| Redhill to Tonbridge Line | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Type | Suburban rail, Heavy rail |
| System | National Rail |
| Status | Operational |
| Locale | Kent Surrey South East England |
| Operation | |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Operator(s) | Southern |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | {{#switch:sg
|3mm=3 mm (0.118 in) |4mm=4 mm (0.157 in) |4.5mm=4.5 mm (0.177 in) |4.8mm=4.8 mm (0.189 in) |6.5mm=6.5 mm (0.256 in) |6.53mm=6.53 mm (0.257 in) |8mm=8 mm (0.315 in) |8.97mm=8.97 mm (0.353 in) |9mm=9 mm (0.354 in) |9.42mm=9.42 mm (0.371 in) |10.5mm=10.5 mm (0.413 in) |11.94mm=11.94 mm (0.470 in) |12mm=12 mm (0.472 in) |12.7mm=12.7 mm (0.5 in) |13mm=13 mm (0.512 in) |13.5mm=13.5 mm (0.531 in) |14mm=14 mm (0.551 in) |14.125mm=14.125 mm (0.556 in) |14.2mm=14.2 mm (0.559 in) |14.28mm=14.28 mm (0.562 in) |14.3mm=14.3 mm (0.563 in)|15.76mm=15.76 mm (0.620 in) |
Template:Redhill to Tonbridge Line
Looking east towards the Bletchingley Tunnel
The Redhill to Tonbridge Line is a railway line running from Redhill, Surrey to Tonbridge, Kent in southeast England. It branches off the Brighton Main Line at Redhill station and, after 20 miles, joins the South Eastern Main Line at Tonbridge station.[1]
History[]
It was originally part of the South Eastern Railway having been sanctioned by Act of Parliament in 1836 as part of the first rail route from London to Dover. This may explain its remarkably straight route: serving the settlements en route was a secondary consideration. Following the completion of new South Eastern Main Line in 1868, along which services run a more direct route between London and Tonbridge, the Redhill-Tonbridge line's function as the trunk route between London and Dover was transferred to the new line.
Aircraft coming into London's Croydon Airport in the early part of the 20th Century used this line as a point of navigation. All the stations along this route had their names written in bold white paint on the roofs.
It starts with an initial curve just outside Redhill where it passes over the Quarry Line which is in Redhill tunnel (649 yards). The Bletchingley Tunnel (Template:Gbmapping), about a mile southeast of Bletchingley is about ½ mile long. At Template:Gbmapping the "Crowhurst Spur"[2] connected with the East Grinstead branch of the Oxted Line but this was lifted in the early 1970s. Just west of Edenbridge, in a hamlet called Troy Town it crosses, but does not connect with, the Uckfield branch of the Oxted Line.[3]
The line was electrified (750 V DC third rail) in 1993 and services started to run through to London rather than being an extension of the Reading to Redhill North Downs Line service.
Stations and services on the line are operated by Southern using Class 377 units. They provide an hourly service from Tonbridge to London Bridge via East Croydon.[4]
Accidents[]
- In 1846, a bridge over the River Medway collapsed in a flood. The driver of a train was killed when he tried to jump clear of the train.[5]
Gallery[]
External links[]
References[]
- ↑ Rail Maps - National Rail. Retrieved on 7 March 2009.
- ↑ Southern E-Group article on the Crowhurst Spur
- ↑ Collins Road Atlas Britain 2008 (Paperback) ISBN 0-00-725047-9
- ↑ Redhill, Tonbridge and Oxted services timetables - Southern railway. Retrieved on 7 March 2009.
- ↑ Impact of scour and flood risk on railway structures. Rail Safety and Standards Board. Retrieved on 18 May 2010. [dead link]
