Dartford Loop Line
| Dartford Loop Line | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Type | Commuter rail, Suburban rail |
| System | National Rail |
| Status | Operational |
| Locale | Greater London |
| Termini |
Charing Cross Dartford |
| Operation | |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Operator(s) | Southeastern |
| Rolling stock |
British Rail Class 376 British Rail Class 465 British Rail Class 466 |
| Technical | |
| Number of tracks | 2 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Electrification | 750 DC third rail |
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.
In June 1862 the South Eastern Railway obtained powers for a second 10-mile (16 km) line between London and Dartford from a junction with the main line at Hither Green to its existing North Kent line to reduce congestion on the existing line and to give a more direct route between London and Dartford. This was to be routed via the town of Sidcup.
The Dartford Loop Line opened on 1 September 1866. A loop line in railway terminology is a line which leaves the main line and then rejoins. The line initially had only five new stations : Lee, Eltham (now Mottingham), Sidcup, Bexley and Crayford. The station at Hither Green, near Lewisham, where the line deviates from the main line, was built after the opening of the third North Kent route, the Bexleyheath Line in 1895.
Pope Street, now New Eltham station, opened in 1878 between Eltham and Sidcup stations. Hither Green finally opened in 1895 serving both the Dartford Loop Line and the main line via Tonbridge. The final station to open was Albany Park in 1935. The Loop Line originally passed through mainly open country and farm land but it stimulated development around the new stations.
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Wikipedia