Falmer railway station

Falmer
The platforms at Falmer, looking northeast
General information
Location	Brighton and Hove England
Grid reference	TQ347086
Managed by	Southern
Platforms	2
Other information
Station code	FMR
Classification	DfT category E
History
Original company	Brighton, Lewes and Hastings Railway
Pre-grouping	London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
Post-grouping	Southern Railway
Key dates
8 June 1846	Opened
1 August 1865	Resited
1890	Rebuilt
Passengers
2019/20	1.574 million
2020/21	0.279 million
2021/22	0.904 million
2022/23	1.158 million
2023/24	1.211 million
Notes Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Falmer railway station is in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, south-east England, 3 miles 39 chains (5.6 km) from Brighton railway station on the East Coastway line. It is operated by Southern.

The station serves the village of Falmer as well as the University of Sussex campus and the University of Brighton Falmer campus. It also serves Falmer Stadium, the home of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. as well as various eastern suburbs of Brighton such as Woodingdean and Rottingdean.

The original station was approximately 53 chains east of its present location, and opened on 8 June 1846. It was moved to its present location, much closer to the village, on 1 August 1865, and rebuilt in 1890. The buildings on the down (eastbound) platform date from this time, but modern replacements have been installed on the westbound side.

1851 accident

On 6 June 1851, a train derailed soon after departing for Lewes, resulting in the death of five people.

After striking a sleeper which had been placed on the track by trespassers, most of the train crashed down into the road below. Although the immediate cause was the striking of the sleeper, the official inquiry determined that the train had been travelling too fast: that if it had been travelling within the recommended speed limit, it would not have derailed. The inquiry also determined that operating the train with the engine going backwards reduced the driver's visibility.

Service

377437 EMU approaching Falmer with a Southern service bound for Brighton, with Falmer Stadium visible in the background

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

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

• 4 tph to Brighton
• 2 tph to Seaford
• 1 tph to Eastbourne (all stations)
• 1 tph to Ore via Hastings (semi-fast)

When Brighton & Hove Albion FC matches take place at the Falmer Stadium, additional matchday-only trains operate from the station to Brighton and Lewes. In addition, most usual services are run with additional carriages and the platforms at the station have been extended to accommodate the longer trains.

A queuing system is in operation in both directions after full-time at the stadium.

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Moulsecoomb		Southern East Coastway Line		Lewes

External links

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