Southwater was a railway station on the

Steyning Line The Steyning Line was a railway branch line that connected the West Sussex market town of Horsham with the port of Shoreham-by-Sea, with connections to Brighton. It was built by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, and opened in 1861. ...

which served the village of

Southwater Southwater is a large village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England, with a population of roughly 10,000. It is administered within Horsham District Council and West Sussex County Council. History One of the oldest bu ...

. A goods siding allowed for the transportation of coal and other raw materials to and from Southwater Brickworks. The station closed as a result of the

Beeching Axe The Beeching cuts (also Beeching Axe) was a plan to increase the efficiency of the nationalised railway system in Great Britain. The plan was outlined in two reports: ''The Reshaping of British Railways'' (1963) and ''The Development of the ...

in 1966, the station demolished and the site covered with housing development.

West Sussex County Council West Sussex County Council (WSCC) is the authority that governs the non-metropolitan county of West Sussex. The county also contains seven district and borough councils, and 158 town, parish and neighbourhood councils. The county council has 7 ...

had previously owned the site of the former railway station (as well as the trackbed) but, with the growth of the village and the need for a library and police service, the County Council sold the land to Horsham District Council for a price of up to £1.3 million so that these facilities could be provided. The subsequent development required the re-alignment of Worthing Road which was previously carried over the railway line by a bridge. This section was closed and a new road now cuts through the heart of the former station site. The local parish council have erected a replica station sign in the vicinity.Southwater station on the Downs Link
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References

{{coord, 51.0241, -0.3518, type:railwaystation_region:GB, display=title Disused railway stations in West Sussex Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1861 Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 1966 Beeching closures in England 1861 establishments in England Former London, Brighton and South Coast Railway stations

See also

References