Redhill to Tonbridge Line

Redhill–Tonbridge line
Looking east towards the Bletchingley Tunnel
Overview
Type	Suburban rail, Heavy rail
System	National Rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Kent Surrey South East England
Termini	Tonbridge, Kent Redhill, Surrey
Stations	7
Operation
Opened	c. 1836
Owner	Network Rail
Operator(s)	Southern
Rolling stock	Class 377 Electrostar
Technical
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC Third rail

The Redhill–Tonbridge line is a railway line running from Redhill, Surrey to Tonbridge, Kent in southeast England. It branches off the Brighton Main Line at Redhill and, after 20 miles, joins the South Eastern main line at Tonbridge

It was originally part of the South Eastern Railway having been sanctioned by Act of Parliament in 1836 as part of the first rail route from London to Dover. This may explain its remarkably straight route: serving the settlements en route was a secondary consideration. Following the completion of new South Eastern Main Line in 1868, along which services run a more direct route between London and Tonbridge, the Redhill–Tonbridge line's function as the trunk route between London and Dover was transferred to the new line.

Aircraft coming into London's Croydon Airport in the early part of the 20th century used this line as a point of navigation. All the stations along this route had their names written in bold white paint on the roofs.

It starts with an initial curve just outside Redhill where it passes over the Quarry line which is in Redhill tunnel (649 yards). The Bletchingley Tunnel (grid reference TQ340486), about a mile southeast of Bletchingley is about ½ mile long. At grid reference TQ400480 the "Crowhurst Spur" connected with the East Grinstead branch of the Oxted line but this was lifted in the early 1970s. Just west of Edenbridge, in a hamlet called Troy Town it crosses, but does not connect with, the Uckfield branch of the Oxted line.