EVERY summer since 1948 the Volk’s Railway has run along our seafront.

It ferries thousands of locals and tourists alike each year.

Read any Brighton guide book and it always appears as one of the top things to do.

It certainly doesn’t close down lightly.

It took Hitler’s planned invasion of these isles for it to close last time round between 1940 and 1948.

But now, after workers came across an underground gas pipe, it will be shut until at least the autumn.

It is a huge blow to the city and particularly to the businesses along Madeira Drive.

They have suffered greatly over the last few years given the terrible state of the seafront arches.

Some have been forced to close because of the condition of the arches, others are struggling to stay open because of the impact on business.

This is yet another blow.

It had been hoped the railway could re-open in late spring but it is now expected trains will not start running until the autumn.

Many forget the Volk’s is not just a tourist attraction.

Many use it as a means of transport to travel east and west along the seafront.

Russell Haynes, managing director of Concorde 2, is one of those who has suffered most as a result of the problems along the crumbling seafront.

In today’s Argus he has called for a subsidised bus to run along Madeira Drive.

Something certainly needs to be done.

Not only to soften the impact for businesses along Madeira Drive but also to provide an alternative means of transport.