Bexleyheath Line

The Bexleyheath Line runs for 8 miles (13 km) from lewisham to Dartford in Kent operating between the North Kent Line just to the east of Blackheath station and to the same line south of Slade Green in Dartford.

History
The Bexley Heath Railway led by railway engineer Alfred Bean (owner of Danson House) secured the necessary Act of Parliament to build the line in 1883 but was not until 1 May 1895 that the Bexleyheath Line was finally opened. The company soon went into bankruptcy South Eastern Railway who had refused to build a line to serve the area between the two lines was then forced to take it over.

The line was electrified with the other South Eastern and Chatham Railway local routes to Dartford on 6 June 1926 by Southern Railway.

In 1985 the new Eltham railway station replaced two nearby stations; Well Hall station/Eltham Well Hall station) and Shooters Hill & Eltham Park station/Eltham Park station. The change coincided with the opening of the Rochester Relief Road which forms part of the A2 road.

Service patterns
Off-peak & Saturday:


 * 2tph between London Charing Cross & Dartford (not calling at New Cross)
 * 2tph between London Cannon Street & Barnehurst (calling at New Cross)
 * 2tph between London Victoria & Dartford

From 11 December it is planned that the Barnehurst will continue to Slade Green and return to London Cannon Street.

Evenings & Sunday:


 * 2tph between London Charing Cross & Dartford (calling at New Cross)

Events
The Eltham Well Hall rail crash took place close to at Eltham Well Hall station in 1972 and resulted in 5 deaths and 126 injuries.