. Newhaven Harbour has declined by 51%.^[2]

References

Railway lines in the South East
Primary	International High Speed 1 (Ashford • Ebbsfleet) National Great Western Main Line (Slough • Maidenhead • Reading • Didcot Parkway) West Coast Main Line (Watford Junction • Milton Keynes Central)
Secondary	Berks/Bucks/Oxon to London Aylesbury Line Chiltern Main Line Waterloo to Reading Line (and in Surrey) Windsor & Eton Riverside Line (and in Surrey) Crossrail (under construction) (and past London to Essex) Kent to London Bexleyheath Line Chatham Main Line Dartford Loop Line Kent Coast Line Maidstone Line Medway Valley Line North Kent Line Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) Line Sheerness Line South Eastern Main Line Tonbridge Line (and in Surrey) Surrey/Sussex/Hants to London Ascot to Guildford Line Alton Line Arun Valley Line Brighton Main Line Caterham Line Fareham Line Hampton Court Branch Line Hastings Line (and in Kent) Chertsey Branch Line Epsom Downs Branch New Guildford Line Oxted Line (and in Kent) Portsmouth Direct Line Shepperton Branch Line South Western Main Line Sutton and Mole Valley Lines Tattenham Corner Line Thameslink (and past London to Beds/Herts) West of England Main Line Others Cherwell Valley Line Cotswold Line Eastleigh to Romsey Line East Coastway Line (inc Marshlink Line) Henley Branch Line Island Line Lymington Branch Line Marlow Branch Line Marston Vale Line North Downs Line Oxford to Bicester Line Princes Risborough to Aylesbury Line Reading to Taunton Line West Coastway Line Wessex Main Line Slough to Windsor & Eton Line Reading to Basingstoke Line Seaford Branch Line
Heritage	Bluebell Railway Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway Cholsey & Wallingford Railway East Kent Railway Isle of Wight Steam Railway Kent and East Sussex Railway Lavender Line Spa Valley Railway Watercress Line
Non-passenger/ Defunct	Hundred of Hoo Railway Oxfordshire Ironstone Railway