Ashford to Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) Line

Ashford to Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) line

The Ashford to Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) Line,
shown with other railway lines in Kent.
Overview
Type Heavy rail
System National Rail
Status Operational
Locale Kent,
South East England
Stations 11
Operation
Owner Network Rail
Operator(s) Southeastern
Rolling stock Class 375 "Electrostar"
Technical
No. of tracks 2
Track gauge Standard gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in)
Ashford to Margate (via Canterbury West) Line
Legend
Chatham Main Line
Ramsgate Branch
Margate
SER Margate Sands
Margate East
Broadstairs
Ramsgate Harbour Tunnel
Ramsgate Harbour LCDR
Dumpton Park
SER Ramsgate Town
Ramsgate Depot
Ramsgate
St Lawrence for Pegwell Bay
Ebbsfleet and Cliffsend Halt
To Dover
Kent Coast Line
Minster
Grove Ferry and Upstreet
Chislet Colliery Halt
Canterbury &
Sturry
Whitstable Railway
Canterbury North Lane
Canterbury West
Curve closed 1953
Chatham Main Line
Dover Branch
Elham Valley Line
A2
Chartham
South Eastern Main Line
Chilham
Depot
Wye
High Speed 1
M20
Marshlink Line from Hastings
Depot
Ashford International
to Swanley
High Speed 1
to London, St Pancras international
Depot
South Eastern Main Line

The Ashford to Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) line is the railway that runs from Ashford to Ramsgate via Canterbury West. The same termini can be reached by the Kent Coast Line

The line is electrified (750v DC third rail).

Services

Services are operated by Southeastern.

Typical service is hourly from Charing Cross to Ashford, dividing there into a part to Ramsgate via Canterbury West, and a part via the Kent Coast Line.

History

The line was built by South Eastern Railway (SER) as a branch from its mainline. Their rival London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR) had already built to Canterbury and Ramsgate.

Upon the merging of the SER and LCDR into the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR) the track layout and stations were rationalised at Ashford and on Thanet. In Thanet the SER branch to Margate Sands was closed.

The line was electrified in 1961 under the BR 1955 Modernisation Plan.