Caterham Line


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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.

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 (am and also 1 pm) or divide (mostly pm but also some am) 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, Class 456 and Class 377 EMUs.