6th April 1873
Jersey Eastern Railway Company is registered
The Jersey Eastern Railway Company was registered on 6 April 1873 and immediately began construction of the line between St Helier and St Catherine’s. The first part opened exactly one year later, which is remarkable by modern standards. However, the section linking Gorey at St Catherine’s was never completed, and neither was the connection across St Helier. The capital therefore had two termini, and passengers had to change trains if journeying from one side of Jersey to the other.
No line was ever constructed along the north coast or up the middle of the island. Following the closure of Jersey’s two railways and the railway on Guernsey, Alderney now has the Channel Islands’ only working line.
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Other events that occured in April
Jersey votes to retain the death penalty
- The States of Jersey votes 22 to 28 in favour of retaining the death penalty when it debated the matter in April 1972.
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The Durrells debuts on ITV
- ITV serialised the stories of Gerald Durrell's childhood in Corfu in The Durrells, which debuted in April 2016.
- Read more…
A crane falls into St Helier Harbour
- A 25-year-old crane operator drowned when his crane fell from Victoria Pier into St Helier harbour.
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Condor’s first crossing between the mainland and Channel Islands
- Condor Ferries first service between the mainland and the Channel Islands set off from Weymouth with Captain Martin Dumont on the bridge.
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