Hampton Court Branch Line

Hampton Court Branch Line
Overview
Type	Suburban rail, Heavy rail
System	National Rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Greater London Surrey South East England
Stations	2
Operation
Opened	1849
Owner	Network Rail
Operator(s)	South West Trains
Technical
Line length	1.54 miles (2.48 km) (1 mi 51 chains)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC third rail
Operating speed	Sedate

The Hampton Court Branch Line is a short branch line off the South Western Main Line. It has a through station at Thames Ditton and a terminus at Hampton Court, both currently in Transport for London's Zone 6. The line is electrified, using 750 V DC third rail.

The branch was inaugurated 1 February 1849, when Hampton Court railway station was opened. Originally carriages were hauled by horses to Kingston station (later replaced Surbiton) where they were attached to Southampton trains and taken to London.

Train services are currently operated by South West Trains. There is a half-hourly direct service to London Waterloo which calls at all stations on the route except for Queenstown Road (Battersea). A change can be made for the fast tracks at Surbiton.

The line is served by the British Rail Class 455 and British Rail Class 456, normally comprising two four-car units (reduced to one unit at weekends) or one four car 455 and two two car class 456s coupled together (to form 8 cars). Class 450s have also deputised for the usual 455s on occasions.

As part of the proposed Crossrail 2 lines (principally involving a new long underground railway through London), Hampton Court has been proposed by business group London First as the terminus for a potential service to Cheshunt via Central London, opening in the "early 2030s". Additional services may or may not stop at Thames Ditton depending on volume and tourist demand. The proposed services via Victoria and Kings Cross will replace most via Waterloo services.

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Wikipedia