Long formations on Southern Coastway

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Today, according to RealTime Trains, all Seaford services are 7 or 8 carriages vice 3, and all Brighton Ore (running just to Bexhill today) are 8 coaches vice 4. There are 6 carriage formations running around on Brighton Chichester via Littlehampton.

Most bizarrely - if indeed correct - there’s apparently a TWELVE carriage formation of 4 377/3s on tonight’s 1958 Brighton to Chichester via Littlehampton all stations service.

Realtime Trains | 1958 Brighton to Chichester | 01/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 1958 departure from Brighton to Chichester on 01/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

What’s going on? Something big in Brighton?

 

[JonathanH]

Brighton played Leeds this afternoon at the stadium in Falmer.

 

[E B]

Today, according to RealTime Trains, all Seaford services are 7 or 8 carriages vice 3, and all Brighton Ore (running just to Bexhill today) are 8 coaches vice 4. There are 6 carriage formations running around on Brighton Chichester via Littlehampton.

Most bizarrely - if indeed correct - there’s apparently a TWELVE carriage formation of 4 377/3s on tonight’s 1958 Brighton to Chichester via Littlehampton all stations service.

Realtime Trains | 1958 Brighton to Chichester | 01/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 1958 departure from Brighton to Chichester on 01/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

What’s going on? Something big in Brighton?

Brighton played against Leeds in the Premier League today, could be why?

EDIT - @JonathanH beat me to it.

 

[JonathanH]

Most bizarrely - if indeed correct - there’s apparently a TWELVE carriage formation of 4 377/3s on tonight’s 1958 Brighton to Chichester via Littlehampton all stations service.

Looks like a positioning move. The rear six come off at Littlehampton and go to the sidings. Need to everything back in the right place.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Ahh I see, thanks.

 

[JonathanH]

Looking at RTT, it looks like the 1958 was being used to reposition to units which formed the additional Brighton to Lewes shuttles earlier in the day.

The additional 6-cars worked from one side of Brighton to the other via Preston Park and Hove immediately before coupling to the usual 6-car train - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:X30587/2025-11-01/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[NSE]

Today, according to RealTime Trains, all Seaford services are 7 or 8 carriages vice 3, and all Brighton Ore (running just to Bexhill today) are 8 coaches vice 4. There are 6 carriage formations running around on Brighton Chichester via Littlehampton.

Most bizarrely - if indeed correct - there’s apparently a TWELVE carriage formation of 4 377/3s on tonight’s 1958 Brighton to Chichester via Littlehampton all stations service.

Realtime Trains | 1958 Brighton to Chichester | 01/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 1958 departure from Brighton to Chichester on 01/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

What’s going on? Something big in Brighton?

The blockade at Bo Peep tunnel means London - Bexhill services return from
Bexhill as Brightons. The interworking means 8 carriages are being used for the Brighton services in order to be 8 for the London run. Plus today was a football day as mentioned.

 

[stadler]

Today, according to RealTime Trains, all Seaford services are 7 or 8 carriages vice 3, and all Brighton Ore (running just to Bexhill today) are 8 coaches vice 4. There are 6 carriage formations running around on Brighton Chichester via Littlehampton.

Most bizarrely - if indeed correct - there’s apparently a TWELVE carriage formation of 4 377/3s on tonight’s 1958 Brighton to Chichester via Littlehampton all stations service.

Realtime Trains | 1958 Brighton to Chichester | 01/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 1958 departure from Brighton to Chichester on 01/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

What’s going on? Something big in Brighton?

That formation of a twelve coach 377/3+377/3+/377/3+377/3 on a Brighton to West Coastway or a West Coastway to Brighton service has happened at least three times in the past couple of months. It seems to be a popular way of moving units along the coast to and from stabling sidings whenever extra carriages for football are needed. Certainly a lot of short platforms on that service.

 

[Fincra5]

Today, according to RealTime Trains, all Seaford services are 7 or 8 carriages vice 3, and all Brighton Ore (running just to Bexhill today) are 8 coaches vice 4. There are 6 carriage formations running around on Brighton Chichester via Littlehampton.

Most bizarrely - if indeed correct - there’s apparently a TWELVE carriage formation of 4 377/3s on tonight’s 1958 Brighton to Chichester via Littlehampton all stations service.

Realtime Trains | 1958 Brighton to Chichester | 01/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 1958 departure from Brighton to Chichester on 01/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

What’s going on? Something big in Brighton?

Usually, when Brighton & Hove Albion play at home the East Coastway (and sometimes West Coastway) services are extended to accommodate the 30000+ people who go to the Amex Stadium at Falmer.