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Hastings railway station is the
southern terminus of the Hastings line in the south of England
and is one of four stations that serve the town of Hastings,
East Sussex. It is also on the East Coastway Line to Eastbourne
and the Marshlink line to Ashford International. It is 62 miles
33 chains (100.4 km) from London Charing Cross measured via
Chelsfield and Battle; and 82 miles 33 chains (132.6 km) from
Charing Cross via Chelsfield and Ashford.
The station is managed by Southeastern, which is one of two
train operating companies at the station, alongside Southern.
The station was first proposed by the South Eastern Railway
(SER) on 9 October 1835, as the terminus for a railway from
Tunbridge Wells via Rye. These plans began to take fruition
during 1843, as the SER planned the most practical route to the
town through what would be difficult terrain. In the meantime,
the Parliamentary Select Committee had supported a scheme by the
Brighton, Lewes & Hastings Railway (BLHR), which would connect
the town to the London and Brighton Railway (LBR). The BLHR were
awarded the act of parliament to build the railway to Hastings,
with an additional option to extend the line through Rye to
Ashford. The SER were not happy about a rival company building
routes in their area, and in late 1845 researched the
feasibility of a route via Tunbridge Wells. The Government
insisted the SER constructed the line from Ashford to Hastings
(now the Marshlink line) first before any direct route could be
built. Meanwhile, the LBR and BLHR had amalgamated with other
companies to form the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway,
who became bitter rivals with the SER.
The station opened on 13 February 1851 when the line from
Ashford was completed through to Bopeep Junction. The station
was originally V-shaped allowing the two railway companies to
have separate platforms and booking areas: one side for SER
trains to pass through and the other as a terminal for LBSCR
services. The two companies continued to argue with each other
and object to trains stopping or passing through the station.
The SER also wanted separate goods sheds from the LBSCR. The
connection to Tunbridge Wells opened on 1 February 1852.
The whole station was reconstructed in a neo-Georgian style in
1931 by the architect James Robb Scott and only the goods shed
remained unchanged. All trains now ran through the two new
island platforms, which provided better flexibility.
The station building was re-built in 2004, with the neo-Georgian
booking hall demolished and replaced with a modernist building.
The southernmost loop platform has been curtailed into an
Ashford facing bay. The station contains a small police post
manned by British Transport Police, although this is a satellite
of the Ashford International police station.
The station provides a ticket office, waiting room and toilets.
Retail facilities include a coffee shop and newsagent. Outside
the station there are a bus station, taxi rank and car park.
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