West Grinstead Train Station: Discover Rare Lost Railways

Please note that this post is about a historical landmark. There is no working train station at West Grainstead.

This post was updated in July 2026, with new photographs from our last visit.

Standing in front of the abandoned railway carriage at West Grinstead Station. — *Standing in front of the abandoned railway carriage at West Grinstead Station*

It is rare to find legacy railway infrastructure in West Sussex. West Grinstead train station, however, has examples of railway relics from a bygone era.

This 20-mile (32.19 km) branch line in West Sussex once linked the port of Shoreham-by-Sea and Horsham.

The Steyning Line closed on 7 March 1966, following the implementation of the nationwide Beeching Cuts, which were a cost-saving exercise aimed at improving the efficiency and financial situation of the nationalised railway system of Great Britain.

The associated Steyning Line map is from Wikipedia.

Our 2022 and 2026 Visits to West Grinstead Train Station

On a warm spring day in March 2022, my wife and I visited the area and took a series of photographs. At that time, the station platforms were fully accessible.

We returned to West Grinstead in 2026. While the walk remains enjoyable, the site has changed significantly since my 2022 visit.

In 2023, metal barriers were installed along the edge of the two railway platforms. These barriers now block access to the platforms for safety reasons. The metal structures change the site’s visual character.

West Sussex County Council maintains the area. Because the barriers have been in place for 3 years, budget constraints may be delaying permanent repairs to make the platforms safe.

My original 2022 photograph of the platforms may be some of the last clear images taken before the barriers went up in 2023.

West Grinstead Train Station Station

Photo gallery No. 1 from 2022

Noticeboard at West Grinstead Train Station — Noticeboard at West Grinstead

Railway carriage at West Grinstead Train Station — Noticeboard at West Grinstead

West Grinstead Train Station Station

Photo gallery No. 2 from 2026

Noticeboard at West Grinstead. — Noticeboard at West Grinstead

Downs Link funding information. — Noticeboard at West Grinstead

The British Rail Mark 1 carriage shown above

“Surplus to operational requirements” and facing an uncertain future

West Sussex County Council has declared this carriage at West Grinstead train station “surplus to operational requirements.” According to the council, the carriage is in need of restoration and the plan is to offer it to the community through the Community Asset Transfer process. The deadline for expressions of interest was 3 March 2025. So far, I have not found any new updates from the council or anyone else. I think losing this carriage, which gives us a glimpse into a past era, would be a real loss.

Sources:

Calls to redevelop historic railway carriage. BBC News. 9 February 2025.

Concerns over future of historic railway carriage at defunct Sussex village station. Sussex World. 25 November 2024.

I would love to read your comments about this part of the Downs Link. Do you have further information about the future of this Mark 1 carriage?

Historical images from the Steyning Line

West Grinstead train station. Circa 1885.

SR Battle of Britain at West Grinstead train station in 1965. — West Grinstead train station. Circa 1885.

The three historical images above are Creative Commons via Wikimedia. These images are of low resolution, but you can view the original high-resolution images on Wikimedia.