Alton Line
| Alton Line | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Type | Branch line, Heavy rail |
| System | National Rail |
| Status | Operational |
| Locale | South East England |
| Stations | 6 |
| Services | rail connection from South Western Main Line to Mid Hants Watercress Railway |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1852 |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Operator(s) | South West Trains |
| Depot(s) | Farnham Traincare Depot |
| Rolling stock |
Class 450 Class 444 |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Operating speed | 60-75mph (non-commuter services). |
The Alton Line is an English railway line operated by South West Trains as a relatively long branch of the South Western Main Line.
Alton station serves the town of Alton, a terminus of the regular timetabled network and the railhead of the heritage Watercress Line. From 1901 until 1933 the terminus was the railhead or junction of three (inter-main line) connector lines. The branch leaves the main line at Pirbright Junction near Brookwood, Surrey and was electrified (750 V DC third rail) during the late interwar years by Southern Railway. The line alternates between Surrey and Hampshire, terminating toward the centre of north-east Hampshire.
Aside from regular electric trains, freight trains operated by EWS; and steam trains connected to the Mid Hants Watercress Railway by way of rolling stock supply or special excursion, operate on the line.
The line from Farnham to Alton opened on 28 July 1852. On 2 October 1865 the Alton, Aldershot & Winchester Railway opened between those places; Alton station moved to a new site. A section of the 1865 western continuation between Alton and Alresford is the Watercress heritage railway, which ceased its regular hours timetable by British Rail in 1973 and keeps a dedicated platform at Alton station. On 2 May 1870 the much more direct connection from Farnham to the main line as operated at present opened. Alton became a junction station on 1 June 1901 when the Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway opened, temporarily closing 1917-1924 as the track was taken up for use in France during the First World War but re-opening with local pressure. Use was light and the line closed in 1933. On 1 June 1903 the Meon Valley Railway opened from Alton to Fareham on the south coast. This line closed to passengers in 1955.
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Wikipedia