- Dartford Loop Line
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Dartford Loop Line Overview Type Commuter rail, Suburban rail System National Rail Status Operational Locale Greater London Termini Charing Cross Operation Owner Network Rail Operator(s) Southeastern Rolling stock British Rail Class 376
British Rail Class 465
British Rail Class 466Technical No. of tracks 2 Track gauge Standard gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Electrification 750 DC third rail Dartford Loop Line LegendThe Dartford Loop Line (often referred to as the Sidcup Line) is one of three lines linking London with Dartford in Kent, England. It lies to the south of the other two: the North Kent Line and the Bexleyheath Line.
Contents
History
Construction
It was opened by the South Eastern Railway on 1 September 1866: because there are no major engineering works on the route it took a mere four years to build.
Electrification
The line was electrified with the other SECR local routes to Dartford on 6 June 1926 by Southern Railway.
Stations
The line is a little over 14 km (8.7 mi) in length. The following are the stations served:
- Hither Green - the station lies on the main line from London to Kent: there are separate platforms for the Loop Line
- here there is a triangular junction for freight traffic going to the extensive Hither Green freight sidings
- Lee
- Mottingham - named Eltham until 1927
- New Eltham - built in 1878 to serve a growing suburban area; originally named Pope Street
- Sidcup
- Albany Park - opened 7 July 1935 to serve a new housing development
- Bexley (the scene of the Bexley derailment)
- Crayford
- here there is a triangular junction with the North Kent Line providing access to the Slade Green carriage sidings and to Dartford.
Future plans
The line was due to be served by Thameslink trains following the completion of the first phase of the Thameslink Programme, however plans have since seen these services added to the North Kent Line instead.
Service patterns
Off-peak & Saturday:
- 2tph between London Charing Cross & Gravesend (not calling at Lewisham, St Johns & New Cross)
- 2tph between London Cannon Street & Crayford, continuing to London Cannon Street via North Kent Line & Greenwich Line (calling at Lewisham, New Cross & St Johns)
Evenings & Sunday:
- 2tph between London Charing Cross & Gravesend (calling at New Cross on Monday - Saturday evenings only, not calling at St Johns & New Cross on Sunday's)
See also
External links
- The Dartford Loop Railway (Bexley Council Local Studies Note)
Railway lines in London Primary Secondary Bexleyheath Line · Brighton Main Line · Caterham Line · Chatham Main Line · Chiltern Main Line · Crossrail (under construction) · Dartford Loop Line · Hertford Loop Line · Lea Valley Lines · London to Aylesbury Line · London, Tilbury and Southend Line · North Kent Line · Oxted Line · Shepperton Branch Line · South Eastern Main Line · South Western Main Line · Sutton & Mole Valley Lines · Tattenham Corner Line · Thameslink · Watford DC Line · Waterloo to Reading Line · West Anglia Main LineLocal Bromley North Line · Catford Loop Line · Chessington Branch Line · Chingford Branch Line · Dudding Hill Line · East London Line · Epsom Downs Branch · Gospel Oak to Barking Line · Greenford Branch Line · Greenwich Line · Nunhead to Lewisham Link · Hayes Line · Hounslow Loop Line · Kingston Loop Line · Mid-Kent Line · New North Main Line · North London Line · Northern City Line · Romford to Upminster Line · South London Line · West London LineDisused Addiscombe Line · City Widened Lines · North London Line (City Branch) · Crystal Palace High Level Branch Line · Palace Gates Line · Staines & West Drayton Line · Uxbridge (Vine Street) Branch Line · West Croydon to Wimbledon Line · Woodside & Sanderstead LineCategories:- Transport in Bexley
- Transport in Dartford
- Transport in Greenwich
- Rail transport in Kent
- Transport in Lewisham
- Railway lines in London
- Railway lines opened in 1866
- Railway branch lines
- Standard gauge railways in England
- Hither Green - the station lies on the main line from London to Kent: there are separate platforms for the Loop Line
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