Robertsbridge railway station

Infobox UK station
name = Robertsbridge


code = RBR
manager = Southeastern
locale = Robertsbridge
borough = Rother
platforms = 2
usage0405 = 0.213
usage0506 = 0.225
usage0607 = 0.237
years = 1851
events = Opened

Robertsbridge railway station is on the Hastings Line in East Sussex in England, and serves Robertsbridge. Train services are provided by Southeastern.

History

Robertsbridge was temporarily the terminus of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway's (SECR) "Hastings Line" from Tunbridge Wells. This section was opened on 1 September 1851, with the 5.99 mile (9.64 km) [Marsden, Colin J. "Route Recognition: 1 — Southern Region" (1985), page 96. Ian Allan Ltd, Shepperton. ISBN 0-7110-1553-8] stretch to Battle following four months later. A connection was then made with the existing route to Hastings on 1 February 1852. [Body, Geoffrey. "PSL Field Guide – Railways of the Southern Region" (1984), pages 161-162. Patrick Stephens Ltd, Cambridge. ISBN 0-85059-664-5] A large station building was provided on the Down side, along with a signal box at the south end of the Down platform.

Robertsbridge became a junction in 1900 with the opening of the "Rother Valley Light Railway" to Tenterden. The line was extended to Headcorn in 1905, and was renamed the Kent and East Sussex Railway. In 1954, this line was closed beyond Tenterden Town (opened in 1903 beyond the original Tenterden station); British Rail closed the remaining branch on 12 June 1961. The bay platform, on the Down (eastern) side of the station, is still in place. Attempts have been made by a railway preservation society, the Rother Valley Railway, to preserve and restore track and rolling stock on this site, acquire land and gain planning permission where necessary, with the aim of restoring services along the line. (Steam trains already run on another section of the line, between Tenterden Town and Bodiam, 3½ miles from Robertsbridge.)

Services

The typical off-peak service is one train per hour to London Charing Cross via Tunbridge Wells, and one train per hour to Hastings.

Gallery

References

External links