London, Tilbury and Southend Railway

London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
Class 357 train between Barking and Upminster
Overview
Type	Commuter rail, heavy rail
System	National Rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Greater London Essex
Termini	London Fenchurch Street Shoeburyness
Stations	26
Operation
Opened	1854
Owner	Network Rail
Operator(s)	c2c
Depot(s)	East Ham Shoeburyness
Rolling stock	Class 357 Class 387
Technical
Line length	39 miles 40 chains (63.6 km) (main line via Basildon)
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	25 kV AC
Operating speed	75 mph (121 km/h)

The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway (LTSR), also known as Essex Thameside, is a commuter railway line on the British railway system which connects Fenchurch Street station in central London with destinations in east London and Essex, including Barking, Upminster, Basildon, Grays, Tilbury, Southend and Shoeburyness.

Its main users are commuters travelling to and from London, particularly the City of London which is served by Fenchurch Street, and areas in east London including the Docklands financial district via London Underground and Docklands Light Railway connections at Limehouse and West Ham. The line is also heavily used by leisure travellers, as it and its branches serve a number of seaside resorts, shopping areas and countryside destinations. Additionally the route provides an artery for freight traffic to and from the port of Tilbury.

The railway was authorised in 1852 and the first section was opened in 1854 by the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway Company, which was a joint venture between the London and Blackwall Railway and the Eastern Counties Railway companies. The route was extended in phases and partnerships were formed with the Midland Railway and District Railway to provide through-services.