Edit late July 2020: now open again
The Downs Link has always been a favourite cycle ride of mine, (see web site). Earlier this year, a new path filling a one mile gap in the Downs Link at Christ's Hospital station was opened: I'm not sure exactly when, since it must have been during the Covid lock down - a formal opening ceremony scheduled for April was, I presume, cancelled.
Today, I made an inspection visit. Here is a map showing the new path (red) and the old route on roads (blue).
The Link follows the route of the Guildford-Horsham railway, which joined the main line at Christ's Hospital Station. This station was opened in 1902 to serve Christ's Hospital School when it moved out of London, and also the anticipated expansion of Horsham. The school decided only to take boarders, and the town expansion did not take place, leaving an overly large station for such an apparently quiet location. The trackbed here was not included in the original Downs Link route, presumably because of land ownership issues and the closure of the tunnel and subway under the railway. However, after a
long campaign, this missing link has now been reinstated. This is a welcome improvement, avoiding a diversion from the old trackbed onto some quite busy roads.
The old track bed has been resurfaced, a tunnel under the railway next to the station has been reopened, and the surviving disused platform has been restored. However, I found from notices on barriers that on 15 June the track was closed again for surface repairs, which doesn't bode well for the durability of the surface. It should reopen after 21 days = 5 July approx.
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| The disused platform at Christ's Hospital station has been restored, and the Link path runs alongside |
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| Temporary closure notices |
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| The track swoops down to.... |
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| Old tunnel under the railway reopened |
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| Warning signs at road junction |
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| New track beside Christ's Hospital School grounds |
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| Rejoins the old path heading South West |
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| The Northern end of the new trackbed path seen from the bridge near Hillfield Cottages |
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| Ongoing works: hopefully completed by 5th July |
Thanks some great info on your blogs appreciated !
ReplyDeleteI think West Sussex found the last bit of Euro money to sort out a couple of rougher sections a bit further south as well as this section at Christ's Hospital, we have had a few sections closed nearer Horsham and Southwater. Lets hope Surrey CC finds some for a couple of bits near Baynards!
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