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Location notes
Situated on the South Coast, on a branch which exits, via a triangular junction, the 'West Coastway' line between Brighton and Portsmouth.
Station has two two-faced island terminal platforms, platforms 1&2 are 12-car length whilst platform 3 takes 8 cars and platform 4 takes 6 cars. The station itself has two pairs of semaphore bracket signals, one for each platform pair. The rest of the branch is colour-light-signalled. The station building and short canopies are (reasonably) modern except for a part of the original engine shed behind platform 4 and the former goods shed, not now in railway use, adjacent to platform 1.
Railway type and traffic
Passenger-only branch of approximately 1.5 miles length serving small seaside town. Regular train type is 377s, MPVs may also visit 'in season'. Also the occasional railtours.
Environment
Staffed station (until 2000) and train-crew point is in a central location in town, expect young people in evening and school holidays. One entrance / exit to platforms, sometimes location of ticket check dependant on time of day. Staff usually tolerant of enthusiast interest, occasional 'hired help' tend to be less so.
Road directions
From West:From A27, approach Arundel 3 miles after A29 roundabout, at next roundabout take fourth exit (signed Clymping and Ford), follow over railway at Ford station, left at next roundabout onto A259 (Littlehampton), right at next roundabout (Littlehampton town centre), carriage shed and footbridge are shortly on left before station on left.
From East:From A27, after exiting Worthing conurbation, turn left onto A280 (Lyminster and Littlehampton) at the traffic lights where the dual carriageway turns into single lane. Follow this road through Lyminster, over the level crossing and take the third exit at the roundabout onto the A259 westbound. Follow to the next roundabout, take the second exit (first is Tesco's) then for town centre as above.
From North:Either approach on the A29 Bognor road, taking the A284 at the picnic spot, signed Arundel, follow to roundabout on A27 and take the third exit, then follow for Clymping and Ford as per west approach,
OR
approach on A24 Worthing road, take the A280 to Littlehampton at Findon which meets the A27 coming out of Worthing then follow as from east approach.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location Littlehampton Station map co-ordinates
Parking
Station has a pay and display car park, quiet in the week, limited on-street parking around. Currently the daily rate for this car park is �2.80 a day
Public transport
Littlehampton has a half-hourly eastbound service, one a Victoria semi-fast the other a Brighton stopper and an hourly westbound service to Barnham and Bognor Regis. Additional services are provided in the peaks, including one return service a weekday direct between Horsham, Arundel and Littlehampton.
Bus route no. 700, run by Stagecoach between Portsmouth and Brighton, stops half-hourly at the station before running into the town centre. Station side of road is Littlehampton and Brighton-bound, cross the road for Portsmouth-bound services.
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Amenities
The station has a kiosk selling drinks, newspapers and light snacks until approx. 14:00 except Sundays, toilets are available but a key may need to be obtained. Three public houses, the 'Arun View', 'Steam Packet' and 'Locomotive' are visible from the station whilst more can be found in the town centre along with shops, cafes and take-aways. The front of the station is a taxi rank.
Accommodation
The 'Arun View' and 'Steam Packet', adjacent to each other, offer accommodation, further Bed and Breakfasts are available within 15 minutes walk along and near to the sea front.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Littlehampton Station
Googly map
Streetmap links
Littlehampton Station general view map
Littlehampton Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Littlehampton Station
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The branch runs south-easterly but the line into the station swings towards the east in the station throat. Light is good for platform photos of trains approaching the station through most of the day but the buffer stops will tend to be shaded. Trains departing platforms 3 and 4 can be pictured passing their bracket signal from Platform 2, to picture trains departing past the bracket signal of platform 1 and 2 you will need to go out onto the adjacent main road and look over the low wall (about 5ft high) or through the fence. The former goods shed adjacent to Platform 1 casts a shadow across the platforms from mid-afternoon onwards at about the 8-car mark from the buffers. Gloucester Road, a residential road which runs behind platform 4 and the signal box, is not recommended for photography from road level because of the vegetation.
General views - All photographs © Stephen Hodgson unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south east
View of station from Platform 3/4
Fig 2 - Looking west
View of station throat from Platform 1/2, the signal box is hidden behind the train.
Fig 3 - Looking east
View of station from road showing goods shed
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