Closure planned for bizarre UK railway station that hasn’t had a passenger in 14 years

A train service — that always leaves on time and stops at eight stations — will be axed after 14 years because it always runs empty.

A forgotten rail service is to be axed – after failing to pick up a single passenger for 14 years.

Authorities in Britain have announced plans to close the station where a “ghost train” starts its daily 45-minute run.

They have launched a three-month public consultation exercise, even though the building and platforms were demolished nearly three years ago.

Commuters have branded the move a “farce” and demanded to know why time and money was being wasted, reported The Sun.

Newhaven Marine station, in East Sussex on the southern English coast, is still legally open, even though it has been closed to passengers since 2006 over safety concerns.

Every weekday, a gleaming train pulls out of the seaside halt on time, stopping at seven other stations on its way to the seaside city of Brighton.

Fares for the 32km journey have been advertised, but it is not possible to buy tickets or board the train.

The eerie Newhaven Marine station in southern England has a train service but hasn't had a passenger in 14 years. It has since been demolished, yet the trains still call. Picture: AlexNevinTylee

A UK Southern Railway train similar to the ones that still serve Newhaven Marine station despite it being knocked down. Picture: iStock

The bizarre service was kept running to fulfil the legal obligations of an “open” station.

It ran like clockwork at 8.15pm on weekdays as the station building crumbled, its canopy collapsed and the platforms were overgrown with weeds.

Newhaven Marine station used to serve a ferry terminal allowing train passengers to connect with boats that sailed across the English Channel to France.

However, the opening of the Channel Tunnel reduced demand for the ferries.

The UK rail infrastructure provider Network Rail carried out a cost assessment and decided fixing the site would be poor value for money – so the station was demolished in May 2017.

Despite that small detail, the train still ran to the vanished station every day.

Ministers are now seeking feedback on proposals to close the station and use the track as a siding for berthing trains.

Cash saved would be spent on improving other rail services and supporting regeneration for the area.

The station was built at the English Channel town to serve the port of Newhaven harbour. Picture: iStock

Newhaven Harbour railway station, which will remain open, is just a minute’s walk from the ‘ghost station’ nearby.

But former transport minister Norman Baker said: “What a farce. This station was demolished years ago. Has the Department for Transport only just noticed?

“If we all reply to the consultation to say we want the station to stay, are they going to rebuild it?” he quipped: “I suppose they could always leave it as it is and rename it Newhaven Rubble.”

Network Rail said: “The process is under way permanently to close the station, and we have been looking at other uses for the site.”

“The long-term aspiration is for the site to be used as a freight facility, and this process is under way. We did not want to formally close the station until an alternative railway use could be found.”

A UK Transport Department spokesman explained: “While the station is not in use, it cannot be closed until the statutory process, as set out in the Railways Act 2005, is completed.”

The UK’s least-used station with actual platforms and trains you can board is in Cheshire, close to Liverpool.

Last year, only 46 people got on or off at Stanlow and Thornton station. It is situated in an industrial area, on a private road with no access to cars and so passengers must walk 15 minutes to the nearest house.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission