NEWHAVEN MOTORAIL
MANY thanks for the article in the February issue about British Rail's Motorail services. I have always had an interest in the more unusual services operated by BR, like Motorail, and I was particularly pleased to see the mention in this article of the services that operated to Newhaven in East Sussex back in the 1960s, as these services rarely get mentioned.
As a young lad in the late 1960s, I can remember summer evenings when my dad would take me to Newhaven Town Station to see the Newhaven Harbour to Stirling Motorail service pass through. These workings would bring a variety of different motive power to the area, though usually a Class 45 ‘Peak' and on rare occasions one of the original 10 Class 44s might appear or even a Class 40. There were also regular appearances of Class 47s, Class 33s and the occasional Class 73 electro-diesel.
These trains would terminate at Newhaven Marine Station, alongside the Sealink Ferry terminal, where passengers would disembark for the ferry. The Motorail vehicles, which I recall at the time were GUVs, would be shunted back to Newhaven Harbour station into the two-road unloading dock situated on the west side of the station, which then gave road access straight onto the harbour quayside and the roll on/roll off car ferry.
As far as I am aware, the Motorail service to Newhaven ceased after the 1969 summer season, however the unloading dock at Newhaven Harbour station saw use again in the early 1970s when Simca cars were being imported via the port of Newhaven, these being shipped out on car trains using carflats and cartics.
A recent visit to Newhaven reveals a rather sad picture, however. Newhaven Marine finally closed in October 2020, though the last ‘Parliamentary train' ceased running in 2019 and the station buildings were demolished many years before as they were deemed unsafe. Newhaven Harbour signalbox has also gone and likewise the level crossing that was at the south end of Harbour station, all this area is now fenced off and is part of the Newhaven Port complex.
Newhaven Harbour station does, however, remain with a service to Seaford and Brighton.
The car unloading dock ramps and the two tracks that served them also remain, but the tracks are redundant now, very overgrown and no longer have a connection to the main line, being disconnected a few years ago with the resignalling and track rationalisation of the Newhaven/ Seaford branch. So part of the memory of Motorail Services to Newhaven Harbour does still remain.
There is a glimmer of hope for the area where the railway is concerned. A new track layout has recently been put in place where the Newhaven Marine station sidings were, and these extend down onto the beach area (once more) to serve a new Brett Marine Aggregate plant that has recently opened on the east quayside, and it is proposed that a regular freight service will serve this.
Keep up the good work, it is much appreciated in these difficult times.
Tim Fenner Newhaven