NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2009

The newsletter can be found below, and includes details of the the alterations to Arun Valley and Coastway services over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

You can also download the newsletter in PDF format.

WEST SUSSEX RAIL USERS ASSOCIATION
17, The Crescent, West Wittering, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 8EE
Tel: 01243 673393
E-mail: contact at wsrua dot org dot uk

This Newsletter and is being sent only to those for whom I have an e-mail address. It covers alterations to Arun Valley and Coastway services over the Bank Holiday weekend. The Arundel Festival will be continuing over this weekend.

From Saturday 29th to Monday 31st August inclusive the Arun Valley line will be closed between Pulborough and Arundel to allow Network Rail to replace three bridges over watercourses leading to the River Arun. Two of these are at Offham and South Stoke over the old course of the Arun, before the canal cut-off was built in the early 1800s. The other is at Peppering north of Amberley. All three are of mainly wood and cast iron construction and will be replaced by the reinforced concrete structures now visible in the construction sites close to the line. Replacement of these bridges should improve the ride quality as well as allowing for a future increase in overall line speed.

There are alterations in service for all three days and these affect those travelling to Amberley and Arundel. Passengers travelling from stations between Three Bridges and Pulborough to stations south of Arundel are also affected. Those travelling northwards from stations between Pulborough and Three Bridges on Saturday and Monday, and from Billingshurst on Sunday are not affected as trains will leave from, and arrive at, these stations as shown in the timetable. The following is based on information taken from the Southern website.

Saturday 29th and Bank Holiday Monday 31st August

A Saturday service will operate on each of these days. Trains leaving London Victoria for Portsmouth Harbour/ Southampton and Bognor Regis at 02 and 32 minutes past each hour will not detach at Horsham as they normally do but will terminate at Pulborough. Trains leaving London Victoria at 17 minutes past each hour, which normally go to Littlehampton, will go instead to Southampton Central and will not call at Littlehampton. They will call additionally at Barnham, Chichester, Bosham, Southbourne, Emsworth, Warblington, Havant, Cosham, Portchester, Fareham, Swanwick and Southampton Central. Passengers from London to Littlehampton should change at Worthing. Trains leaving London Victoria for Littlehampton at 47 minutes past each hour will go instead to Portsmouth Harbour and will not call at West Worthing or Littlehampton. They will call additionally at Barnham, Chichester, Havant, Fratton and Portsmouth & Southsea.

Going to/from Arundel (Saturday and Monday)

Passengers travelling from London Victoria to Arundel should travel on train services departing at 17 minutes past each hour and change at Barnham for connecting services. Trains from Bognor Regis to Littlehampton leaving at 7 minutes past each hour will be extended to Arundel. Trains from Portsmouth & Southsea to Littlehampton leaving at 56 minutes past each hour will be extended to Arundel. Trains will leave Arundel at 59 minutes past each hour for Littlehampton and Bognor Regis. Trains will leave Arundel at 37 minutes past each hour for Littlehampton and Portsmouth & Southsea. On Monday there will be trains to and from Arundel station until 1755 when rail replacement buses will take over the service.

Going to/from Chichester

Passengers travelling from London Victoria to Chichester and west thereof should travel on train services departing at 17 and 47 minutes past each hour (via Hove).

There will be non-stop Rail Replacement Bus Services between Pulborough and Barnham, half hourly connecting at Pulborough with services to and from London and at Barnham with destinations to the west and Arundel. Between Pulborough and Amberley, half hourly connecting at Pulborough with services to and from Victoria. Between Amberley and Barnham, an hourly service connecting at Barnham with destinations to the west and Arundel.

On Monday only from 1800 until close of service there will be Rail Replacement Bus Services between Pulborough and Barnham, half hourly service non stop connecting at Pulborough with services to and from Victoria and at Barnham with destinations to the west and Arundel. Between Pulborough and Arundel Town Centre (London Road), an hourly service, also calling at Amberley, connecting at Pulborough with services to and from Victoria. Between Amberley and Barnham, an hourly service non stop connecting at Barnham with destinations to the west and east . Between Littlehampton to Arundel (Rail Station), a service connecting at Littlehampton with trains to London, Brighton and the West.

Sunday 30 August

Trains leaving London Victoria for Bognor Regis at 2 minutes past each hour will terminate at Billingshurst.

Going to/from Arundel

Trains from Bognor Regis to Littlehampton leaving at 30 minutes past each hour will go additionally to Arundel. There will be trains from Bognor Regis to Arundel leaving at 6 minutes past each hour calling at Barnham, Ford & Littlehampton. Trains will leave Arundel at 54 minutes past each hour for Littlehampton and Bognor Regis. There will be trains from Arundel to Bognor Regis leaving at 3 minutes past each hour calling at Littlehampton, Ford and Barnham.

There will be Rail Replacement Bus Services between Billingshurst and Barnham, an hourly service calling at Pulborough connecting at Billingshurst with services to and from Victoria and at Barnham with destinations to the west and Arundel. Between Billingshurst and Amberley there be an hourly service calling at Pulborough connecting at Billingshurst with services to and from Victoria. Between Amberley and Barnham there will be an hourly non-stop service connecting at Barnham with destinations to the west and Arundel.

I hope all this makes sense!

Trevor Tupper
Membership Secretary