Volk's Electric Railway

Volk's Electric Railway
The old Aquarium station (subsequently rebuilt)
Overview
OwnerCity of Brighton and Hove
LocaleBrighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Service
Operator(s)City of Brighton and Hove
History
Opened3 August 1883
Technical
Line length1.02 miles (1.64 km) after line shortened in 1990
Track gauge2 ft 8+12 in (825 mm)
Old gauge2 ft (610 mm) (1883–1884)
Electrification110 V DC by inside off-set third rail
Volk's Electric
Railway
Palace Pier
(closed 1930)
Aquarium
Passing loop
Halfway
(on passing loop)
Depots
Passing loop
Black Rock
Black Rock
(closed 1937)

Volk's Electric Railway (VER) is a narrow gauge heritage railway that runs along a length of the seafront of the English seaside resort of Brighton. It was built by Magnus Volk, the first section being completed in August 1883, and is the oldest operational electric railway in the world, though it was not the first electric railway to be built. It was preceded by electrification of Miller's line in 1875, Werner von Siemens' 1879 demonstration line in Berlin and by the Gross-Lichterfelde Tramway of 1881, although none of these remain in operation.

Operated as an historical seafront tourist attraction, the railway does not usually run during the winter months, and its service is also liable to occasional suspension due to severe weather or maintenance issues.