Brighton and Chichester Railway

The Brighton and Chichester Railway was an early railway in southern England running between the towns of Shoreham and Chichester in Sussex. It operated between 1845 and 1846.

History

Following the completion of the London and Brighton Railway in 1841, with its branch line running to Shoreham, a natural extension appeared to be westwards towards Chichester and ultimately Portsmouth. A new company was therefore created in 1844 to build the first stage of such a line, which would then be operated by the LBR. The new company achieved approval in the ; construction began that same year.

Construction

The new line involved constructing a viaduct at Shoreham and an opening bridge over the River Arun at Ford, West Sussex. The new line was opened in stages between November 1845 and June 1846.

Shoreham – Worthing, November 1845
Worthing – Littlehampton, March 1846
Littlehampton – Chichester, June 1846

Extensions

In August 1845 the company received approval in the Railway from Portsmouth to Chichester Act 1845 to continue their line to towards Havant and Fareham. Shortly afterwards the company was purchased by the LBR, but remained separate.

Formation of LB&SCR

Construction of the extension to Havant was just commencing when the company ceased to exist when it was formally merged with others to form the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway by the London and Brighton Railway Act 1846 on 27 July 1846.