A Trip To Seaford
This morning, I took a trip to Seaford station on the Seaford Branch in Sussex via Brighton, to see if I could learn more about the East Coastway Line at Brighton.
I took these pictures.
Note.
- The service from Brighton to Seaford is run by 3-car Class 313 trains.
- The Class 313 trains are elderly, but well-maintained and lacking features that passengers expect these days, like wi-fi, information displays, adequate space for bicycles and fully-accessible toilets.
- The train was fairly full on a cold but sunny, Sunday morning around Falmer station, where the University of Sussex and The Amex are located.
- I was surporised at how many people arrived at Brighton on a Thameslink service.
- Lewes station is being given a full upgrade.
- Most other stations are simple affairs, that need some refurbishment.
- It was sad to see the Port of Newhaven so quiet.
- I couldn’t identify the place, where the Wealden Line used to join the East Coastway.
Certainly the route has potential, which will probably be driven by traffic at Falmer station, which has already been upgraded to take 8-car trains.
The trains should be replaced by something like a four-car Class 377 or Class 387, that could run in pairs for busy days at the The Amex.
The question also has to be asked, if the new trains had an IPEMU capability, would it be more affordable to run the Seaford Branch, if the electrification were to be removed.
The Anonymous Widower 