Uckfield and East Grinstead Lines – Sussex Community Rail Partnership

Since its inception in 2004 the S.C.R.P has made an impression on the Uckfield Line and since January 2006 we have included the East Grinstead Line in the partnership. We are very proud with the work that has been carried out in conjunction with parish councils, local and county council, local business including tourism and leisure and our train operating company Southern Railways. Initiatives have included the provision of cycle racks, community rail day at Edenbridge and Crowborough, promotion of local information at stations, station improvements and promotion through the newsletter and line guide which can be viewed from the link on the right. We are very proud of our new air-conditioned turbo trains and regular timetable, which now includes a Sunday service, however we are striving to meet passenger needs by campaigning for later services and an earlier service on Sunday.

History of The Uckfield Line

The Uckfield Line as we know it today was formed from two of the four lines radiating out from Tunbridge Wells West. These were the Tunbridge Wells to Uckfield and Brighton Line (opened 1868) and the Tunbridge Wells to Oxted and London direct line (opened 1884).

Eventually a spur between Ashurst and Eridge joined these two lines. The Ashurst-Eridge spur  was built about 1888 originally as a single line then doubled, but was only used as a storage area until 7th June 1914 when it opened to through traffic.

Although not heavily used, there were services scheduled from London to Brighton via Oxted and Eridge, and before the Uckfield Lewes link was severed in the 1960s, this proved a useful alternative to the main Brighton to London Line.

The Spa Valley Heritage Railway now operates the redundant line between Tunbridge Wells West and Groombridge and hopes to be able to extend into Eridge in 2007 to interchange with the Southern services.

History of The East Grinstead Line

The East Grinstead Line has been in operation in different formats from early 1850’s including t he east-west railway from Three Bridges to Groombridge however the existing line dates from 1884. There was no north-south link before then. The line’s original route continued past East Grinstead through Horsted Keynes and Sheffield Park stations and was operated by the London Brighton & South Coast Railway Company (LBSCR). In 1923 the line came under the original ‘Southern Railway’ and in 1948 British Rail.

In 1955 the line past East Grinstead was temporarily closed, however it was found that an existing Act of Parliament required the line to remain open, although a subsequent Act allowed BR to shut it permanently on 16th March 1958.

However, all was not lost, for in December 1959 the ‘Bluebell Railway Preservation Society’ gained control of most of the line between Horsted Keynes and Sheffield Park and the society is confident that the line northwards to East Grinstead will reopen by 2008 where the line will then connect with ‘New Southern Railway’ services! Deja Vu! 

Today……..

New trains operate direct services to London (please notes the Sunday service on Uckfield Line requires a change at Oxted). An on-going programme on improvements includes regular station audits and maintenance, revised timetabling and extended trains in peak hours.

Contact details:
Sam Bryant
Development Officer for the Uckfield Line
East Sussex Community Rail Partnership

Eridge Station
Groombridge Lane
East Sussex
TN3 9LE

Mobile: 07891 556 897
samantha.bryant@ruralsussex.org.uk

Train Information

For National train enquiries call 08457 484950

Or visit www.thetrainline.co.uk

And make sure you visit www.southernrailway.com before you travel to check for special offers as well as station and service information.