World‘s oldest operating electric railway shows almost 150 years of engineering heritage

For almost 150 years, the red and yellow carriages of Volk’s Electric Railway have been running along the seafront in Brighton. The world’s oldest operating electric railway was opened on 4 August 1883, constructed by pioneering electrical engineer Magnus Volk, and still follows much of the original route.

The short-gauge electric railway ran 402m between Swimming Arch and Chain Pier in Brighton. A 50V DC electrical supply was provided using the two running rails. In 1884 the supply was increased to 160V DC and a power plant installed at Paston Place. 

In 1886 an offset third rail was added to minimise current leakage and the gauge was reset to its current 2ft 8.5in. 

In 1940, Brighton Corporation took control of the line. However, in 1995 the Volk’s Electric Railway Association was formed to help the operator (now Brighton & Hove City Council) promote and operate the line. 

In the late 1990s, the Black Rock end of the line was shortened by 91m to permit a storm water storage scheme to be built. 

In 2015, the railway was granted £1.6m by the Heritage Lottery Fund for the construction of a new visitor centre, depot and public viewing gallery. 

Today, seven electric cars and one diesel locomotive are in operation, with an additional two electric cars on static display elsewhere.

Volk's Electric Railway received a coveted IMechE Engineering Heritage Award in 2013. Find out more about award-winning engineering heritage projects here.