Expanding horizons as new Seaton Tramway halts open
THE Seaton Tramway has officially opened two new halts.
Seaton Wetlands Halt and Riverside Halt came on line on August 1, bringing the total number of stops from three to five along the threemile tramway that opened 52 years ago along the trackbed of the LSWR Seaton branch.
The project creating these new stops began as early as 2019, with construction of Riverside Halt starting before the Covid-19 pandemic, and finishing the day before the first lockdown in March 2020. The tramway’s Riverside Depot will now be accessible via a new 400sq m deck constructed above the tidal River Axe estuary. Not only will it allow a view inside the depot and a chance to see the shunting of trams and engineering, but it is also a superb vantage point to view the renowned wildlife of the estuary.
Journey breaks
A new interactive exhibit explains how electricity is delivered to the line and the trams. The halt is also fitted with picnic tables for visitors to enjoy their lunch or a takeaway from the Tramstop Café in Colyton. They can also to look around the estuary using a new telescope fitted on the deck.
Seaton Wetlands Halt allows access by passengers to the nature reserves and nearly three miles of trails and the wildlife that inhabits them. The halt is situated on what has been known as Swan’s Nest Loop, named after the many swans that nest every spring in this area.
The swans partly delayed the construction of the halt. It was originally scheduled to open in spring 2020, in time for the tramway’s 50th year of operation, but swans nesting on the access path, combined with wet weather and the pandemic, meant that the project has been delayed until now.
The Wetlands Halt, sponsored by a donation from the Fine Family Foundation, links a new 300-yard boardwalk from the trams onto the wetlands and across to the Wetlands Discovery Hut. Trams will arrive at the stop every 20 minutes from 10.12am to 5.22pm. Seaton Wetlands remains a dog-free nature reserve in order to protect wildlife.
Tramway chief executive Jenny Nunn said: “After many years in the planning, together with our partners at East Devon District Council’s countryside team, we have finally managed to complete the last piece of the jigsaw by creating a circular link via the Tramway to Seaton and the amazing Seaton Wetlands for all to enjoy.
“This is a unique project which also opens up an area by the River Axe for the first time, offering an innovative insight into the history of not only the former railway branch line but also the general history, tourism and wildlife of the area.”
Station installations
The halts have been constructed in conjunction with the tramway’s Travels Through the Axe Valley & Heritage project, which is part-funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the tramway. As part of this, new interpretation was developed and designed to be introduced along the entire tramway route and stations. A giant LED screen has been installed at Seaton station to play a short video before each departure, showing guests the history of the branch and where it operates in East Devon and on the Jurassic Coast. At Colyton station, the old‘Milk Churn’has been converted into a small interpretation room which includes a history of Gilbert Cowd, the former stationmaster, as well as a video explaining the development of the branch line and Colyton’s history. Postcards now sit along Colyton’s platform that tell real-life stories from Seaton, and which can be enjoyed while watching the trams arrive and depart.
Seaton Tramway is also introducing Gilbert’s Trail, an interactive, fact-filled booklet for families to enjoy together as they explore. Children are tasked to collect stamps which are positioned along the five stops.
Each new halt is completely stepfree and the tramway operates low floor accessible trams every day at least once an hour.
More details can be found at www. tram.co.uk/accessibility