Southeast Communities Rail Partnership has hosted a celebratory event to mark 174 years since the opening of the railway line between Hastings and Ashford International.
A group of 25 people attended the celebration event on 13 February, exactly 174 years to the day since the station opened. Guests included Southern Railway staff, Mayor of Rye Cllr Andy Stuart, town crier Paul Goring, station volunteers from along the line and rail enthusiasts from across Sussex.
Rye Station is situated along the Marshlink Line, one of 10 community rail lines served by Southeast Communities Rail Partnership.
The line was earmarked for closure in the Beeching Report in 1963 but was saved after opposition from local campaigners. Latest official figures show overall station usage on the Marshlink Line was up by 7.5% in 2023-24 compared with the previous year.
Kevin Boorman, Marshlink Line CRP chair, said: “The railway line is a key feature of the area and has been since Victorian times. The coming of the railways opened up many of the communities and provided the opportunity for people to travel further afield, and for goods to be moved much more easily.
“We were pleased to host the celebrations and know this railway is still a vital transport link for many people for work, study and leisure.”
Mike Lamport from Railway 200, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be here for the 174th birthday party for the wonderful station of Rye. This year the nation is celebrating 200 years of the railways, and we want everybody to have a party!”
Mayor of Rye, Cllr Andy Stuart, told the gathering: “Rye Station is an enormous part of the community. You only have to go at various times of the day to see how many schoolchildren and college students go both ways: into Rye, out of Rye, from here to Ashford. Day-trippers, holidaymakers, businesspeople, workers: the station is well-used and long may it continue to be used.”
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