The historic Volk’s Electric Railway which has been running along Brighton seafront since 1883 has been recognised at the Heritage Railway Association Awards. The railway was named “Railway of the Year” at a glitzy ceremony which appropriately took place in Brighton on 10th February 2024.
In announcing the Volk’s Electric Railway as the winner the judges stated they were impressed by the authenticity, attention to detail and dedication to the unique history of the railway – which is the world’s oldest working electric railway.
The Volk’s Electric Railway beat off competition from both the Seaton Tramway and Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway who were joint second in this category.
Steve Oates, Heritage Railway Association Chief Executive, said: “This is the biggest event in heritage rail and it’s specifically designed to celebrate the achievements and successes from every part of this varied and dynamic sector. To see unique railways like the Volks Electric triumph over far bigger and more famous lines is proof that the heritage rail world is flourishing in all manner of different ways, despite the adversity we so often face.”
Whilst Seaton may not have won “Railway of the Year” they were able to celebrate on the night as they were named “Environmental Innovation Award”. This recognises the outstanding commitment to environmental stewardship the tramway has made through their annual Natural Seaton Festival. The judges said of this award that the festival stood out for its unique blend of environmental engagement alongside the heritage rail experience. The Festival returns on 27th and 28th July 2024.
Jenny Nunn, CEO of Seaton Tramway, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive this award. It is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication to both preserving our tramways heritage and protecting our natural environment. The Natural Seaton Festival is a fantastic project headed by our learning and activities department, and we are thrilled to see it recognised on such a platform.”