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Location notes
Balcombe is situated on the Brighton Mainline in West Sussex, England. The station serves the village of Balcombe and is 17 miles (27 km) north of Brighton. The nearest towns are Haywards Heath, Crawley and East Grinstead.
Railway type and traffic
Very busy mainline with regular Class 377s, 442s and 319s at roughly 5-10 minute intervals for most of the day. A majority of trains dont stop at this station.
There are a few VSOE workings throughout the year, these are normally hauled by Class 67's and destinations vary between Hove and Chichester. In addition there is also the odd railtour or steam special as well.
There are 2 booked freight services on this section of the Brighton Mainline. The first one is an aggregates train to the Hanson roadstone plant at Ardingly, which is on the former branch to Horsted Keynes. The train arrives at Haywards Heath, where the engine runs round and the train then heads north down the branch. Here the engine runs round again after unloading and brings the train back to Haywards Heath, where the process is repeated for the return journey. Class 59s are the scheduled motive power although Class 66s sometimes work the service. The freight service runs on weekdays, and the loaded working is timetabled to pass through early morning around 04:30, although it does sometimes run later. The empty working is timetabled to pass through around 10:00, this also sometimes runs later.
The other booked freight is an incinerator ash working to/from Newhaven (East Sussex). The freight service is normally hauled by Class 66s although Class 59s do sometimes make an appearance. The empty working is timetabled to pass through around 23:30, the loaded working is timetabled to pass through around 05:30.
Engineering trains can sometimes be seen passing through on weeknights, early weekday mornings or at weekends. There are also very occasional light engine workings.
There are a few VSOE workings throughout the year, these are normally hauled by Class 67's and destinations vary between Hove and Chichester. In addition there is also the odd railtour or steam special as well.
There are 2 booked freight services on this section of the Brighton Mainline. The first one is an aggregates train to the Hanson roadstone plant at Ardingly, which is on the former branch to Horsted Keynes. The train arrives at Haywards Heath, where the engine runs round and the train then heads north down the branch. Here the engine runs round again after unloading and brings the train back to Haywards Heath, where the process is repeated for the return journey. Class 59s are the scheduled motive power although Class 66s sometimes work the service. The freight service runs on weekdays, and the loaded working is timetabled to pass through early morning around 04:30, although it does sometimes run later. The empty working is timetabled to pass through around 10:00, this also sometimes runs later.
The other booked freight is an incinerator ash working to/from Newhaven (East Sussex). The freight service is normally hauled by Class 66s although Class 59s do sometimes make an appearance. The empty working is timetabled to pass through around 23:30, the loaded working is timetabled to pass through around 05:30.
Engineering trains can sometimes be seen passing through on weeknights, early weekday mornings or at weekends. There are also very occasional light engine workings.
Environment
Reasonably quiet, rural and scenic location with nearby Balcombe village only a short walk away. During the peak hours the station and nearby B2036 can be quite busy.
Road directions
From London:
Turn off at the M23 Maidenbower Junction and you will see a roundabout. Turn left at the roundabout and follow the B2036 south until to get to Balcombe station on the right hand side of the road.
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Balcombe map co-ordinates
Turn off at the M23 Maidenbower Junction and you will see a roundabout. Turn left at the roundabout and follow the B2036 south until to get to Balcombe station on the right hand side of the road.
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Balcombe map co-ordinates
Parking
There is a pay and display station car park with up to 48 spaces, although there are places to park in nearby Balcome village if the car park is full.
Public transport
Train:
There is an hourly off-peak stopping service in both directions, but there are additional services which stop here during peak hours.
Bus:
There is a bus stop situated just outside the station, buses run direct from Crawley and Haywards Heath.
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Amenities
There are toilets on the station but these are only open when the station is staffed. When the station toilets are closed the nearest toilets are in Balcombe village. If you want to buy something to eat or drink there are a few places in Balcombe village including a pub and a tea rooms.
Accommodation
There a few B&Bs and hotels in and around the area although some are not cheap.
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.
Balcombe
Streetmap links
Balcombe general view map
Balcombe close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Balcombe
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Balcombe
Googly map
Balcombe general view map
Balcombe close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Balcombe
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Angles are good throughout the day, although photography can be tricky during winter due to low sun.
General views - All photographs © RG unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking south
Fig 3 - Looking south
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
