A new direct rail service between Eastbourne and London Bridge has officially launched, giving commuters a faster and more convenient route to the capital.
Passengers boarded the first service on Monday, December 15, travelling directly from Eastbourne via Lewes to London Bridge. The inaugural train arrived in the capital five minutes ahead of schedule.
Train operator Southern, run by Govia Thameslink Railway, introduced the 06:47am service as part of its December timetable update. The reinstated route includes one morning service to London Bridge and a return journey to Eastbourne in the evening.
The direct service had previously been removed from the timetable during the Covid-19 pandemic. With passenger numbers now rising, Southern has brought it back to provide additional capacity on the busy route.
A celebration event was held at Eastbourne station to mark the first departure, attended by local MP Josh Babarinde, who has been campaigning for the return of the service.
Josh Babarinde MP said the launch was “a massive win” for the town.
“I am delighted that our campaign to restore the direct train service between Eastbourne and London Bridge has been successful,” he said.
“A huge thank you to everyone who backed the campaign, both in person and online. Your support made all the difference and showed just how vital strong transport links are for our town.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Govia Thameslink Railway and Southern for their cooperation throughout this process and their help in getting Eastbourne back on track.”
The service will run during term time, Monday to Thursday. The morning train departs Eastbourne at 6.47am and arrives at London Bridge at 8.25am. The return service leaves London Bridge at 5.03pm, arriving back in Eastbourne at 6.35pm.
Stops along the route include Hampden Park, Polegate, Berwick, Glynde, Lewes, Cooksbridge, Plumpton, Haywards Heath, Three Bridges and East Croydon.
Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director at Southern, said the new service responds directly to customer demand.
“I am delighted that we’ve been able to introduce this direct service from the coast to the capital. We know this is something our customers have been calling for,” she said.
“We’re doing everything we can to encourage people back to rail, which is the most sustainable form of public transport. We want our services to get you to where you need to be comfortably and reliably.
“We believe this timetable improvement will build on that success and are pleased to have worked with local stakeholders to make the case for its introduction.”
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