Sussex Belle steam train arrives in East Sussex

The popular train is journeying from London to Hastings and Eastbourne to capture the ‘summer sights of yesteryear’.

Steam hauled by Southern Railway West Country Class 34046 ‘Braughton’, the locomotive began its journey from London Victoria at 10.20am.

From there it took its passengers on a tour of the picturesque Sussex countryside to Hastings, where a stop is scheduled for guests to explore the town.

Then, it will take the 45-minute journey down the coast to Eastbourne in the mid afternoon, with passengers encouraged to stop and sightsee.

The train then returns to London via Kent, with an estimated arrival at Victoria at 8.45pm.

Saphos Trains, which runs the Sussex Belle, has not provided timings for each stopping-off point.

However, the train arrived at West St Leonards Station at 12.48 before going on to Hastings.

It is expected in Eastbourne at about 2.54pm, before heading off at about 4.54pm.

The train travels from London Victoria through East Croydon, Redhill, Tonbridge, Robertsbridge, Hastings, Eastbourne, back through Hastings, Rye, Ashford International, Sevenoaks, Swanley, Nunhead and finally back to London Victoria.

Though the service is fully booked up, the tickets ranged from £95 for standard to £260 for premier class and passengers are treated to food and drink throughout the journey.

The train has socially distanced seating and safety screens to abide by government covid-19 guidelines.

Passengers are not required to wear facial coverings however, as Saphos Trains says its seating plans exceed the 2m or 1m+ requirements.

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