Bluebell Railway extension to East Grinstead in final phase

The Bluebell Railway hopes to extend services to East Grinstead next year

A project to rebuild a historic stretch of steam railway in Sussex is moving into its final stage of completion.

Work to extend the Bluebell Railway by two miles to allow trains to go to East Grinstead began over three years ago.

Thousands of tonnes of household waste had to be removed from part of the line at Imberhorne cutting at a cost of £2m, as it had been used as a landfill site.

Now a further £800,000 is needed to lay the track and put in the signalling to complete the extension.

'Funding for the Finish'

The Bluebell Railway currently runs for nine miles from Sheffield Park to Kingscote but the extension will join it up with the national railway network and potentially attract more visitors.

The railway is launching its Funding for the Finish campaign to raise funds for the final phase of the project.

"We do need about £800,000 and that is the cost of this final piece," said chairman Roy Watts.

"It will allow us to re-profile the cutting, lay the track, put the signalling in.

"I am sure, in all good faith, we will have a train running south from East Grinstead to Sheffield Park in the autumn of this year."