411:, when the relative importance of Groombridge and Eridge as railway junctions diminished with the closure of one after another of the lines in the area. The Cuckoo Line was the first to go in June 1965, followed by the line from Three Bridges and East Grinstead in January 1967, and then the Uckfield line to the south of Uckfield in 1969. The line between Ashurst Junction and Groombridge was taken out on 5 January 1969. At the same time, the 1958 signal box was closed, leaving the block signalling section between Tunbridge Wells West and Birchden Junction.
461:
449:
415:
347:
45:
457:
residence, and the old ticket offices now serve as offices for a local financial adviser, a new station had to be constructed on the opposite side of the road bridge. Access to the new station is provided via the old main station platform, which has been extended. The new single track had to be laid to curve along the trackbed of the old up-loop line into the new station due to houses have been built on part of the former trackbed.
396:
472:. The signal box has been updated from the current picture, and the LBSCR signal frame (originally from the Birchden Junction signal box) has been installed, and was first operated on 1 August 2014. A new refreshment kiosk has also been constructed, selling local produce, hot and cold drinks, and ice creams. The section of line between Groombridge to Eridge reopened on 25 March 2011.
483:
407:/Eastbourne; the two sections were interconnected at Groombridge, where Eastbourne and Tunbridge Wells coaches were detached from London trains. The traffic grew from around 80 trains per day in the 1900s to 120 in the 1930s and more than 200 per day in the 1950s. However, the pattern of operations changed significantly in the wake of the
374:
served the up trains. A double track ran through the station, with a third line splaying out to the other side of the island before merging once again with the line to
Tunbridge Wells. A subway led from the main platform to the island platform, which previously had no passenger facilities until 1896;
426:
shuttle between Eridge and
Tonbridge, with connecting services at Eridge provided for Uckfield line passengers. By the 1980s, the section had been gradually run down with little maintenance, disruptions to service patterns, and the reduction of services to a dozen or so per day. All of these factors
435:
gave
British Rail permission to close the line from Eridge to Tunbridge Wells with the alternative bus services being provided. It was announced that the last service would run on 6 July. Empty carriage stock trains continued to pass through the station until the last train on 10 August 1985, after
290:
In 1878, authority was obtained to lay a single-track spur south of
Ashurst Junction, which would enable services to bypass Groombridge. Although completed in 1888, this spur remained largely unused until 1914. It was eventually doubled to handle increased traffic on the Cuckoo Line and regular
430:
Groombridge station was staffed on the morning shift only by the wife of a railwayman at
Tunbridge Wells West, who kept the station clean and presentable, while the tracks outside became overgrown. The 1958 signal box remained boarded-up, and the goods yard contained a moribund coal merchant's
456:
The Spa Valley
Railway obtained the trackbed between Tunbridge Wells West and Birchden Junction in 1996. After much hard work, the public service from Tunbridge Wells West to Groombridge was reinstated in August 1997. As the original Groombridge station building had been turned into a private
386:
A footbridge was installed in 1889 to the west of the station, replacing deep cutting steps that led down the embankment on either side of the footpath; the use of those steps was becoming more dangerous with the increasing traffic. By 1899, the levels of traffic generated from the Oxted Line
366:
on the doors and windows. Originally, the stationmaster's residence was on the western side of the building, adjacent to a booking hall. A new goods and parcels office was added to the eastern end of the building, next to the gentlemen's toilets.
439:
A private company called "Surrey Downs Ltd" proposed running a joint service with BR from
Tonbridge to Uckfield, but this never materialised amid scepticism from BR that somebody outside the industry could make a loss-making line pay.
330:. A second box, "Groombridge Junction", was provided on the opening of the Cuckoo Line, and a third, "Groombridge West" (the first box's name was changed to "Groombridge East"), was added in 1888 after the opening of the
358:, the Groombridge station building is located on the east side of Station Road, and is architecturally designed to be "the exact counterpart in miniature of Tunbridge Wells". The building is made of red brick with
378:
Four sets of goods sidings lay to the north of the main station, serving a carriage dock, blacksmith's shop, and stable. The extensive goods yard and generous facilities did not, however, see much use, and the
1628:
1643:
1638:
1633:
1016:
120:
1623:
1653:
1009:
596:
487:
303:, which became the point where London trains were divided for the two lines south. To compensate for this loss, slip coaches were shed from some down trains at
261:
82:
1271:
1158:
1002:
257:
149:
1648:
1352:
1196:
1241:
678:
265:
245:
946:
620:
589:
563:
537:
335:
135:
1527:
1329:
854:
799:
731:
703:
326:
was constructed on the western side of the station, together with associated signalling equipment, and later the
Groombridge West
1392:
1382:
1221:
1153:
1085:
380:
370:
The station was equipped with three platform faces, with the main station platform used for down trains, and the far side of the
131:
984:
292:
1534:
1498:
469:
284:
403:
Prior to 1965, north-south train services ran in two sections: Victoria - Tunbridge Wells West, and
Tunbridge Wells West -
299:/Uckfield services no longer had to reverse at there. The opening of the spur meant that more services were routed through
1541:
1377:
1138:
114:
383:
used the station as a collection point for empty wagons and, at one point, as a holding yard for
Tunbridge-bound trains.
1508:
1256:
1246:
1231:
1095:
1042:
1453:
1387:
1357:
1251:
1201:
1070:
296:
1560:
1593:
1420:
1324:
1314:
1261:
1236:
1133:
1100:
636:
605:
553:
513:
315:
1415:
1372:
1148:
1128:
1516:
1463:
1430:
1347:
1304:
1276:
1226:
1191:
1163:
1123:
1090:
1065:
1047:
763:
581:
432:
404:
319:
280:
1565:
1319:
1266:
764:"Opening of the Tunbridge Wells and East Grinstead Branch of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway"
612:
304:
1583:
1521:
1458:
1448:
1362:
1216:
1206:
1143:
1080:
529:
497:
300:
237:
services. A new station the other side of Station Road bridge was opened by the SVR in 1997 as part of a
1367:
1211:
1118:
1075:
989:
656:
395:
359:
276:
1658:
1425:
355:
1339:
1309:
1281:
1168:
422:
The section from Birchden Junction to Grove Junction remained open with an hourly off-peak 3-coach
387:
prompted the LBSCR to invest in extending the island platform and re-aligning the track around it.
957:
291:
services to Uckfield. This reduced the importance of Groombridge as a junction station, as direct
1575:
1402:
1178:
1057:
1034:
505:
363:
218:
139:
460:
448:
414:
346:
44:
338:
and replaced by a single box on 23 November 1958 when the Groombridge section was resignalled.
850:
795:
727:
699:
674:
482:
1490:
241:
64:
36:
408:
375:
upon the urging of a passenger, a waiting room and buffet were added at a cost of £2,300.
371:
323:
1291:
238:
1617:
1552:
1110:
544:
272:
234:
994:
468:
Canopies have been erected on the station, using the former canopy supports from
1026:
570:
334:. Within 10 years of nationalisation, the three signal boxes had been closed by
311:
226:
222:
68:
60:
271:
Two years later, the station's importance increased with the completion of the
1440:
627:
331:
327:
427:
took its toll on passenger numbers, although some commuter traffic remained.
97:
84:
322:, the line between Eridge and Groombridge was doubled. At the same time, a
230:
233:. Once a busy station serving four directions, it closed in 1985 to
459:
447:
413:
394:
345:
423:
998:
870:
Hughes, Stephen (March 1984). "'Brighton' Frontier: Requiem?".
792:
Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells (Locomotion Papers no. 144)
1605:
Stations in italics are proposed heritage railway stations.
828:
826:
726:. Didcot, Oxon: Wild Swan Publications Ltd. p. 121.
1629:
Former London, Brighton and South Coast Railway stations
813:
811:
745:
743:
452:
Spa Valley Railway Platform (looking towards High Rocks)
256:
The first Groombridge station was opened in 1866 by the
990:
Groombridge railway station at Subterranea Britannica
985:
Groombridge railway station at the Spa Valley Railway
918:
Oppitz, Leslie (July 1985). "The Passing of a Line".
698:. Midhurst, West Sussex: Middleton Press. p. 2.
673:. Newbury, Berkshire: Countryside Books. p. 69.
657:
Groombridge railway station at Subterranea Britannica
362:
of blue and white brick, and features coloured brick
849:. Midhurst, West Sussex: Middleton Press. plate 92.
1574:
1551:
1507:
1489:
1439:
1401:
1338:
1290:
1177:
1109:
1056:
1033:
192:
184:
176:
168:
163:
155:
145:
127:
113:
76:
56:
51:
23:
762:
1644:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1997
1639:Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 1985
1634:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1866
1010:
597:Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central Line
262:Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central Line
8:
717:
715:
399:Notice announcing the line's closure in 1985
771:. British Newspaper Archive. 3 October 1866
1473:
1017:
1003:
995:
659:- Nick Catford - Accessed 1 September 2007
418:State of the station shortly after closure
20:
913:
911:
909:
1624:Heritage railway stations in East Sussex
474:
258:London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
150:London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
832:
817:
749:
671:Lost Railways of Sussex (Lost Railways)
649:
932:
900:
779:– via British Newspaper Archive.
436:which the line was closed completely.
1654:Charles Henry Driver railway stations
888:
7:
845:Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (1984).
694:Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (1986).
314:in 1880, which opened up a route to
136:Southern Region of British Railways
159:new station 1 (original station 3)
14:
794:. The Oakwood Press. p. 14.
481:
43:
696:Branch Lines to Tunbridge Wells
16:Station in East Sussex, England
1649:1866 establishments in England
1035:Bedford and London to Brighton
847:Branch Lines to East Grinstead
196:Reopened by Spa Valley Railway
1:
945:Foster, Richard (July 2007).
287:by reversing at Groombridge.
260:(LBSCR) when it extended its
1509:Kent and East Sussex Railway
350:Groombridge Station frontage
275:. At that time, trains from
464:Spa Valley Railway Platform
310:Upon the completion of the
215:Groombridge railway station
1675:
1272:St Leonards Warrior Square
1159:St Leonards Warrior Square
180:Goods facilities withdrawn
1602:
1479:Heritage railway stations
1476:
1472:
956:(337): 90. Archived from
947:"Great Eridge-pectations"
635:
619:
611:
604:
588:
580:
562:
552:
536:
528:
524:
521:
519:
512:
504:
496:
480:
208:
204:
200:
42:
34:
433:Department for Transport
1403:Southampton to Brighton
669:Oppitz, Leslie (2001).
431:business. In 1985, the
1353:London Road (Brighton)
1197:London Road (Brighton)
722:Elliott, A.C. (1988).
470:Gravesend West station
465:
453:
419:
400:
351:
463:
451:
417:
398:
349:
342:Main station building
1242:Pevensey and Westham
1179:Brighton to Hastings
1058:London to Eastbourne
1025:Railway stations in
356:Charles Henry Driver
246:Tunbridge Wells West
217:is a station on the
188:Closed to passengers
98:51.11194°N 0.18778°E
1340:Brighton to Seaford
1292:Hastings to Ashford
94: /
52:General information
1576:Spa Valley Railway
1528:Junction Road Halt
1441:London to Uckfield
1111:London to Hastings
963:on 6 February 2009
790:Gould, D. (1983).
506:Spa Valley Railway
492:Following station
478:Preceding station
466:
454:
420:
401:
352:
219:Spa Valley Railway
140:Spa Valley Railway
1611:
1610:
1485:
1484:
935:, pp. 76–77.
903:, pp. 74–75.
891:, pp. 56–57.
835:, pp. 122–3.
769:Sussex Advertiser
680:978-1-85306-697-9
642:
641:
630:
599:
573:
547:
522:Disused railways
488:Heritage railways
283:could only reach
212:
211:
103:51.11194; 0.18778
1666:
1491:Bluebell Railway
1474:
1383:Newhaven Harbour
1154:West St Leonards
1019:
1012:
1005:
996:
973:
972:
970:
968:
962:
951:
942:
936:
930:
924:
923:
915:
904:
898:
892:
886:
880:
879:
872:Railway Magazine
867:
861:
860:
842:
836:
830:
821:
815:
806:
805:
787:
781:
780:
778:
776:
766:
759:
753:
747:
738:
737:
719:
710:
709:
691:
685:
684:
666:
660:
654:
626:
595:
569:
543:
485:
475:
381:Southern Railway
242:heritage railway
132:Southern Railway
123:
109:
108:
106:
105:
104:
99:
95:
92:
91:
90:
87:
47:
37:heritage railway
21:
1674:
1673:
1669:
1668:
1667:
1665:
1664:
1663:
1614:
1613:
1612:
1607:
1598:
1570:
1547:
1503:
1481:
1468:
1435:
1406:
1397:
1334:
1295:
1286:
1182:
1173:
1105:
1052:
1029:
1023:
981:
976:
966:
964:
960:
949:
944:
943:
939:
931:
927:
917:
916:
907:
899:
895:
887:
883:
869:
868:
864:
857:
844:
843:
839:
831:
824:
816:
809:
802:
789:
788:
784:
774:
772:
761:
760:
756:
748:
741:
734:
724:The Cuckoo Line
721:
720:
713:
706:
693:
692:
688:
681:
668:
667:
663:
655:
651:
647:
637:High Rocks Halt
625:
623:Southern Region
622:
606:High Rocks Halt
594:
592:Southern Region
591:
568:
566:Southern Region
565:
554:High Rocks Halt
542:
540:Southern Region
539:
446:
409:Beeching Report
393:
372:island platform
344:
273:line from Lewes
266:Tunbridge Wells
254:
177:4 November 1968
138:
134:
119:
102:
100:
96:
93:
88:
85:
83:
81:
80:
71:
30:
29:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1672:
1670:
1662:
1661:
1656:
1651:
1646:
1641:
1636:
1631:
1626:
1616:
1615:
1609:
1608:
1603:
1600:
1599:
1597:
1596:
1591:
1586:
1580:
1578:
1572:
1571:
1569:
1568:
1563:
1561:Little Horsted
1557:
1555:
1549:
1548:
1546:
1545:
1538:
1535:Salehurst Halt
1531:
1524:
1519:
1513:
1511:
1505:
1504:
1502:
1501:
1499:Sheffield Park
1495:
1493:
1487:
1486:
1483:
1482:
1477:
1470:
1469:
1467:
1466:
1461:
1456:
1451:
1445:
1443:
1437:
1436:
1434:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1412:
1410:
1399:
1398:
1396:
1395:
1390:
1385:
1380:
1375:
1370:
1365:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1344:
1342:
1336:
1335:
1333:
1332:
1327:
1322:
1317:
1312:
1307:
1301:
1299:
1288:
1287:
1285:
1284:
1279:
1274:
1269:
1264:
1259:
1254:
1249:
1244:
1239:
1234:
1229:
1224:
1219:
1214:
1209:
1204:
1199:
1194:
1188:
1186:
1175:
1174:
1172:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1115:
1113:
1107:
1106:
1104:
1103:
1098:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1068:
1062:
1060:
1054:
1053:
1051:
1050:
1045:
1039:
1037:
1031:
1030:
1024:
1022:
1021:
1014:
1007:
999:
993:
992:
987:
980:
979:External links
977:
975:
974:
937:
925:
905:
893:
881:
862:
855:
837:
822:
820:, p. 124.
807:
800:
782:
754:
752:, p. 123.
739:
732:
711:
704:
686:
679:
661:
648:
646:
643:
640:
639:
634:
631:
618:
615:
609:
608:
603:
600:
587:
584:
578:
577:
574:
561:
557:
556:
551:
548:
535:
532:
526:
525:
523:
520:
517:
516:
511:
508:
503:
500:
494:
493:
490:
479:
445:
442:
392:
389:
360:string courses
343:
340:
285:East Grinstead
253:
250:
239:standard gauge
210:
209:
206:
205:
202:
201:
198:
197:
194:
190:
189:
186:
182:
181:
178:
174:
173:
170:
169:1 October 1866
166:
165:
161:
160:
157:
153:
152:
147:
143:
142:
129:
125:
124:
117:
115:Grid reference
111:
110:
78:
74:
73:
58:
54:
53:
49:
48:
40:
39:
32:
31:
26:
25:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1671:
1660:
1657:
1655:
1652:
1650:
1647:
1645:
1642:
1640:
1637:
1635:
1632:
1630:
1627:
1625:
1622:
1621:
1619:
1606:
1601:
1595:
1592:
1590:
1587:
1585:
1582:
1581:
1579:
1577:
1573:
1567:
1564:
1562:
1559:
1558:
1556:
1554:
1553:Lavender Line
1550:
1544:
1543:
1542:Robertsbridge
1539:
1537:
1536:
1532:
1530:
1529:
1525:
1523:
1520:
1518:
1515:
1514:
1512:
1510:
1506:
1500:
1497:
1496:
1494:
1492:
1488:
1480:
1475:
1471:
1465:
1462:
1460:
1457:
1455:
1452:
1450:
1447:
1446:
1444:
1442:
1438:
1432:
1429:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1413:
1411:
1409:
1408:West Coastway
1404:
1400:
1394:
1391:
1389:
1386:
1384:
1381:
1379:
1378:Newhaven Town
1376:
1374:
1371:
1369:
1366:
1364:
1361:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1345:
1343:
1341:
1337:
1331:
1328:
1326:
1323:
1321:
1318:
1316:
1313:
1311:
1308:
1306:
1303:
1302:
1300:
1298:
1293:
1289:
1283:
1280:
1278:
1275:
1273:
1270:
1268:
1265:
1263:
1260:
1258:
1255:
1253:
1250:
1248:
1245:
1243:
1240:
1238:
1235:
1233:
1230:
1228:
1225:
1223:
1220:
1218:
1215:
1213:
1210:
1208:
1205:
1203:
1200:
1198:
1195:
1193:
1190:
1189:
1187:
1185:
1184:East Coastway
1180:
1176:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1139:Robertsbridge
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1116:
1114:
1112:
1108:
1102:
1099:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1067:
1064:
1063:
1061:
1059:
1055:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1040:
1038:
1036:
1032:
1028:
1020:
1015:
1013:
1008:
1006:
1001:
1000:
997:
991:
988:
986:
983:
982:
978:
959:
955:
954:Steam Railway
948:
941:
938:
934:
929:
926:
921:
914:
912:
910:
906:
902:
897:
894:
890:
885:
882:
877:
873:
866:
863:
858:
856:0-906520-07-X
852:
848:
841:
838:
834:
829:
827:
823:
819:
814:
812:
808:
803:
801:0-85361-299-4
797:
793:
786:
783:
770:
765:
758:
755:
751:
746:
744:
740:
735:
733:0-906867-63-0
729:
725:
718:
716:
712:
707:
705:0-906520-32-0
701:
697:
690:
687:
682:
676:
672:
665:
662:
658:
653:
650:
644:
638:
632:
629:
624:
616:
614:
610:
607:
601:
598:
593:
585:
583:
579:
575:
572:
567:
559:
558:
555:
549:
546:
541:
533:
531:
527:
518:
515:
509:
507:
501:
499:
495:
491:
489:
484:
477:
476:
473:
471:
462:
458:
450:
443:
441:
437:
434:
428:
425:
416:
412:
410:
406:
397:
390:
388:
384:
382:
376:
373:
368:
365:
361:
357:
348:
341:
339:
337:
333:
329:
325:
321:
317:
313:
308:
306:
302:
298:
294:
288:
286:
282:
278:
274:
269:
267:
263:
259:
251:
249:
247:
243:
240:
236:
232:
228:
224:
220:
216:
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
183:
179:
175:
171:
167:
162:
158:
154:
151:
148:
144:
141:
137:
133:
130:
126:
122:
118:
116:
112:
107:
79:
75:
70:
66:
62:
59:
55:
50:
46:
41:
38:
33:
22:
19:
1604:
1588:
1540:
1533:
1526:
1478:
1407:
1296:
1257:Cooden Beach
1247:Pevensey Bay
1232:Hampden Park
1183:
1096:Hampden Park
1043:Preston Park
965:. Retrieved
958:the original
953:
940:
928:
919:
896:
884:
875:
871:
865:
846:
840:
833:Elliott 1988
818:Elliott 1988
791:
785:
773:. Retrieved
768:
757:
750:Elliott 1988
723:
695:
689:
670:
664:
652:
621:British Rail
590:British Rail
564:British Rail
545:Wealden Line
538:British Rail
467:
455:
438:
429:
421:
402:
385:
377:
369:
354:Designed by
353:
336:British Rail
309:
289:
270:
255:
235:British Rail
214:
213:
18:
1659:Groombridge
1589:Groombridge
1454:Crowborough
1388:Bishopstone
1358:Moulsecoomb
1252:Normans Bay
1202:Moulsecoomb
1071:Cooksbridge
1027:East Sussex
933:Oppitz 2001
901:Oppitz 2001
571:Cuckoo Line
312:Cuckoo Line
297:Crowborough
252:Early years
227:East Sussex
223:Groombridge
193:August 1997
185:8 July 1985
101: /
77:Coordinates
69:East Sussex
61:Groombridge
35:Station on
27:Groombridge
1618:Categories
1594:High Rocks
1421:Aldrington
1325:Winchelsea
1315:Three Oaks
1262:Collington
1237:Eastbourne
1134:Etchingham
1101:Eastbourne
889:Gould 1983
878:(995): 88.
645:References
628:Oxted Line
514:High Rocks
332:Oxted Line
328:signal box
316:Eastbourne
146:Managed by
86:51°06′43″N
1416:Portslade
1373:Southease
1297:Marshlink
1149:Crowhurst
1129:Stonegate
324:crossover
221:(SVR) in
164:Key dates
156:Platforms
89:0°11′16″E
1517:Northiam
1464:Uckfield
1431:Brighton
1348:Brighton
1305:Hastings
1277:Hastings
1227:Polegate
1192:Brighton
1164:Hastings
1124:Wadhurst
1091:Polegate
1066:Plumpton
1048:Brighton
775:8 August
582:Withyham
405:Brighton
320:Polegate
293:Victoria
281:Uckfield
128:Owned by
121:TQ533372
57:Location
1566:Isfield
1393:Seaford
1320:Doleham
1267:Bexhill
1222:Berwick
1086:Berwick
967:27 June
633:
617:
613:Ashurst
602:
586:
576:
560:
550:
534:
510:
502:
486:
444:Revival
391:Decline
364:reveals
305:Ashurst
231:England
72:England
65:Wealden
1584:Eridge
1522:Bodiam
1459:Buxted
1449:Eridge
1363:Falmer
1217:Glynde
1207:Falmer
1144:Battle
1081:Glynde
853:
798:
730:
702:
677:
530:Eridge
498:Eridge
301:Eridge
172:Opened
1368:Lewes
1212:Lewes
1119:Frant
1076:Lewes
961:(PDF)
950:(PDF)
922:: 14.
920:RailE
277:Lewes
1426:Hove
969:2008
851:ISBN
796:ISBN
777:2016
728:ISBN
700:ISBN
675:ISBN
424:DEMU
318:via
279:and
1330:Rye
1310:Ore
1282:Ore
1169:Ore
876:130
264:to
244:to
1620::
952:.
908:^
874:.
825:^
810:^
767:.
742:^
714:^
307:.
295:-
268:.
248:.
229:,
225:,
67:,
63:,
1405::
1294::
1181::
1018:e
1011:t
1004:v
971:.
859:.
804:.
736:.
708:.
683:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
