Frant railway station

Infobox UK station


name = Frant
manager = Southeastern
code = FRT
locale = Bells Yew Green, Frant
borough = Wealden, East Sussex
lowusage0405 = 86,963
lowusage0506 = 89,366
lowusage0607 = 98,874
platforms = 2
years = 1851
events = Opened

Frant railway station lies on the Hastings Line in East Sussex, England, 59 km (36.6 miles) from London Charing Cross. Although situated within the civil parish of Frant, the station is actually located some 2 km from the village of that name, in the hamlet of Bells Yew Green.

It is also the nearest station to the Kentish village of Lamberhurst, 7 km away: an infrequent bus service (four to five journeys each way on Mondays to Saturdays) links the village of Frant with Lamberhurst by way of Frant railway station.

History

The station was opened by the South Eastern Railway (SER) at the same time as the route, in 1851, and the original station building, which is situated on the Down (eastern) side of the line, remains in use. Designed by the company's architect, Wiliam Tress, and built of local ragstone in a Gothic lodge style, with a canopy added in 1905, it has been a Grade II listed building since 1982. The platforms are staggered: a common arrangement at early SER stations which allowed passengers to cross the line in relative safety behind two trains stopped at the station, although today the platforms are connected by a footbridge. From the 1960s until 1986, the station was served only at peak times on week days. However, since 1986, it has been served seven days a week.

Services

Train services are provided by Southeastern. The typical off-peak service is one train per hour to London Charing Cross via Tunbridge Wells, and one train per hour to Hastings.

External links

References

* [http://historic-railway-buildings.fotopic.net/ Historic Railway Buildings of South East England]
* [http://www.snowing.co.uk/sias/articles/main_10.htm Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society]