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
Operation
Owner	Network Rail
Operator(s)	Southeastern Thameslink
Technical
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Maidstone Line
Legend
miles-chains from London Victoria Chatham Main Line to London Swanley Swanley Junction Chatham Main Line to Faversham 18-60 Eynsford Tunnel ( 828 yd 757 m ) 19-39 Lullingstone (never opened) Lullingstone Airfield (never opened) Eynsford Viaduct over River Darent 20-32 Eynsford 22-52 Shoreham 24-06 Otford (Otford Junction 1904–1929) 24-53 South Eastern Main Line to London Otford(1874–1880) Bat & Ball Sevenoaks South Eastern Main Line to Tunbridge Wells 26-79 Kemsing 29-52 Borough Green & Wrotham Offham Siding 34-61 West Malling 35-64 East Malling 37-43 Barming former Preston Hall Tunnels 33 yd (30 m) & 54 yd (49 m) Medway Valley Line River Medway 39-76 Maidstone East Week Street Tunnel ( 98 yd 90 m ) Wheeler Street Tunnel ( 358 yd 327 m ) 42-59 Bearsted High Speed 1 45-02 Hollingbourne 47-36 Harrietsham 49-11 Lenham 53-11 Charing 55-61 Hothfield Halt Ashford West High Speed 1 South Eastern Main Line 59-19 Ashford International Marshlink Line Ashford to Ramsgate Line (via Canterbury West) Ashford Steam Centre High Speed 1 South Eastern Main Line

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 Bedford via London Blackfriars, which are run as a joint service with Thameslink.

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

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)
3. 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

• 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