Seaford branch line

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Seaford branch line
Level crossing, Newhaven - geograph.org.uk - 571392.jpg
A Southern Class 377 on the level crossing by Newhaven Town station in 2007
Overview
StatusOperational
Owner Network Rail
Locale East Sussex
South East England
Termini
Stations5
Service
Type Heavy rail
System National Rail
ServicesSoutherham Junction–Seaford
Operator(s) Southern
Rolling stock Class 377 "Electrostar"
History
Opened1864
Technical
Line length7  miles 66  chains (12.59  km)
Number of tracks2 (Southerham Junction–Newhaven Harbour)
1 (Newhaven HarbourSeaford)
Character Rural
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification 750 V DC third rail
Route map
Seaford branch line.png
(Click to expand)

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 branch to the closed Newhaven Marine station.

Contents

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. [2] There used to be extensive 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, such as Newhaven Marine station. Once a busy station serving ferries to and from France, the walk of just under 1/4 mile to Newhaven Harbour station and the 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

Train services

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

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, Southease (1tph only), Newhaven Town, Newhaven Harbour (1 tph only), Bishopstone and Seaford. [5] Services alternate between calling at Southease and Newhaven Harbour.

Currently, there are no regular direct services from the branch line towards London, with passengers needing to change at Lewes in order to travel towards Gatwick Airport and London Victoria.

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%. [6]

Station usage
Station name2002–032004–052005–062006–072007–082008–092009–102010–112011–122012–132013–142014–152015–162016–172017–182018–192019–202020–212021–222022–232023–24
Southease 6,2257,0937,2458,5278,8558,4429,99412,22813,81611,63418,04220,66217,96613,18418,16222,00822,05210,30223,56423,206
Newhaven Town 216,136232,450234,952261,348302,576302,526308,682313,082318,812318,664306,102320,388326,310236,416280,712307,638342,606123,406283,664319,038
Newhaven Harbour 92,947103,57291,87559,78052,73048,21440,44645,64444,79444,21246,17850,87855,07052,34257,98253,26649,45014,02018,29823,176
Bishopstone 19,28217,12818,09924,04127,54228,78429,63230,43234,55631,85230,87630,93428,98220,32033,68639,42241,66015,87836,45043,104
Seaford 493,247596,021630,624697,956769,510797,008765,776769,870777,108761,888790,062797,914767,482539,322627,538676,442673,764205,142474,382552,902
The annual passenger usage is based on sales of tickets in stated financial years from Office of Rail and Road estimates of station usage. The statistics are for passengers arriving and departing from each station and cover twelve-month periods that start in April. Methodology may vary year on year. Usage since the period 2019–20 have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the period 2020–23.

References

  1. "Federick Dale Banister". GracesGuide.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  2. Turner, JT Howard (1978). The London, Brighton & South Coast Railway 2: Establishment & Growth. First: BT Batsford Ltd. p. 173. ISBN   0-7134-1198-8.
  3. "Newhaven Marine Railway Station". Hansard. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  4. "Newhaven Marine 'ghost station' closure confirmed". The Argus. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  5. "Loading..." timetables.southernrailway.com. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  6. "Station Usage". Rail Statistics. Office of Rail Regulation . Retrieved 7 January 2013.