40 years of progress?


Backward progress: Barcombe Mills in February 1969
in the last days of the Uckfield - Lewes link

Most of us would like to think that as time passes things generally improve. But sadly, as the story of the Wealden Line shows, that isn't always the case.

In January 1964 -- over 40 years ago now -- just before the fatal decision to run the line down, BR's timetable experts devised a new regular interval service for the route. Benefiting from the faster acceleration of the then new diesels, it was widely acclaimed as a major step forward.

Now, for the first time on this site, we publish a selection of timings from that timetable, which show what the faster services achieved -- and what was thrown away in 1969.

We could make detailed comparisons here with 'typical' car or bus journeys today, but if you have to travel across the Wealden area, you will be able to supply your own comparisons...

Brighton to Tonbridge
(journey times in minutes)

   Lewes  Uckfield  Buxted  Crowbrough  Tunbridge
Wells Central		  Tonbridge
 Brighton  12  26  31  39  64  74
   Lewes  13  18  26  51  61
     Uckfield  5  13  38  48
       Buxted  8  33  43
         Crowbrough  25  35
           Tunbridge
Wells Central		  10

Brighton to Oxted

   Lewes Edenbridge
Town		  Oxted
 Brighton  12  60  71
   Lewes  47  58
    Edenbridge
Town		  11

Notes: 1. Because of station stops, timings may not always tally between rows.
2. 'Tunbridge Wells Central' is today's 'Tunbridge Wells' station.

But even these attractive timings do not fully do justice to what a revived Wealden Line could offer local travellers, because:

1) They are based on trains from the early 1960s, operating on routes with 19th century track layouts and signalling. Combined with modern signalling and track, the new Turbostar diesels planned for the Uckfield line would certainly be faster.

2) They include station stops that could be eliminated in an up-to-date timetable for a revived Wealden Line.

Of course, thanks to the demolition work at Lewes, it would probably prove impractical to operate regular through-trains to Brighton. However, as we show elsewhere, new options for direct services to Eastbourne, Seaford and Newhaven would open up -- and there would still be excellent connections available to Brighton. In any case, even in 1964, most Wealden Line trains terminated at Lewes.

 

 

Updated July 2005