Volk’s Electric Railway reopens for the summer season today (Friday 29 March) on Brighton seafront.
The historic and award-winning attraction runs between a station just east of the Palace Pier to Black Rock and back.
Journalist and newsreader Nicholas Owen drove the first train – and not for the first time.
Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Residents and visitors can once again enjoy the sights and sounds of our seafront on the world’s oldest operating electric railway.
“The mile-long beachfront journey from the Aquarium to Black Rock Station boasts beautiful sea views as well as a chance to take in the planting along the boardwalk, spot the renovated Reading Room and Temple and perhaps catch a glimpse of swimmers at Sea Lanes.
“To mark the seasonal reopening, staff and volunteers from the Volk’s Electric Railway Association (VERA) will be joined by councillors at the Aquarium Station and Visitor Centre for a grand unveiling of the ‘Railway of the Year 2024’ plaque.
“The award was recently awarded to the Volk’s by the Heritage Railway Association in recognition of the dedication to providing eco-friendly and efficient transport while also preserving the rich history.
“The award tops a year of remarkable success for the railway, notably celebrated with its 140th anniversary last August.
“Three other plaques awarded in recent years to the Volk’s Electric Railway and its volunteer group VERA will also be unveiled.
“The Volk’s Electric Railway will reopen to the public for the season from 10.15am on Friday 29 March and will be open daily until end September.
“Find out more on the Volk’s Electric Railway website.”
how about a statue for the dog that got electrocuted
Go right ahead, I’ll allow it.
Another local business set to be crushed by VG3. Time to sack 275 useless eaters in the Transport Dept.
I’ve always liked the idea, even though I don’t think it’d be feasible, to extend the Volks line across the seafront towards Shoreham and Newhaven, respectively. Then change the carriages to be more modern, work it into an all-year service, and run it like a tram service in collaboration with the bus services/park & ride schemes.
That might be a bit much for a tram system.
I’ve always been keen to extend it to the Marina one way, and King Alfred’s the other way – the length of the promenade. Car parking at each end and use the parking fees to subsidise the tram to be (hopefully) free to hop on or hop off anywhere along the route
Too many obstacles in the way to extend it westwards.
Eastwards possible but would have to consider how the development at Black Rock might impinge on that.
Plus then it wouldn’t be the historic railway it is now.
Plus you’d be blocking off easy access to the busiest part of the beach to only a few access points.
A proper tram running along the seafront at the road level would be a different kettle of fish but I really don’t think there is a business case for it unless it was for a wider tram system but even then it would be a very long shot.
Why would it block off access? Major cities around the world have tram systems that don’t need to be fenced off. Lisbon? Melbourne? Etc.
There’s no business case for it, but then presumably there wasn’t a ‘business case’ for Volks when it was built or for many of the Victorian infrastructure builds, yet here we are still looking after them – they tended to take a “if you build it, they will come” attitude. Wanting a business case for everything is why other European seaside cities have nice infrastructure and we end up spending months boring everyone arguing about taking away a couple of parking spaces.
Tram systems like Lisbon, Amsterdam, Manchester, Croydon use overhead wires whereas the Volks uses the 3rd rail and so requires fencing off from the general public (like mainline rail).
Thanks – been passed it dozens of times and never noticed that. Yes, an electrified third rail would make a difference.
It would no longer be what it is today and certainly not up for a year round regular service
Barry you clearly don’t know that the Volks is owned, operated and funded by the Council
And let’s stop the nonsense that VG3 is going to destroy the city and every business in it. Because that’s patently untrue.
Ah yes, the passengers will appreciate the sweet and cloying smell of sewerage as it travels eastward back to its station.