Dartford Loop Line

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 466
Technical
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
Legend South Eastern Main Line Hither Green South Eastern Main Line Lee Mottingham New Eltham Sidcup Albany Park Bexley Crayford North Kent Line & Bexleyheath Line Dartford Dartford Carriage Sidings North Kent Line

The 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 1 History 1.1 Construction 1.2 Electrification 2 Stations 2.1 Future plans 3 Service patterns 4 See also 5 External links

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

• Bexley derailment

External links

• The Dartford Loop Railway (Bexley Council Local Studies Note)

Railway lines in London Primary High Speed 1 East Coast Main Line Great Eastern Main Line Great Western Main Line Midland Main Line West Coast Main Line 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 Line Local 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 Line Disused 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 Line London Transport portal