Ghost station, ghost trains

[EddieB]

The subject of running "ghost trains" crops up in the media from time to time.  Essentially these are infrequent and largely inconvenient timetabled services stopping at stations that Network Rail would rather didn't exist, but where the costs of closure outweigh the provision of occasional trains.

 

In most instances, these "parliamentary" trains involve a single service making at a station, through which other regular services pass without stopping.  The situation at Newhaven Marine is different - the station is at the end of a short spur line from Newhaven Harbour station, leading off the Brighton to Seaford branch line, which sees a regular passenger service.

 

During BR days, Newhaven boasted three stations, Town, Harbour and Marine.  Newhaven Marine provided a shore to ship transfer point, which became obsolete when port and harbour facilities were expanded and moved a little way further inland.

 

Newhaven Marine has since been in the process of being run down and suffering demolition for many years.  It is now officially closed, but is still served by a rather strange operating sequence, the point of which is perhaps a little difficult to understand.

 

Here is a view of the junction and Newhaven Marine station from Newhaven Harbour station (behind the semaphore signal, also note the double slip, only one side showing regular use).

 

 

The situation has changed from its Wikipedia entry and as seen in an excellent video, by the intrepid couple (who would make great TV documentaries): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTmumbrKohs. The station buildings and platform canopy have since been demolished, leaving essentially a bare platform.  The platform itself is protected by fence panels, knocked over - but on the friendly advice of the signalman at Newhaven Harbour, I was warned not to cross the fence line in case it alerted harbour security.

 

Although the station has been closed to passengers for several years, it does see a regular service.  On weekdays, two trains are operated daily into and out of Newhaven Marine station.  Both are empty stock workings.  In the morning there is the 5F90 07:27 Lewes - Newhaven Town, which runs as empty coaching stock (ecs) into Newhaven Marine, then reverses back through Newhaven Harbour to Newhaven Town, whereupon it enters passenger service as the 2F90 service to Brighton.  In the evening the 2F01 passenger service from Brighton terminates at Newhaven Harbour, continuing on to Newhaven Marine as the 5F28 ecs working, and returning to Brighton as the 5F30 (also ecs).

 

Here are a couple of pictures of the morning "ghost train" from last week, first leaving Newhaven Harbour for Newhaven Marine, then leaving Newhaven Marine for the run back to Newhaven Town.

 

Finally, what seems to have been an unusual visit to Newhaven Marine occurred last Sunday evening (11th February), when the MPV pairing of DR 98916/66 ran into and out of Newhaven Marine on the 820R 17:55 Brighton - Horsham working.  They are here seen at and leaving Newhaven Harbour to take the spur into Newhaven Marine.

Edited February 19, 2018 by EddieB

[Metr0Land]

Current list of all infrequent services here:

 

http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/2018.htm

 

Some are just infrequent, others are 'parliamentaries'