Saturday 5th April saw the Volk’s Electric Railway start running again for 2025 – a year which sees the unique coastal line reach its 142nd anniversary! Just a few days into the new season Tony Sullivan paid a visit to capture some images of the trains in operation on the line.
The first ever electric railway in the UK, the VER now operates every year between the start of April and end of September running between the Aquarium (by Brighton’s Palace Pier) and Black Rock with one intermediate station at Halfway. It runs every day – subject to weather conditions – using a fleet of original trains built specifically for the line, ranging from 1892 built no. 4 to 10 of 1910.
This year has seen some more development alongside the line whilst at the Black Rock end the station building is due to be refurbished by Southern Water which means it is out of bounds so a temporary ticket office in the form of a portacabin has been placed there. Trains will also use the extreme west end of the platform to allow full access to contractors who are completing the refurbishment.
10+6 – working as a pair – leave Black Rock with an Aquarium bound service. It can just be seen that temporary access to the platform is in force.
9 runs towards Black Rock with service from Aquarium.
9 has just run though the Car Sheds at Halfway with a service from Black Rock to Aquarium.
6+10 are running into Halfway with an Aquarium to Black Rock service under the recently balcony extension to the adjacent cafe. This is not part of the Car Sheds.
9 stands at Halfway about to depart with a service to Aquarium.
9 runs through the crossing loop between Aquarium and Halfway with a service bound for Black Rock. (All Photographs by Tony Sullivan, 7th April 2025)