Whistles and horns will herald a year of celebrations for the Volks Electric Railway

Staff and volunteers from Brighton’s Volk's Electric Railway will herald the start of the New Year by taking part in a massed ‘horn salute’ to welcome 2025 and begin a year of celebrations,

At midday on 1 January 2025, heritage railways all over the country will sound their whistles and horns to mark the 200th anniversary of the invention of railways.

Reviving an old tradition

The Railway 200 – New Year Whistle  event is based on an old tradition dating back the days of steam and will kickstart a year of anniversaries and celebrations for the Volk's Electric Railway and railways in general.

Local railway enthusiasts are welcome to join the Volk's Railway celebration, and should make their way to 285 Madeira Drive, Brighton for 12 noon on January 1.

Hot drinks will be available at the Jungle Gym café where onlookers can watch the event from the first-floor terrace. Trains are not currently running as the railway closes over winter and is due to re-open at Easter.

Birthday celebrations

In 2023, the Volk's Electric Railway celebrated its 140th birthday and, earlier this year, was awarded the title of ‘Preserved Railway of the Year’.

Celebrations will continue in 2025, with a series of ‘late running’ events when passengers can enjoy seafront train rides into the evenings, from 5pm to 9pm.

Dates include:

Saturday 17 May (commemoration of the arrival of the line from Shoreham to Brighton)

Sunday 22 June – late running trains

Sunday 27 July – late running trains

Saturday 21 September – Volk's Electric Railway Association (VERA) 30th Anniversary celebration with cake and hot drinks.

For more information about the Heritage Railway Association, visit: Railway 200 | Heritage Railway Association