Volk's Electric Railway

Volk’s Electric Railway runs along Brighton’s seafront on a narrow-gauge track just 1.6 kilometres long. Built by Magnus Volk and opened in 1883, it is the oldest electric railway still in service anywhere. The line starts near the Palace Pier at Aquarium station and ends at Black Rock station beside Brighton Marina. A single intermediate stop at Halfway serves as both station and depot. The railway uses a third rail to draw 110 volts of direct current. The railway’s history is closely tied to Brighton’s growth as a seaside resort. Magnus Volk extended the line eastward in stages, reaching Black Rock in 1901. Brighton Corporation took over in 1940 and rebuilt the line after the Second World War. In 2014 a Heritage Lottery grant funded a new visitor centre, restored carriages, and improved facilities. The railway also carries educational displays about its Victorian origins. Visitors board at Aquarium station, where a cafeteria and exhibition space now stand. Halfway station offers a viewing gallery over the depot and workshops. Black Rock station sits beside the marina, close to cafés and boat trips. The ride lasts about ten minutes, giving views of the pebble beach and passing paddleboarders. The open carriages evoke an earlier era while still serving Brighton’s seafront every day.