Newsreader Nicholas Owen kicked off a historic New Year’s Day celebration in Brighton today by blowing the ceremonial whistle at Volk’s Electric Railway. The event marked the 200th anniversary of railways with a synchronised “horn salute” across UK heritage railways.
Volk’s Electric Railway, the world’s oldest operating electric railway, joined the nationwide tribute at midday, its horns echoing across the seafront. Brighton & Hove City Council described the salute as a nod to an old steam-era tradition.
Although the railway is closed for winter, the celebration drew people to Madeira Drive in the middle of a storm to honor its legacy. The railway, which celebrated its 140th anniversary in 2023 and was named Railway of the Year in 2024, will reopen at Easter.
