The Southend Pier Railway runs the 1.34-mile length of the pier in a small open-sided electric train, leaving every 30 minutes or so from the pier head near the shore to the far end. It is the only working pier railway in the United Kingdom and one of very few in the world. The current rolling stock dates from 1986, replacing the earlier line that had operated almost continuously since 1890.
The trip takes about 10 minutes each way and costs a few pounds (more than the pier walk-on charge, but you can return on foot). Even visitors who could easily walk find the small train hard to resist; in summer it sells out, particularly in the late afternoon.