Читать книгу Railway Day Trips: 160 classic train journeys around Britain - Julian Holland - Страница 33

Marketed today as the West Coastway Line, the railway along the south coast of England between Brighton and Southampton has a complicated history, having been built by 5 different companies between 1840 and 1889. The Southern Railway electrified it using third rail in the 1930s. A regular interval service is currently operated by Southern.

Trains for Chichester depart from Brighton’s 19th-century Italianate-style overall-roofed terminus and immediately head to the west through Hove Tunnel to call at Hove station, originally named Cliftonville and conveniently located close to the Sussex County Cricket Club’s ground. Never far from the sea, the railway continues westward calling at Aldrington, Portslade (once the junction for the Devil’s Dyke branch), Fishergate, Southwick and Shoreham-on-Sea, which until 1966 was the junction for the Steyning Valley line to Horsham. Beyond Shoreham trains cross the River Adur on a viaduct before calling at a string of 7 coastal towns and resorts, of which Worthing is by far the largest. At Arundel Junction the Arun Valley Line heads off northwards to London while the Littlehampton branch diverges to the south. At Barnham the Bognor Regis branch heads off to the coast, and in a short time Chichester station is reached. This stylish late-1950s building is conveniently located close to the unspoilt historic city centre.

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

12th-century cathedral with separate bell tower and Roman mosaic pavement; Roman street plan; medieval city walls; Butter Market designed by John Nash; imposing Corn Exchange; 15th-century Chichester Cross; modern street art; Festival Theatre (Chichester Festival June/July); Fishbourne Roman Palace (next station)

FREQUENCY OF TRAINS

2 per hour

28¾ MILES 55 MINUTES (WEEKDAYS) 55 MINUTES (WEEKENDS)

NUMBER OF CHANGES: 0

Founded in 1075, the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Chichester has fine architecture in both Norman and Gothic styles.