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Plumpton
The platforms at Plumpton, looking northwest
General information
Location	Plumpton Green, Lewes District, East Sussex England
Coordinates	50°55′44″N 0°03′36″W / 50.929°N 0.060°W / 50.929; -0.060
Grid reference	TQ364161
Managed by	Southern
Platforms	2
Other information
Station code	PMP
Classification	DfT category E
History
Original company	London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
Pre-grouping	London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
Post-grouping	Southern Railway
Key dates
June 1863	Station opened
Passengers
2019/20	0.116 million
2020/21	26,358
2021/22	76,140
2022/23	91,996
2023/24	0.101 million
Notes Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Plumpton railway station serves the village of Plumpton in East Sussex, England. It is 44 miles 42 chains (71.7 km) from London Bridge via Redhill.

Train services are provided by Southern. The station neighbours Plumpton Racecourse, which had its own platform at the end of the village station.

History

Plumpton lies on the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway "cut-off" line between Keymer Junction, near Wivelsfield on the Brighton Main Line, and Lewes. The erstwhile Brighton, Lewes and Hastings Railway were authorised to build the line in 1845; the LBSCR purchased it and opened the link on 1 October 1847. However, there was no immediate demand for services and the station did not open until June 1863.

The road crossing was established in 1849 and was hand operated until the establishment of the signal box in 1891. That signal box, now defunct (after being reduced to a crossing box under the supervision of Three Bridges PSB) after the crossing was given obstacle detection systems. It still remains and is a Grade II Listed Building.

Crossing Closure Controversy

Network Rail closed the level crossing in September 2015 so that the wooden, wheel worked gates (the last in East Sussex) on the crossing could be replaced. However, Lewes District Council rejected the plans to replace the gates as it would have caused "substantial harm to the significance of the signal box", and there were protests from villagers. Network Rail said that they could not open the crossing as the work was not completed. This effectively split the village in two, with some motorists having to take a six or seven mile detour. However the upgrade took place and the level crossing was reopened in February 2016.

Services

All services at Plumpton are operated by Southern using Class 377 EMUs.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:

• 1 tph to London Victoria via Gatwick Airport
• 1 tph to Ore via Eastbourne and Hastings

During the peak hours, the station is served by an additional hourly service between London Victoria and Eastbourne, increasing the service to 2tph in each direction.

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Wivelsfield		Southern East Coastway Line		Cooksbridge or Lewes

References

1. Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 186. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
2. Rhodes, Michael (2015). Resignalling Britain. Horncastle: Mortons Media. p. 102. ISBN 978-1-909128-64-4.
3. Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1238580)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
4. "Network Rail apology over Plumpton level crossing closure". BBC News. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
5. Topham, Gwyn (8 September 2013). "Plumpton Green villagers man the barricades to save railway gates". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
6. "Level crossing dividing Plumpton village reopens". BBC News. 8 February 2016.
7. Table 190 National Rail timetable, May 2022

External links

• Train times and station information for Plumpton railway station from National Rail

• Railway stations in East Sussex
• Former London, Brighton and South Coast Railway stations
• DfT Category E stations
• Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1863
• Railway stations served by Govia Thameslink Railway
• Plumpton, East Sussex