The importance of rail in East Sussex
Overview
This chapter sets out the current network and provides an overview of the evidence that drives the aims and aspirations of this strategy. This section should also be read in conjunction with the Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4) Evidence Base Section 4, which outlines the investment priorities, also introduces appropriate evidence in relation to these.
Current network (modern and heritage)
Rail forms an essential part of the transport network in the county, particularly for cross county connectivity and to destinations outside the county such as Gatwick Airport and London. Heritage lines and routes also act as visitor attractions and contribute to supporting the county’s economy.
Within the county rail services operate in an east-west or north-south direction, serving thirty-eight stations across the county and are as shown in Figure 2.
East-west coastal county and regional connectivity
The main coastal urban areas are linked east-west by the East Coastway rail route between Brighton and Ashford. This line runs through East Sussex, with Lewes and Cooksbridge the most westerly stations and Rye the most easterly.
There are no longer through services between Brighton and Ashford, with passengers required to change trains between Eastbourne and Hastings. Direct services between Lewes and Hastings must reverse at Eastbourne.
The ‘Marshlink’ section of the route is not electrified between Ore (east of Hastings) and Ashford. There are sections of the line which are single track and there are opportunities for dual tracking or additional passing loops. This will increase service frequencies and improve reliability on the rail network, and encourage more people to travel by rail.
The Seaford branch line, which serves Southease, Newhaven (Town and Harbour stations), Bishopstone and Seaford, connects onto the East Coastway route south east of Lewes, with services continuing onto/from Brighton.
North-south regional and capital connectivity
Brighton Mainline (east) are services that operate from London Victoria/London Bridge and leave the Brighton Mainline at Wivelsfield to provide direct services from the capital to Lewes, Eastbourne and Hastings. This route provides key links from the county to Gatwick Airport, East Croydon, and Clapham Junction.
The Hastings railway line to London via Tunbridge Wells links both urban and rural locations along the route, connecting directly to the city of London, serving London Bridge and Waterloo East (with connections to Waterloo by foot), and the termini of Charing Cross, as well as Cannon Street in the peak. The route south of Tunbridge Wells towards Hastings requires an uplift to the power supply on this section so that 10 or 12-car trains can be pathed in succession. At present the restricted power supply limits such pathing and thus diminishes the capacity on this busy section of route in the peak periods.
The Uckfield line is a popular commuter route, providing a direct rail service for urban and rural commuters from the centre of the county to London Bridge, and connections to London Victoria via East Croydon. Eridge is the most northerly East Sussex station on this line. The route is not electrified south of Hurst Green (Surrey) to Uckfield, and there are sections of the line which are single track and for which there are opportunities for dual tracking or additional passing loops. Historically this line continued to Lewes, with the Uckfield – Lewes section of the line closed in the late 1960s, and a short section of route at Isfield operating a heritage railway (Lavender Line). A connection also existed on this route between Eridge and Tunbridge Wells. This ceased in 1985 and is now operated as part of the heritage line known as Spa Valley Railway.
The county also has a few heritage railways that operate across routes that once formed part of the national rail network. Some of these heritage routes form the route of proposed new rail services within this strategy:
- Bluebell Railway (Sheffield Park to East Grinstead)
- Spa Valley Railway (Tunbridge Wells to Eridge)
- The Lavender Line (Isfield)
- Rother Valley Railway (under development to link the Kent and East Sussex Railway to Robertsbridge from Bodiam)
Two previous rail routes no longer operate. The Wealden Line is a preserved alignment with aspirations of re-opening the Lewes-Uckfield railway line (includes the Lavender Line heritage railway). Part of the Cuckoo Line (Eridge to Polegate) is now an active travel and equestrian trail between Heathfield and Polegate via Hailsham. Some historical links in the rail network has also been removed in the past; for example, the Willingdon Chord provided an opportunity to travel between Lewes and Bexhill without travelling into and out of Eastbourne. Today the absence of this chord extends journey times for passengers travelling and between stations that are not Eastbourne or Hampden Park.
Passenger service use and recovery from Covid-19
Provisional data from the Office for Road and Rail shows that national rail journeys in the UK (table 1220) between April 2024 to March 2025 have almost recovered to pre-covid levels (98.6% of passengers compared to April 2018 to March 2019), though this data does not explore days, time and purpose of travel.
In terms of passenger numbers across the county, there are about 1.5 million less entries and exits from stations in the county compared to 2018-19 and 2019-20. However, some stations have recovered and now see more entries and exits (for example Hampden Park and Newhaven Town), whereas others are seeing considerably fewer entries and exits compared to 2018-19 (for example Battle and Eridge). The numbers of entries and exits for each station in East Sussex from April 2018 to March 2024 are presented in the below table.
| Station name | Apr 2018 to Mar 2019 | Apr 2019 to Mar 2020 | Apr 2020 to Mar 2021 | Apr 2021 to Mar 2022 | Apr 2022 to Mar 2023 * | Apr 2023 to Mar 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle | 559,164 | 527,210 | 102,550 | 340,786 | 400,814 | 447,796 |
| Berwick (Sussex) | 78,310 | 79,442 | 24,508 | 67,324 | 71,168 | 73,830 |
| Bexhill | 1,448,466 | 1,502,382 | 581,730 | 1,297,516 | 1,399,580 | 1,383,558 |
| Bishopstone (Sussex) | 39,422 | 41,660 | 15,878 | 36,450 | 43,104 | 47,000 |
| Buxted | 125,672 | 158,546 | 21,704 | 68,978 | 92,856 | 95,564 |
| Collington | 191,418 | 208,058 | 47,356 | 114,882 | 132,200 | 156,654 |
| Cooden Beach | 108,300 | 109,526 | 30,732 | 85,266 | 97,424 | 110,230 |
| Cooksbridge | 40,912 | 42,858 | 21,152 | 47,552 | 62,220 | 80,692 |
| Crowborough | 358,082 | 376,424 | 56,362 | 165,884 | 227,138 | 234,072 |
| Crowhurst | 47,864 | 46,586 | 12,112 | 30,520 | 36,444 | 38,576 |
| Doleham | 2,842 | 3,074 | 120 | 848 | 550 | 1,038 |
| Eastbourne | 3,580,630 | 3,604,628 | 1,187,660 | 2,696,318 | 3,201,528 | 3,481,472 |
| Eridge | 117,648 | 129,726 | 15,882 | 50,544 | 70,820 | 73,124 |
| Etchingham | 255,324 | 244,416 | 43,894 | 136,854 | 167,360 | 187,418 |
| Frant | 147,050 | 137,888 | 25,556 | 71,466 | 90,644 | 102,600 |
| Glynde | 68,436 | 72,958 | 20,492 | 51,232 | 60,526 | 62,362 |
| Hampden Park (Sussex) | 633,538 | 671,586 | 306,050 | 625,862 | 694,700 | 766,702 |
| Hastings | 2,382,998 | 2,413,544 | 724,888 | 1,690,878 | 1,902,720 | 2,001,976 |
| Lewes | 2,579,928 | 2,606,920 | 766,902 | 1,875,724 | 2,174,438 | 2,365,628 |
| Newhaven Harbour | 53,266 | 49,450 | 14,020 | 18,298 | 23,176 | 24,584 |
| Newhaven Town | 307,638 | 342,606 | 123,406 | 283,664 | 319,038 | 363,816 |
| Normans Bay | 13,512 | 15,236 | 7,032 | 17,126 | 17,854 | 20,558 |
| Ore | 240,652 | 277,174 | 78,634 | 208,038 | 228,562 | 255,436 |
| Pevensey and Westham | 163,808 | 172,144 | 55,748 | 142,574 | 152,934 | 153,290 |
| Pevensey Bay | 9,270 | 9,132 | 4,430 | 6,700 | 5,192 | 5,828 |
| Plumpton | 113,150 | 115,690 | 26,358 | 76,140 | 91,996 | 101,160 |
| Polegate | 972,908 | 1,020,262 | 333,680 | 785,094 | 929,468 | 979,052 |
| Robertsbridge | 320,640 | 301,514 | 75,452 | 214,300 | 225,780 | 238,956 |
| Rye (Sussex) | 480,322 | 474,036 | 152,844 | 399,364 | 431,092 | 459,082 |
| Seaford (Sussex) | 676,442 | 673,764 | 205,142 | 474,382 | 552,902 | 613,980 |
| Southease | 22,008 | 22,052 | 10,302 | 23,564 | 23,206 | 25,064 |
| St Leonards Warrior Square | 820,252 | 823,284 | 285,146 | 710,690 | 803,504 | 879,970 |
| Stonegate | 186,888 | 175,838 | 29,224 | 93,064 | 118,254 | 117,954 |
| Three Oaks | 11,534 | 12,672 | 3,914 | 8,952 | 12,196 | 14,938 |
| Uckfield | 471,646 | 387,252 | 48,824 | 158,916 | 200,272 | 213,160 |
| Wadhurst | 414,994 | 395,342 | 71,958 | 241,596 | 287,016 | 321,978 |
| West St Leonards | 123,528 | 117,002 | 34,536 | 102,130 | 113,324 | 128,056 |
| Winchelsea | 9,048 | 9,688 | 3,448 | 9,322 | 12,004 | 14,196 |
| Total | 18,177,510 | 18,371,570 | 5,569,626 | 13,428,798 | 15,474,004 | 16,641,350 |
* There is a time break in this year’s data (April 2022-March 2023)
Source: Office of Rail and Road (table 1410a)
Some stations with smaller numbers of entries and exits serve rural communities, thereby providing an important function in helping passengers access goods and services, via rail, that they may not otherwise be able to.
In terms of interchanges (where passengers change between trains), ORR data (table 1410b) shows there are five stations in the county where this occurs in the most recent year. These are Eastbourne, Hampden Park, Hastings, Lewes, and St Leonards Warrior Square. Of these stations, almost half a million interchanges occurred at Lewes in April 2023-March 2024. Similar to individual station entry and exit data, the number of interchanges is lower than pre-covid, with only Hampden Park showing a small (1,000-2,000) increase compared to pre-covid number of interchanges.
Population
The most densely populated towns in the county are located on the coast in Peacehaven, Seaford, Eastbourne, Bexhill-on-Sea and Hastings. However, there are also several other densely populated market towns within more rural locations, including Lewes, Hailsham, Uckfield and Crowborough. Many of the most populated settlements have their own railway station(s) or are just a relatively short distance from their nearest station.
Between 2020 and 2035 East Sussex’s population is expected to grow by around 68,500, with much of this growth in Rother and Wealden. Rail provides an opportunity to help move people across the county and to neighbouring locations quick and efficiently.
Employment and skills
Within East Sussex there are 184,000 jobs across both the private and public sector in full and part time positions. Job density is focused on Eastbourne borough and Lewes district, with both areas having a higher proportion of jobs for each working age resident. Rail provides an option to connect people from other communities into jobs in these areas.
The county has low levels of employment (72%), high levels of ‘NEET’ (young people who are not in education, employment or training - 6.5%), and 35% of the workforce are qualified below Level 3 (A’ Level). The County Council facilitates the Skills and Employment East Sussex Board (SEES) which brings together multi-agency partners including businesses and training providers to address the skills development needs of our young people and of our workforce as well as tackling economic inactivity in the county.
By reducing travel barriers and creating pathways into work, the transport sector can play a vital role in boosting participation in the labour market and supporting a more inclusive local economy. The transport sector (specifically rail), in East Sussex has significant potential to support education, training/skills development and employment in several ways. Firstly, by improving connectivity to enable people to access education, training/skills development and work though investment in reliable public transport links. And secondly, by generating or offering jobs to local residents in the rail sector.
The visitor economy
East Sussex has a range of locally and international significant tourism and cultural destinations and attractions - such as the Seven Sisters Country Park, beaches, heritage sites and coastal towns. Tourism and cultural industries are an important consideration in planning the future transport provision in East Sussex, particularly as many are possible as day trips by rail for those staying within and near the county and also to support longer staying visitors move around the county and beyond.
Many destinations are next to or very close to rail stations and there is onward bus (either fixed route services or Flexibus), or active travel connections to these destinations. Collaborative work, for example, has occurred between the Sussex Downs Line Community Rail Partnership, the train operating company Southern, and bus operator Brighton & Hove buses, to provide an integrated travel map for visitors arriving at Seaford to enable exploration of the town and the South Downs National Park (particularly the popular Seven Sisters Country Park, which is on the eastern edge of Seaford).
Planned housing and employment growth
Local planning authorities (LPA) are responsible for developing local plans for their geographies. In East Sussex the six LPAs are the district (Lewes, Rother and Wealden) and Borough (Eastbourne and Hastings) and the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA). Their plans set out the overall vision and objectives for development, including detailed planning policies, specific proposals for development and use of land (including housing and employment) and the numbers and therefore guide planning decisions. All the district and borough councils and the SDNPA are in the process of reviewing their local plans.
The County Council will work with the LPAs to ensure consideration of this strategy alongside their proposed plans for the growth of housing and employment to support the case for strategic rail improvements in the County and other key investment priorities outlined in section 4.
Gatwick
Gatwick airport is the UKs second busiest airport. In September 2025 the UK Government approved the use of the reserve (northern) runway for departures which will increase passenger numbers up to 80 million per anuum, bringing additional jobs and visitors into the region, from which the East Sussex economy will benefit.
In 2015, over 1,000 East Sussex residents worked at Gatwick airport, with many of those coming from directly linked districts or boroughs by rail, notably Lewes and Eastbourne, but also from Wealden. The number of jobs for East Sussex residents with the second runway are anticipated to triple to around 3,300.
Devolution
The establishment of the MCCA for Sussex and Brighton and reorganisation of local government across West Sussex, Brighton and Hove and East Sussex, resulting in the creation of unitary authorities across the geography, will result in changes. This includes strategic planning, with Spatial Development Strategies (SDS) being prepared by Strategic Planning Authorities (SPA). SDS’s will provide a framework for how land will be used for housing, employment, infrastructure, and other purposes, ensuring that development occurs in a way that supports economic, social, and environmental goals. Development of the SDS will include the MCCA working with the County Council, and, following local government re-organisation, the unitary authorities across Sussex and Brighton. The reorganisation of local government will enhance opportunities to work collaboratively over a wider geographical area, with the MCCA being responsible for Local Transport Plans.
Other policies and strategies
There are a number of other strategies and policies that will support the successful delivery of the rail strategy. Some of the strategies and policies are identified within this sub-section, grouped by geographical coverage, this list is not exhaustive
Local
Bus Service Improvement Plan (2025)
The plan aims to improve quality of bus provision across the County, increase the number of bus priority schemes, simplify fares and ticketing, and capitalise on technical and operational innovation in bus service provision.
East Sussex Local Transport Plan 4 (2024-2050)
LTP4 aspires to create “an inclusive transport system that connects people and places, is decarbonised, safer, resilient, and supports our natural environment, communities, and businesses to be healthy, thrive and prosper.”
The East Sussex Rail Strategy provides an opportunity to improve the rail experience for passengers to help achieve the vision, objectives and outcomes of LTP4.
East Sussex Prosperity Strategy (2024-2050)
The strategy seeks to secure inclusive and sustainable economic growth, setting out how over the next generation, East Sussex can secure better opportunities and living standards for people who live in the county, and how businesses can develop new routes to value creation.
East Sussex Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan 2
(under development)
This document sets out a proposed network of cycling and walking routes across the county, complemented by specific measures and actions. The LCWIP is being reviewed and the updated version will be available for public consultation in January 2026.
The rail network will need to have good connections into local communities and the LCWIP will support good quality walking, wheeling and cycling routes that connect with local railway stations.
Local Plans (district and borough Local Plans are under development, South Downs National Park (2019)
Local planning authorities (district and borough councils and the South Downs National Park Authority have recently or are reviewing their local plans. These involve planning for and identifying sites for housing and employment.
The Rail Strategy will support housing and employment development by connecting people and jobs, whether this be directly or by through a multi-modal trip
East Sussex Cultural Strategy 2013-2025
This strategy sets out how the cultural attractors in the county can be supported to help everyone support the culture of East Sussex. A new and updated strategy is being renewed and in development with access to cultural assets being a key element.
The East Sussex Rail Strategy will play an important role in bringing visitors into the county to experience the culture the county has to offer.
Regional
Transport for the South East’s Transport Strategy (2025)
Sets out the vision for region and the strategic economic, social, and environmental goals and priorities that underpin it. These include net-zero, improved productivity, health and wellbeing, quality of life, accessibility, and protection of the south-east unique natural and historic environment.
The East Sussex Rail Strategy supports the vision across wider south east region, with rail being a sustainable and generally quick way of connecting communities across the south east.
Visitor Economy Strategy for Growth 2024-2034 (2024)
A strategy to support the visitor economy across the Sussex and Brighton and Hove geography. The strategy has several key principles including 'sustainable', 'market driven' and 'accessible and inclusive'.
The Rail Strategy will support sustainable tourism by enabling people to access attractions by rail (and onward connecting modes of walking, wheeling, cycling or bus). Rail will also connect people to jobs in the visitor economy, along with any training and education opportunities.
Transport for the South East’s Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) (2023)
The Strategic Investment Plan, adopted in March 2023, provides a framework for investment in strategic transport infrastructure, services, and regulatory interventions for the next thirty years (and is currently under review).
The East Sussex Rail Strategy supports the identified rail improvements across the county that will support rail connectivity across the wider south east region.
The SIP is currently being updating following the adoption of the updated TfSE Transport Strategy in October 2025.
Gatwick Surface Access Strategy (2022)
This strategy sets out an eight-year sustainable surface access vision for Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL), setting new targets for sustainable travel mode share to the airport. These include an aim to achieve 52% public transport mode share for passenger coming to the airport by 2030, and 48% sustainable travel mode share for staff journeys.
The East Sussex Rail Strategy will support people access Gatwick Airport, whether that be for employment or to catch a flight, sustainably.
National
Industrial Strategy (2025)
A strategy to support eight sectors of the UK industry, that will support the growth of existing companies and for new ones to successful emerge in the UK. The strategy includes significant links to the rail sector, primarily through its emphasis on in relation to rail the strategy focuses on infrastructure development, technology adoption (specifically digital railway), procurement reform, skills development, and regional connectivity.
The Rail Strategy will support the industrial strategy by connecting people and business together, thereby, enabling the ambitions of the industrial strategy to be realised.
Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan (2025)
A target pathway to reducing carbon emissions and reach net zero by 2050 and looking at how we can meet our carbon budgets and the net zero ambition.
Transport has an important role to play, and in the county, this includes the electrification of the lines between Ore and Ashford and Uckfield and Oxted to enable electric trains to run across our rail network.
Network Rail Strategic Business Plan (2023)
This update outlines rail schemes funded by the Control Period 7 enhancements budget, covering the period between 2024 and 2029. Schemes announced for the Southern Network Rail Region are likely to have some positive impacts to rail services across East Sussex, even if they are not delivered directly in the county.
Levelling Up the United Kingdom (2022)
The Levelling Up White Paper sets out the Government’s strategy for addressing inequality in the UK through a range of interventions that target various indicators of inequality. One of its twelve focus areas or ‘missions’ is transport infrastructure.
Decarbonising Transport: A Green Britain (2021)
Sets out path to achieving a net zero transportation system in the UK.
Decarbonising the remaining non-electrical rail networks in the county (Uckfield to Oxted and Ore to Ashford) will help contribute to net-zero.
Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline Autumn 2019 Scheme Update (2019)
A strategic plan which sets out medium term priorities and targets for improving how railways around the UK are operated, with a focus on reliable passenger services, potential to fuel growth and better integration between Network Rail and train operating companies.
Future of Mobility: Urban Strategy (2019)
This strategy heralds a moment of opportunity in the technological innovation of transport that the UK needs to embrace. The Government sets out its approach to facilitating innovation in urban mobility for passengers, services, and freight, with a focus on specific areas of innovation with significant future prospects.
The East Sussex Rail Strategy supports technological innovation particularly around ticketing and integration of ticket with other modes (such as bus through PlusBus).
Inclusive Transport Strategy (2018)
This Strategy sets out the Government’s plans to make our transport system more inclusive, and to make travel easier for disabled people.
The East Sussex Rail Strategy identifies what needs to be done to make the rail network more inclusive, through interventions to make stations fully accessible.
Transport Investment Strategy (2017)
A broad strategy for investing into the UK’s transport system to create better connected, reliable networks, enhance economic productivity and local growth, support the creation of new housing, and enhance Britain’s global competitiveness.
The East Sussex Rail Strategy seeks to support this strategy in supporting the economy through a better connected and reliable rail network in East Sussex.
Equalities Act (2010)
This Act includes a public-sector equality duty which requires public organisations and those delivering public functions to show due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation; to advance equality of opportunity; and to foster good relations between communities.
Climate Change Act (2008)
Sets targets for UK greenhouse gas emission reductions of at least 100% by 2050, against a 1990 baseline (this was previously 80% but was updated to a net zero target in June 2019). The Act also provides a system of carbon budgeting and the development of a National Adaptation Programme.
The East Sussex Rail Strategy identifies how the decarbonisation of the remaining diesel routes (Oxted- Uckfield and Ore-Ashford) would help meet the net zero ambitions by making all passenger trains in the county zero-emission at the tail pipe. A fully electrified network across the county will also provide for electric freight services where they are appropriate for the journey being undertaken.