Caterham Line

Caterham Line
Overview
Type Commuter rail, Suburban rail
System National Rail
Status Operational
Locale Greater London
Surrey
Termini London Bridge
London Victoria
Caterham
Stations Kenley, Whyteleafe, Whyteleafe South & Caterham
Ridership 2006-07 = 1.657 million Increase
2007-08 = 1.843 million Increase
2008-09 = 1.808 million Decrease
2009-10 = 1.799 million Decrease
2010-11 = 1.857 million Increase
2011-12 = 1.936 million Increase
Operation
Opened 5 August 1856
Owner Network Rail
Operator(s) Southern
Rolling stock Class 377 "Electrostar"
Class 455
Technical
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) standard gauge
Caterham Line
Legend
0m 00ch London Bridge London Underground
London Victoria London Underground
Purley North Junction
15m 13ch Purley
15m 23ch Chipstead Line Junction
Tattenham Corner Line
Brighton Main Line
16m 29ch Kenley
17m 58ch Whyteleafe
18m 18ch Whyteleafe South
?m ?c Halliloo Platform private station 1856-1899
19m 70ch Caterham
A 1905 Railway Clearing House map of the Caterham Line and surrounding lines.

The Caterham Line runs between Purley in South London and Caterham in Surrey. The line operates as a commuter service to London.

History

The Caterham branch was opened as the Caterham Railway on 5 August 1856, from a junction with the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR). The opening had been delayed because of a quarrel between the LB&SCR and the South Eastern Railway (SER), in whose territory the line was deemed to be. When the Caterham Railway went bankrupt in 1859, the SER took it over.

A 4 EPB on the Southern Region standing at Caterham railway station in 1984.

Infrastructure

The line is double-track and electrified at 750 V DC using third rail. Immediately south of the junction station at Purley the Tattenham Corner Line leaves, and the railway follows the valley opposite Riddlesdown and the Oxted Line, which it parallels almost to Caterham. The branch has a line speed of 60 mph.

Services

Train services on the line are operated by Southern, and run to London Bridge and London Victoria. During peak hours trains to London are faster, but combine (morning and also three afternoon workings) or divide (mostly evenings but also some morning services) at Purley, the other section being for the Tattenham Corner Line.

A typical off peak service from London Bridge calls at New Cross Gate, Brockley, Honor Oak Park, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Norwood Junction, East Croydon, South Croydon, Purley Oaks, Purley, Kenley, Whyteleafe, Whyteleafe South and Caterham.

Services are provided by a mixture of Class 455 and Class 377 EMUs.

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Further reading

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 7/26/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.