Newhaven Marine Station was originally opened as Newhaven Harbour in 1886, renamed to it's current in 1984 with the opening of the passenger ferry terminal. There's actually three stations in Newhaven, the others being Town and Harbour. Passengers used to alight at Marine in their hundreds to board the ferry to Dieppe - not any more. The opening of the channel tunnel reduced the demand for ferries massively and now there's just two sailings a day, from a new and reduced passenger terminal (portakabin) over the road.
Unless you knew differently, you'd think that Marine station had closed - it hasn't. Since 2006 the station has been 'temporarily closed for repairs' as the roof (now taken down) was unsafe. A daily passenger train - the 2015 to Lewes - still runs from the station. The thing is you're not allowed to get on it, and the train doesn't stop anywhere en-route... If you want to get the train, Southern will provide you with a free taxi to Harbour station - which is 90 seconds walk across the car park!
Running this so called Ghost Train is actually cheaper than going through the lengthy station closedown procedure which is full of bureaucratic red tape and obscure loopholes, and at the same time gives Southern a handy bit of track to turn trains round on during disruption.
We also had a quick mooch round the passenger terminal that is attached to the station, but just be aware the the UK Border Agency still have enforcement officers based in the offices above
Visited with scottyh98. Thanks for looking.
Terminal/station building:
Inside the former ticket/check in office:
Newhaven Port itself is still very much used!
Below are photos of the ghost train itself, arriving and departing Newhaven Marine. The passenger train that carries no passengers!
And gone...
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