Maidstone line

Maidstone line
	The Maidstone line, shown with other railway lines in Kent
Overview
Type	Suburban rail, Heavy rail
System	National Rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Kent; South East England
Termini	Swanley; Ashford international; Sevenoaks
Operation
Owner	Network Rail
Operator(s)	Southeastern; Thameslink
Rolling stock	Class 375 "Electrostar"; Class 465 "Networker"; Class 466 "Networker"; Class 700 "Desiro City"
Technical
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC third rail
Route map
	miles-chains from London Victoria
	Chatham Main Line
	to London
	Chatham Main Line
	to Faversham
	828 yd
	757 m
	Lullingstone
	(never opened)
	Lullingstone Airfield
	(never opened)
	Eynsford Viaduct
	over River Darent
	Otford
	(Otford Junction 1904–1929)
	South Eastern Main Line
	to London
	South Eastern Main Line
	to Tunbridge Wells
	former Preston Hall Tunnels
	33 yd (30 m) & 54 yd (49 m)
	98 yd
	90 m
	358 yd
	327 m
	Ashford to Ramsgate Line
	(via Canterbury West)

The Maidstone line is a railway line in Kent, England.^[1]^[2] It diverges from the Chatham main line at Swanley Junction and proceeds down the Darenth valley to Otford junction^[3] (where the Bat & Ball line^[3] divides towards Sevenoaks). It continues via Borough Green & Wrotham and Maidstone East to Ashford, where it joins the South Eastern Main Line.^[4]

History

The line was built by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway from their first line (the Chatham main line). Upon the creation of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway the original Ashford terminus was closed in 1899 and services diverted to the South Eastern Railway's Ashford station. The line was electrified in 1939 (750 V DC third rail) to Maidstone East by the Southern Railway prior to World War Two. Electrification between Maidstone East and Ashford was completed in 1961 under the BR 1955 Modernisation Plan.

Infrastructure

Traction current is supplied at 750 volts DC via the Third Rail. The supply for this is overseen by Paddock Wood Electrical Control Room.^[3] Signalling is Track Circuit Block with multiple aspect colour light signals throughout, controlled by Ashford IECC.^[3] The line is double track throughout.

Services

Services on the line are run by Southeastern. Services run to London Victoria and Ashford, or Canterbury West with some peak services to London Blackfriars.

Due to its route between the two main lines through Kent (the South Eastern Main Line and the Chatham main line), the line has comparatively infrequent services and longer journey times.

References

↑ Network Rail (Apr 2001). Southern Appendix. Module SO. p. 1/12. A0260A03. Retrieved 2012-01-12
↑ Quail Map 5 - England South & London Underground [pages 6,7 & 11A ] February 1998 (Retrieved 2012-01-12)
1 2 3 4 Network Rail (Apr 2001). Southern Appendix. Module SO. p. 1/64. A0260A03. Retrieved 2012-01-12
↑ Network Rail (Apr 2001). Southern Appendix. Module SO. p. 1/54. A0260A03. Retrieved 2012-01-12

Yonge, John (October 1994). Gerald Jacobs, ed. Railway Track Diagrams – Volume 5 England, South and London Underground (1st ed.). Exeter: Quail Map Co. ISBN 1-8983-1907-3.

Coordinates: 51°16′40″N 0°31′22″E / 51.2778°N 0.5228°E / 51.2778; 0.5228

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] Network Rail (Apr 2001). Southern Appendix. Module SO. p. 1/12. A0260A03. Retrieved 2012-01-12

[2] Quail Map 5 - England South & London Underground [pages 6,7 & 11A ] February 1998 (Retrieved 2012-01-12)

[NRSA1-3] 1 2 3 4 Network Rail (Apr 2001). Southern Appendix. Module SO. p. 1/64. A0260A03. Retrieved 2012-01-12

[4] Network Rail (Apr 2001). Southern Appendix. Module SO. p. 1/54. A0260A03. Retrieved 2012-01-12