Hastings railway station: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Railway station in East Sussex, Hastings, England}}

'''Hastings railway station''' is the southern terminus of the [[Hastings line]] in the south of England and is one of four stations that serve the town of [[Hastings]], East Sussex. It is also on the [[East Coastway Lineline]] to {{rws|Eastbourne}} and the [[Marshlink line]] to {{rws|Ashford International}}. It is {{convert|62|mi|33|chain|km|lk=in}} from [[Charing Cross railway station|London Charing Cross]] measured via Chelsfield and Battle; and {{convert|82|mi|33|chain|km}} from Charing Cross via Chelsfield and Ashford.{{sfn|Yonge|2008|loc=map 18C}}

The station was first proposed by the [[South Eastern Railway (UK)|South Eastern Railway]] (SER) on 9 October 1835, as the terminus for a railway from [[Tunbridge Wells]] via [[Rye, East Sussex|Rye]].{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=192}} These plans were developed during 1843, as the SER planned the most practical route to the town through what would be difficult terrain. In the meantime, the Parliamentary Select Committee had supported a scheme by the Brighton, Lewes & Hastings Railway (BLHR), which would connect the town to the [[London and Brighton Railway]] (LBR). The BLHR were awarded the [[act of parliament]] to build the railway to Hastings, with an additional option to extend the line through Rye to [[Ashford, Kent|Ashford]].{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=193}} The SER were not happy about a rival company building routes in their area, and in late 1845 researched the feasibility of a route via Tunbridge Wells. {{sfn|Gray|1990|pp=193-195193–195}} The Government insisted the SER constructed the line from Ashford to Hastings (now the [[Marshlink line]]) first before any direct route could be built. Meanwhile, the LBR and BLHR had amalgamated with other companies to form the [[London, Brighton and South Coast Railway]], who became bitter rivals with the SER.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=195}}

The station opened on 13 February 1851 when the line from Ashford was completed through to [[Bopeep Junction]]. The station was originally V-shaped allowing the two railway companies to have separate platforms and booking areas: one side for SER trains to pass through and the other as a terminal for LBSCR services. The two companies continued to argue with each other and object to trains stopping or passing through the station.{{sfn|Gray|1990|pp=196-197196–197}} The SER also wanted separate goods sheds from the LBSCR.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=198}} The connection to Tunbridge Wells opened on 1 February 1852.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=197}}

The station building was re-built in 2003, in a £8.6 million redevelopment as part of regenerating the local area by Deputy Prime Minister [[John Prescott]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/deputy-prime-minister-john-prescott-launches-new-phase-in-400-million-investment-programme-for-the-regeneration-of-hastings-and-bexhill|title=Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, launches new phase in £400 million investment programme for the regeneration of Hastings and Bexhill|work=Network Rail|date=15 August 2003|accessdate=9 February 2024}}</ref> The neo-Georgian booking hall was demolished and replaced with a modernist building.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/your-sussex/east-sussex/bexhill-and-battle/lost-hastings-area-train-stations-when-you-could-get-a-train-from-hastings-to-glyne-gap-4077657|title=Lost Hastings area train stations: When you could get a train from Hastings to Glyne Gap|work=Sussex Express|date=24 March 2023|accessdate=9 February 2024}}</ref> The new station was constructed to the east of the original. It was opened by [[Jeff Rooker]] on 14 October 2004, after which the old station building was demolished and the land re-used as a car park.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/news-release-interview-and-photo-opportunity-4|title=Loord Rooker, Minister of State for Regeneration officially opens the new station at Hastings|work=Network Rail|date=14 October 2004|accessdate=9 February 2024}}</ref>

Services at Hastings are operated by [[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]] and [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] using {{brc|171}} [[Diesel multiple unit|DMUs]], and {{brc|375}} and {{brc|377|n}} [[Electric multiple unit|EMUs]].

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:<ref>{{NRtimes|MayDecember 20222023|190, 192, 206}}</ref>

* 32 tph to {{stnlnk|Ore}} of which
* 1 continuestph to {{stnlnk|Ashford International}}