Sutton Loop Line

Sutton Loop Line
Sutton platform 2 looking towards West junction with the St Helier Line
Overview
Type Heavy rail
System National Rail
Status Operational
Locale Greater London
South of England
Termini Streatham
Sutton
Stations 14
Services 2
Operation
Owner Network Rail
Operator(s) Thameslink
Southern
Depot(s) Bedford Cauldwell for Thameslink
Selhurst for Southern
Rolling stock Class 377 "Electrostar"
Class 455
Class 700 "Desiro City"
Technical
Number of tracks 2
1 bi-directional line at Wimbledon
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Operating speed Maximum 60 mph [1]

Sutton Loop Line
Portsmouth line
to Tulse Hill
 Streatham
to
London Bridge &
London Victoria
Brighton main line
St Helier Line
Streatham South Jn
Tooting
Eastfields LC
Haydons Road
Mitcham Eastfields
Wimbledon London Underground Tramlink
Mitcham Junction Tramlink
Wimbledon Chase
Hackbridge
South Merton
Carshalton
Morden South
Wallington line
to West Croydon
St Helier
Sutton
Sutton Common
Epsom Downs Line
West Sutton
Portsmouth line
to Epsom

The Sutton Loop Line,[1] also known as the Wimbledon Loop,[2] is part of Thameslink and is the circular route formed where the St Helier line[1] diverges from the Portsmouth Line[1] at Streatham South junction and rejoins it near Sutton station. Trains leave southwards from Streatham to enter the loop and then return going northwards. The short section between West Sutton station and West junction is known as the "Wall of Death",[3] possibly due to the very steep concrete walls to the cutting on both sides and the sharpness of the curve which resemble the motorcycle ride at a funfair.

Stations

In a clockwise direction round the loop, the stations are:

Infrastructure

Traction current is supplied at 750 volts DC via the Third Rail. The supply for this is overseen by Selhurst Electrical Control Room.[1] Signalling is Track Circuit Block with multiple aspect colour light signals, controlled by Victoria Southern Power Signal Box.[1] The line is double track throughout, except where a short bi-directionally signalled single line section passes through Wimbledon station platform 9. Originally the Down St Helier Line used platform 10 at Wimbledon, but this is now used for the Croydon Tramlink terminus which currently comprises a single platform at the southern end, split into two sections so two trams can be held at the same time.[4]

History

Services

Thameslink runs services from Luton and St Albans, via Blackfriars round the loop. Clockwise services are described as "Sutton via Mitcham Junction" and anti-clockwise as "Sutton via Wimbledon". Additionally during service disruption or when the core section of the Thameslink route is closed, Thameslink Sutton Loop services start and end at London Bridge 'low level' station (i.e. in the terminating platforms, 10-15).

Recent proposals were to increase the frequency of the Thameslink service by terminating at Blackfriars. This would allow the trains through the core section to be replaced with longer trains which could not use the loop, but this has not proceeded due to objections from loop passengers about the withdrawal of their through service.

Southern

Southern runs a peak service round the loop (anti-clockwise in the morning peak, clockwise in the evening peak) from London Bridge.

Regularly, Southern operates services from London Victoria towards Epsom, Dorking and Horsham, stopping at all stations between Mitcham Eastfields and Sutton, with the exception of services to Dorking and Horsham, in which these services only call at Carshalton.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Network Rail (Apr 2001). Southern Appendix. Module SO. p. 1/272. A0260A03. Retrieved 2012-01-12
  2. ↑ "Department of Transport press release". "Government safeguards future of the Wimbledon Loop". "UK government".
  3. ↑ Quail Map 5 - England South & London Underground [page 22] September 2002 (Retrieved 2012-01-12)
  4. ↑ https://www.tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/wimbledon-to-croydon-tram-link
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