The award-winning Volk’s Electric Railway at Brighton in East Sussex restarted services for the 2024 season on Good Friday, 29 March.

Volk’s is the world’s oldest operating electric railway, and once again this year residents and visitors can enjoy the sights and sounds of the historic carriages travelling along Brighton’s seafront.

Travelling for a one-mile journey from Aquarium to Black Rock Station, passengers can delight in picturesque sea views and enjoy beautiful flowers along the boardwalk.

Special sights to spot during the trip are the renovated Reading Room and Temple, and brave swimmers at Sea Lanes.

Volk’s was recently voted ‘Railway of the Year 2024‘ by the Heritage Railway Association to recognise the railway’s authenticity, attention to detail, and dedication to its unique history, while providing eco-friendly and efficient transport along Brighton’s seafront.

To coincide with the railway’s reopening for the 2024 season, staff and volunteers from the Volk’s Electric Railway Association (VERA) joined Brighton councillors at the railway’s Aquarium Station and Visitor Centre to mark its prestigious award for a grand unveiling of a plaque recognising the Volk’s as ‘Railway of the Year 2024′.

At the same time, three other plaques that the railway and its volunteer group VERA had been awarded in recent years were also unveiled.

By winning this year’s award as Railway of the Year, Volk’s Electric Railway became the first non-steam to be recognised.

In winning the title, Volk’s was just ahead of of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway and Seaton Tramway which were awarded a joint second place.

The Railway of the Year award was timely, as last August the railway, celebrated the 140th Anniversary of its opening, which took place in 1883, and boasts of being the world’s oldest working electric railway

As well as stations at Aquarium and Black Rock, there is also a third station named Halfway where there is a play area, café, and adventure golf course. Halfway is also the site of the railway’s workshops.

Aquarium station is next to a Pirate Golf course and close to the Palace Pier, and near to Black Road station at the other end of the line there is a café.

Trains run from both ends of the line every 15 minutes at 00, 15, 30 and 45 past the hour from 10.15 to 17.30 on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; from 11.15 to 17.30 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; and from 10.15 to 18.30 on Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holidays.. Adult tickets cost £5 single and £6.50 return, and £3.20 single and £4 return for children aged 3 to 15. RailAdvent Plus Annual members can save up to 35% on tickets.

The Volk’s Electric Railway is now open daily until the end of September, and further information about the railway, its history, and operating times can be found on its website at https://volksrailway.org.uk