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Falmer railway station

Coordinates: 50°51′43″N 0°05′14″W / 50.86194°N 0.08722°W / 50.86194; -0.08722
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Falmer
National Rail
The platforms at Falmer, looking northeast
General information
LocationBrighton and Hove
England
Grid referenceTQ347086
Managed bySouthern
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeFMR
ClassificationDfT category E
History
Original companyBrighton, Lewes and Hastings Railway
Pre-groupingLondon, Brighton and South Coast Railway
Post-groupingSouthern Railway
Key dates
8 June 1846Opened
1 August 1865Resited
1890Rebuilt
Passengers
2018/19Increase 1.593 million
2019/20Decrease 1.574 million
2020/21Decrease 0.279 million
2021/22Increase 0.904 million
2022/23Increase 1.158 million
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Falmer railway station is in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, south-east England, 3 miles 39 chains (5.6 km) from Brighton railway station on the East Coastway line. It is operated by Southern.

The station serves the village of Falmer as well as the University of Sussex campus and the University of Brighton Falmer campus. It also serves Falmer Stadium, the home of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. as well as various eastern suburbs of Brighton such as Woodingdean and Rottingdean.

The original station was approximately 53 chains east of its present location, and opened on 8 June 1846. It was moved to its present location, much closer to the village, on 1 August 1865, and rebuilt in 1890.[1] The buildings on the down (eastbound) platform date from this time, but modern replacements have been installed on the westbound side.

1851 accident

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On 6 June 1851, a train derailed soon after departing for Lewes, resulting in the death of five people.

After striking a sleeper which had been placed on the track by trespassers, most of the train crashed down into the road below. Although the immediate cause was the striking of the sleeper, the official inquiry determined that the train had been travelling too fast: that if it had been travelling within the recommended speed limit, it would not have derailed. The inquiry also determined that operating the train with the engine going backwards reduced the driver's visibility.[2]

Service

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377437 EMU approaching Falmer with a Southern service bound for Brighton, with Falmer Stadium visible in the background

All services at Falmer are operated by Southern using Class 377 EMUs.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:[3]

When Brighton & Hove Albion FC matches take place at the Falmer Stadium, additional matchday-only trains operate from the station to Brighton and Lewes. In addition, most usual services are run with additional carriages and the platforms at the station have been extended to accommodate the longer trains.[4]

A queuing system is in operation in both directions after full-time at the stadium.

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Southern

References

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  1. ^ Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (1985). South Coast Railways - Brighton to Eastbourne. Midhurst: Middleton Press. plate 42. ISBN 0-906520-16-9.
  2. ^ "Report of the Officer appointed by the Commissioners of Railways, to inquire into the Circumstances attending the Fatal Accident which occurred by a Train of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Company running off the Line near the Falmer Station, on the Brighton and Lewes Railway, on the 6th Day of June 1851". Railways Archive. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  3. ^ Table 189, 190 National Rail timetable, May 2023
  4. ^ "Work on Falmer Station to help Brighton and Hove Albion fans". BBC. 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
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50°51′43″N 0°05′14″W / 50.86194°N 0.08722°W / 50.86194; -0.08722