Littlehampton Railway Station
The town's rail link on the West Coastway line
Littlehampton railway station sits at the terminus of a branch from the West Coastway line, providing the town with direct rail services to Brighton, Worthing, Bognor Regis, Chichester, Havant and Portsmouth. The station is managed by Southern Railway and handles approximately one million passenger journeys per year, making it the principal public transport hub for the town and the surrounding area.
The station is located on Terminus Road in the town centre, within easy walking distance of the high street, the harbour and the seafront. The location was established when the railway first reached Littlehampton in 1863, and the station's central position has been an asset to the town ever since, allowing visitors to arrive by train and walk to the beach without needing a car. The current station building dates from later rebuilds but retains its position at the end of the branch line.
Services from Littlehampton run to Ford, where the branch joins the main West Coastway line. From Ford, trains run eastward to Worthing, Shoreham-by-Sea, Hove and Brighton, and westward to Bognor Regis, Chichester, Havant and Portsmouth. The journey to Brighton takes approximately one hour, and the journey to Portsmouth Harbour takes around one hour and fifteen minutes. Services run at roughly half-hourly intervals during the day, with reduced services on Sundays and public holidays.
The station has two platforms, a ticket office, a waiting room and a small car park. The facilities are modest but functional, and recent investment has improved the accessibility of the station, with step-free access and assistance available for passengers with mobility difficulties. Cycle parking is provided for commuters and visitors who wish to combine rail and cycling, and the station is served by local bus routes that connect to areas of the town not within walking distance.
For commuters, the railway provides a viable alternative to driving for journeys to Brighton, Worthing and the other coastal towns. The A259 road corridor between Littlehampton and Brighton is frequently congested, particularly during the summer season, and the train offers a more reliable journey time. However, the branch line arrangement means that all journeys require a change of direction at Ford, adding time to the overall journey. Direct services that avoid this reversal run at certain times but are not available throughout the day.
The railway has been part of Littlehampton's life since the Victorian era, and its arrival was instrumental in transforming the town from a small port into a popular seaside resort. The ability of Londoners and residents of the Sussex towns to reach the beach by train created the demand for hotels, boarding houses, entertainment and the other trappings of the seaside holiday that shaped the town's character. Today, the railway continues to bring visitors and connect residents to the wider world, fulfilling the same function it has served for over 160 years.
The station is also a connecting point for onward travel by bus, with several bus routes serving the station forecourt and providing connections to parts of the town and surrounding area that are not within walking distance. The integration of rail and bus services is intended to make car-free travel a practical option for both visitors and residents.