Marshlink line

The Marshlink line passing through countryside near Winchelsea

The line was originally the idea of the Brighton, Lewes and Hastings Railway (BLHR), founded in June 1844 to construct a link between those three towns in association with the London and Brighton Railway (LBR). The South Eastern Railway (SER) wanted to construct a line between Headcorn, Rye and Hastings, but the Parliamentary Select Committee thought there would be insufficient traffic to justify it. After an Act of Parliament was passed to construct the Brighton–Hastings line (now the East Coastway line), the LBR thought it would be useful to extend it further towards Rye and Ashford, which was an area otherwise dominated by SER plans.[26] The SER conducted their own survey from Ashford to Rye in the hope that they would be allowed to construct and own the line instead.[27]

During the 1844–45 Parliamentary session, the Board of Trade decided to approve the BLHR's plans. The SER were unhappy about this arrangement and during the summer of 1845 abandoned their Headcorn–Rye–Hastings scheme, focusing on Hastings–Rye–Ashford instead.[28] The two companies reached a compromise, by which the BLHR were authorised to build the line from Hastings to Ashford, with a caveat that the SER could take over operation if they wished. The proposed line passed through countryside with only Rye as a significant settlement, so the SER easily managed to persuade the BLHR to hand over construction rights.[29]

In June 1846, Parliament deemed that the line was of strategic military importance and ordered that it was to be completed before the extension of the Hastings line from Tunbridge Wells to Hastings.[29][30] As part of the contract, the SER had to pay £10,000 towards refurbishing Rye Harbour, and took responsibility for drainage of the Royal Military Canal which ran close to the line along Romney Marsh.[31]

On 27 July 1846, the LBR and BLHR amalgamated with several other lines to form the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR).[32][33] They became fierce rivals with the SER and complained about a lack of sufficient progress.[29] The SER were unhappy about the proposed line from Rye to Hastings via Ore, which they viewed as too expensive compared to the alternative route via Whatlington. The LB&SCR objected to this route as it was longer, and consequently the SER dropped their proposals that November.[34]

In July 1847, George Robert Stephenson designed a bridge across the Royal Military Canal near Warehorne, while Peter W. Barlow designed a swing bridge over the River Rother at Rye. However, the specific route continued to be debated by the SER throughout early 1848.[35] Work from the Ashford–Rye section started in earnest that summer, making quick progress. The land over Romney Marsh was unstable, and test trains were seen to tip over in heavy winds.[8] The line was planned as single-track, though this was changed to double-track in June 1850.[36]

The line was intended to be opened on 28 October 1850 by Thomas Farncombe, Lord Mayor of London, who inserted the last brick in both the Ore and Mount Pleasant tunnels, but not all work had been completed so the full ceremony was postponed.[36][37] A second proposed opening date of 1 January 1851 was cancelled following signalling problems.[8] The line eventually opened on 13 February 1851, though this was hampered by the rivalries between the companies. The SER blocked LB&SCR trains entering Hastings, not recognising them as the legal successors to the BLH.[38] After a court case the two companies agreed to share the station's facilities for both lines.[39][lower-alpha 3] Even after opening, there were complaints in early 1852 that the line was not completely finished, and it was still marked "nearly complete" in March 1853.[8] The dispute between the SER and the LB&SCR was not fully resolved until 5 December 1870, when the former was allowed to run trains to St Leonards Warrior Square.[41]

The railway opened with four intermediate stations between Ashford and Hastings at Ham Street, Appledore, Rye and Winchelsea.[2] There were almost no other places of significance along the line.[12] Some stations were built a considerable distance away from the settlement they were supposed to serve; for example, Appledore station is around 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the village itself.[42] Four trains per day ran each way on the line, reducing to two on Sundays.[43] Few changes were made to the railway after construction during the 19th century, aside from minor signalling work and some additional buildings.[44] It was not declared profitable by the SER until 1895.[45]

To make money and boost traffic on the line, the SER agreed to hold unlicensed boxing matches on Romney Marsh. On 29 January 1856 a special train ran from London Bridge to Appledore for a prize fight between Tom Sayers and Harry Poulson. Sayers won the fight, which was reportedly rigged by the SER for £1,000. The company was accused of "aiding and abetting a breach of the peace".[46]

In 1846, a short branch was proposed from Rye station towards Rye Harbour. It was 3⁄8 mile (0.60 km) long and only used for freight, ending by the River Rother at a pier.[47] The line opened in March 1854.[31] It was almost derelict by 1955, and closed on 29 January 1960.[48][49]

The Rye and Camber Tramway was a separate 3 feet (0.91 m) gauge line the other side of the river. It was proposed in 1895 and funded with a £2,800 capital.[50] A 1+3⁄4-mile (2.8 km) section from Rye to Golf Links Halt opened on 13 July 1895, followed by a 1⁄2-mile (0.80 km) extension to Camber Sands, opening on 13 July 1908. The line was closed in 1939 following competition from bus services and was temporarily part-converted to road during the war. It was returned to railway after hostilities ended, but the line was impractical to repair to full use and hence closed permanently.[51]

In 1901, the East Sussex Light Railway proposed a connection from Northiam on the Kent and East Sussex Railway to Rye. The SECR objected, and it was abandoned.[52]

An obsolete stile over the former 1937 realignment of the line from Lydd to New Romney, closed since 1967

The SER had tenuous plans to build a cross-channel passenger ferry terminal at Dungeness, which would provide a dedicated route from London to Paris.[53] In 1859, the Town Clerk of New Romney suggested a line should be built from Folkestone to Rye via Dymchurch and Lydd, but the SER was not interested. However, in 1866 they became favourable about a branch line from Appledore, as it could support their international train proposals. An Act of Parliament to build the line was obtained on 30 July that year, which included a branch to Denge Beach. On 5 August 1873, the SER were authorized to extend the line to Dungeness with a 100-yard (91 m) pier and landing stage. Progress stalled on the line in the 1870s and the SER were in danger of a rival railway taking over construction.[54]

The development of the artillery range at Lydd increased the potential for traffic, so the newly formed Lydd Railway proposed their own bill to work on the Appledore–Lydd branch line. Work began on 8 April 1881 and opened to Dungeness on 7 December that year.[lower-alpha 4] Most trains ran through to Ashford, though a few services terminated at Appledore.[53] An act for the northward branch to New Romney was granted on 24 July 1882, with the line opening on 19 June 1884.[6][42] The line was not a financial success, and the Lydd Railway was absorbed into the SER in 1895.[6]

By the early 20th century, trains were running direct from Charing Cross to New Romney via Ashford and Appledore on summer Sundays.[55] The branch line became important during World War I, when numerous Army camps were established on the shingle wasteland between Lydd and Dungeness. During this time, the line catered for both infantry and horse traffic.[56] A passing loop past Appledore was removed in 1920. At the New Romney end, one of the sidings adjoining the station was extended to serve the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway.[57]

The line was realigned to be closer to the coast in the 1930s, in order to attract holiday traffic along the coast between Dungeness and New Romney. The rerouted line opened on 4 July 1937, and included new stations at Lydd-on-Sea and Greatstone-on-Sea.[58] At the same time, the branch to Dungeness was closed to passengers.[57] By 1952, nine trains a day were serving New Romney from Appledore, with two further through trains from Ashford. After electrification of the South East main line in 1962, the direct services from Charing Cross were discontinued, and the remaining services were run on diesel-electric stock.[59]

Hastings was poorly served by the railway, as many of the residential areas to the east of the town centre were some distance from the station. In 1872, the SER considered building a new station, but progress stalled until July 1886, when a local landowner offered £1,000 (£115,891 in 2021) to build a station near Ore Tunnel. Ore railway station opened on 1 January 1888.[44]

The original swing bridge over the River Rother east of Rye was proposed to be replaced by a fixed bridge in 1881. The SER were amenable to this as the Monk Bretton Bridge (that now carries the A259 east of Rye) was in planning stages, though the replacement bridge did not open until 1903.[60] In 1899, the SER and the London, Chatham and Dover Railway created the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SE&CR) as a joint operation.[61]

In 1907, a steam railcar service was introduced on the line in an attempt to increase local traffic. Three additional halts were constructed between Winchelsea and Hastings; Three Oaks, Guestling (later renamed Doleham) and Snailham, all of which opened on 1 July.[62][63] Snailham Halt was inaccessible by public road, and could only be reached by a rough track. The station was never modernised, and retained its original wooden platforms.[12] Steam railcar services were withdrawn in February 1920 and replaced with tank engines.[64][65] Snailham Halt closed on 2 February 1959.[12][9]

Following World War I, plans were put forward to construct a chord linking the line eastwards at Ashford towards Dover Priory. This would allow trains to run between Hastings and Dover without having to reverse. The plans stalled at the design stage and the link was never constructed.[12]

At the start of 1923, the SER, LCDR and SE&CR amalgamated with other railways to form the Southern Railway following in the Railways Act 1921.[61] The line was electrified from Hastings to Ore in 1935, and electric services began on 7 July. This was done in order that trains could be serviced in a siding away from the centre of Hastings. The siding closed in May 1986.[66] Electrification through to Ashford was planned, but abandoned in 1939 when the war started.[67] It was revived for the Kent electrification scheme Phase 2 of the British Railways Modernisation Plan in the early 1960s, which included some preparatory work such as a footbridge at Rye. The plans were later dropped.[68]

A regular hourly service was introduced in 1959, with additional peak services. This schedule has been largely unchanged.[43]

Since the Marshlink line was single-tracked in 1979, Winchelsea railway station has only used one platform

The line was recommended for closure by Dr. Richard Beeching in the 1963 Beeching Report as it attracted less than 10,000 passengers a week.[69][70] Like other lines threatened with closure, there was strong opposition, and the route survived because the nearby road network made it impractical to run a replacement bus service.[71] The parallel A259 from Hastings to Brenzett had several level crossings over the line and a hairpin bend at Winchelsea, all of which remain as of the 21st century.[72]

The local member of parliament for Rye, Bryant Godman Irvine made a significant Commons speech complaining about the decision to close the line. As well as the A259, he complained that a lack of rail service would hinder holidaymakers, prevent children from getting to school easily, and remove the potential profitability of being able to move freight via rail.[13] At the same time as the Beeching Report was published, Arthur Irvine complained that a bus took an hour to travel the 19 miles (31 km) between Rye and Ashford.[73] To make a case against closure and save money, the main line was temporarily made single track between Appledore and Ore from June 1965, which lasted until September 1966.[74]

On 23 February 1966, the Ministry of Transport confirmed the branch to New Romney would close to passengers, which it did on 6 March 1967.[7][75] It was kept open for freight as far as a nuclear flask loading and unloading point just outside Dungeness.[76] This branch continues to run a regular service for this purpose, and occasional special passenger trains have been run for rail enthusiasts.[77][78] Shortly afterwards, John Morris, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Ministry of Transport, announced that the remainder of the line was under review and would not close without further advice.[79] The decision to close was delayed several times and dragged on for the remainder of the decade.[80][81] Transport minister Michael Heseltine said a condition of the line closing would be improvements to buses from Ashford to Ore.[82]

The Marshlink line is mostly single track between Appledore and Ore. At the River Tillingham bridge in Rye shown, it is clear where the second track once ran.

In 1969, Railway Magazine announced the remainder of the line would close at the end of the year. In 1971, the Kent Messenger stated the same,[83] as did The Times, which also reported the railway was losing around £130,000 a year.[84] In December 1973, the Ministry of Transport announced that the closure would require review owing to a change in transport policy.[85] On 31 July 1974, the ministry recommended the line for closure but stated that services would run indefinitely for the foreseeable future.[83]

The line was single tracked between Appledore and Ore on 1 October 1979, leaving a passing loop at Rye, in order to reduce maintenance and operational costs. At Winchelsea, the down platform was removed; trains in both directions now stop on the former up platform.[86] Line speed was reduced from 85 mph to 60 mph,[67] but there are additional long term speed restrictions in place, including 40 mph between Doleham and Ore[87] and 20 mph across a half barrier level crossing at Winchelsea.[88] The restrictions mean that services along the Marshlink line do not make optimum use of the rolling stock, which has a top speed of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).[86]

By the 1980s, British Rail had started to modernise the route,[89] though electrification was rejected in preference to improving the South Eastern Main Line from Tonbridge to Ashford.[90] After electric services from Tunbridge Wells to Hastings started running on 27 April 1986, the Marshlink line became only one of two non-electric lines in the south east.[67] In January 1992, the Minister for Public Transport, Roger Freeman, announced plans for British Rail to start electrification by 1995.[91]

Following the privatisation of British Rail, the line was operated by Connex South Eastern from 1996, later transferring to Connex South Central.[92][93] After Eurostar services began stopping at Ashford International in 1996, direct services were introduced on the Marshlink line beyond Hastings to Eastborne and Brighton for the first time in 60 years.[94]

By 1998, traffic on the line had improved by 20%.[92] In 2000, Southern took over management, and pledged to invest £5 million in improving customer service across its network. However, the Marshlink line continued to attract criticism for its poor service and lack of modernisation; Norman Baker, MP for Lewes described it, after travelling on the Eurostar from Brussels to Ashford International, as "a 1954 diesel train, which shunts along like Thomas the Tank Engine at about 10 mph from Ashford to Hastings."[95]

The line closed for nine weeks from January to March 2012 for essential repair work to Ore tunnel, which was at risk of seeping water. The embankment between Ashford International and Ham Street was repaired, and the bridges next to Doleham and Three Oaks were rebuilt. There was also maintenance to signals to increase train speeds along the line. Network Rail planned to complete the work before patronage increased during the summer.[96][97] The lengthy closure was criticised by MPs whose constituencies the line ran through, who questioned why the entire line had to close in one go as opposed to individual sections at a time.[98]

In May 2018, Southern announced the cancellation of the direct service from Ashford International to Brighton, with Marshlink services only extending to Eastbourne. The company defended the decision as it would improve capacity between Eastbourne and Hastings, and removing a 2 carriage diesel service from the electrified and often overcrowded Brighton – Eastbourne line, but their proposals were criticised by various councillors whose wards lay on the route.[18][19]