THE historic Volk’s Railway is open for business over the half term school holiday.

Delays in ongoing work to restore the world’s oldest operating electric railway in Brighton meant it could not open as usual at Easter.

This was due to the discovery of an old but still live underground gas pipe on the seafront route.

However, enough restoration work has been done to allow the railway to run a service until October 29 and over the weekend of the annual veteran car run in November.

Plans also include a Santa Express service at weekends in December.

Visitors to Volk’s over the next two weeks will have the first opportunity to see its new Aquarium station and visitor centre.

Entry will be free and it features interactive exhibits to bring to life the story of inventor Magnus Volk and his pioneering railway.

The centre has been designed by Hove practice ABIR architects.

It replaced a timber framed tram shed which a council surveyor ruled as not “economically viable to repair” because of defects in steel and concrete caused by extensive corrosion as well as traces of wet rot.

Work to create a conservation workshop at the site of the former train sheds will continue over the autumn.

Once complete, the workshop will provide training space for volunteers as well as allowing visitors to view ongoing restoration work.

The three original carriages are being restored by specialist Alan Keef.

All the elements of the project are expected to be finished towards the end of the year so a full service is operational from next Easter.

The £1.65 million project has been covered through contributions from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Brighton and Hove City Council and Volk’s Electrical Railway Association.

City council tourism lead Alan Robins said: “It’s brilliant to see the Volk’s being able to extend its opening times and range of activities thanks to the new visitor centre and facilities.

“The railway is one of the city’s oldest treasures and the funding injection it’s had means more residents and visitors will enjoy these seaside journeys for many more years to come.”