PASSENGER SERVICES

Southern - Electric Services

377301 at Newhaven. Paul Snelling

On the West London Line, the existing Brighton to Watford service will now start from East Croydon. From early 2009, it will be extended to run to Milton Keynes.
Passengers travelling from Brighton will need to change at East Croydon for West London Line services
Between Redhill and London, there will be longer trains in peak times and an increase from four to six trains per hour during the off-peak
Southern will be operating Redhill to Tonbridge services (currently operated by Southeastern) with the introduction of more services to London during peak times, whilst reducing the off-peak services from half-hourly to an hourly frequency. The direct service between Gatwick Airport and Tonbridge will no longer operate
There will be a direct service from Reigate to London Charing Cross
A new direct off-peak service from Preston Park and Hassocks to London Victoria will be introduced
Current off-peak half-hourly services from London Victoria to Horsham and Chichester will be extended into the evening peak period
Changes to evening peak departure times on Caterham, Tattenham, and East Grinstead lines to provide regular half hourly services from both Victoria and London Bridge which includes Introduction of direct half hourly fast trains between Victoria and Caterham in evening peak
Finally, there will be an additional morning peak train from East Grinstead to London Victoria.

Gatwick Express

	442405 leads 442403 forming the 14:10 Three Bridges – Eastbourne crew training trip. Paul Snelling

Class 442 and 460. Class 442 has been introduced with the December 2008 timetable. These are used on services extending to Brighton. The units have been extensively re-furbished. Class 460 works the main Gatwick Airport to London Victoria service.

First Great Western

Class 150 and 158. Services run from Brighton to Great Malvern at 0900 Monday to Saturday with a return departure at 1051. Services at 1700 to Worcester Shrub Hill and 1700 to Cheltenham Spa are unbalanced with neither a corresponding arrival or return service.

Sunday services run from Brighton at 1110 to Cardiff Central, 1547 and 1747 to Bristol Temple Meads. From 29th March the 1110 service will terminate at Bristol Parkway. Inbound services to Brighton depart Cardiff Central at 1015, 1215 and 1715. The 1015 ex Cardiff and 1547 to Bristol TM are the only balanced working.

First Capital Connect

Brighton to Bedford

Class 319/4. Class 319/3 units can often be seen although they are allocated to the Sutton services.

First Great Western Link

Gatwick Airport - Redhill - Guildford - Reading

Class 166 mainly.

The majority of services within the Sussex area are worked by electric units.
Exceptions are:-
First Great Western Link work into Gatwick Airport with Network Turbo class 166 diesel units.
The Uckfield to Oxted service is now operated by class 171 stock, with the class 171/7 two car units used mainly for peak hour strengthening. At Oxted, passengers now rarely need to change to EMU stock working up from East Grinstead as most services run through from Uckfield to London Bridge. On Sundays a change at Oxted is required.

Beyond the eastern extremity of our area, class 171s work between Brighton, Hastings and Ashford (Kent).

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FREIGHT SERVICES

Freight services are confined to the Central Section and the furthest point south reached is Haywards Heath. This is a working to the Amey Roadstone plant at Ardingly on the former branch to Horsted Keynes. The train arrives at Haywards Heath, where the engine runs round and the train then heads north and runs onto the branch. Here the engine runs round again and brings the train back to Haywards Heath where the process is repeated for the return journey.

This service is 6O47 TThO from Acton arriving at 06.30 and departing at 09.25 as 6Y60.

6Y60 returns the train to Hither Green Sidings. The empty wagons are forwarded from there to Acton. EWS class 59/2 is the scheduled motive power although members of Class 66 frequently work the service. This train has Q paths on the remaining days of the week including Saturday.

Three Bridges

Occasionally engines engaged in track work stable in the Up Sidings to the south of the station on the west side adjacent to the Brighton Line. Track machines are often found in the Down sidings.

Crawley New Yard is situated between Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport on the up side of the line. This is served by aggregate trains and a solitary sand train. Trains can be seen here weekdays up to mid morning and from mid afternoon to mid evening. It is suggested that Freightmaster be consulted for times and destinations. Readers should note that these services are liable to change due to fluctuating requirements.

Freight is usually handled by EWS class 59/2, 60 and 66/0 locomotives together with Mendip Rail classes 59/0 and 59/1.

DEPOTS and STABLING POINTS

BRIGHTON T&RSMD (BI)

Better known as Lovers Walk, the depot is situated between Brighton and Preston Park stations on the Up side of the line. Views of the depot can be had from passing trains. A limited view can be had from the London end of the platforms at Brighton Station or the station car park.

EASTBOURNE

Stock is stabled on the up side of the line just north of the station.

GATWICK

Occasionally stock is stabled in the up side sidings south of Gatwick Airport station. First Great Western Link use the sidings to lay over between turns.

LITTLEHAMPTON

The carriage sheds have been refurbished and stock stables in the adjacent sidings.

PRESTON PARK

Sidings are available on the up side.

THREE BRIDGES

Three Bridges has once again ceased to be a depot with the cessation of the Arriva Cross Country services. There are only very limited views of the depot from the platforms at Three Bridges station or from passing trains.

WEST WORTHING

The carriage sheds at West Worthing were demolished during 2008.

PRESERVATION SITES

Sussex is best known for the Bluebell Railway, which runs between Sheffield Park and Kingscote. Nearest national railway stations are Haywards Heath and East Grinstead respectively. The Bluebell was one of the pioneering enthusiast railways and goes from strength to strength. A wide range of stock can be found. The stations have been superbly restored. Expansion continues with the acquisition of some buildings at Sheffield Park for carriage storage. The main impetus is on relaying track back to East Grinstead from Kingscote. They have a superb website at http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk which you are commended to view. An 08 has been hired in for Imberhorne spoil trains and shunting stock.

Also in our area is the Lavender Line, which runs for a short distance northwards from Isfield Station. Nearest national railway stations are Lewes and Uckfield. Although only a short ride the station at Isfield is immaculately restored and sports a good cafeteria. Stock consists mainly of ex industrial diesel locomotives but the main train service is usually steam hauled. Their website can be found at http://www.lavender-line.co.uk

Nearby can be found the Great Bush Railway at Tinkers Park, Hadlow Down. A private site not normally open to the public but the railway can be ridden on at the annual Steam Rally in June. Well recommended for the traction engines. Railway stock consists of a number of Ruston and Motor Rail products but battery electrics and two non operable Avonsides can also be found. All 2 foot gauge. Buxted is the nearest station, about 3 miles distant.

In Brighton can be found the pioneering Volks Electric Railway, running from the Palace Pier to Black Rock. This is operated during the summer months by the City Council but has a lot of support from the Volks Electric Railway Association. The website can be found at http://www.volkselectricrailway.co.uk

At Amberley there is a railway located within the Amberley Working Museum. Passengers are carried on a short narrow gauge line within the site. There are a number of former industrial locomotives on site, many on view. Located in a former chalk pit, the site shows the history of lime making. This is supported by a number of other exhibits which record rural crafts in Sussex. Modern halls house exhibitions on telephones, electricity and road making. There is even a bus garage and exhibits dedicated to the celebrated Southdown Motor Services. Amberley station is about 100 yards from the site entrance.

For full details of the museum they have their own web site at www.amberleymuseum.co.uk. There is also a site specific to their narrow gauge railway at http://home.fastnet.co.uk/gerrycork/amberleyrail/index.html

Readers are suggested to contact the respective operators for dates and times of services.

05/01/09