Maidstone Line

Maidstone Line
The Maidstone Line, shown with other railway lines in Kent.
Overview
Type	Suburban rail, Heavy rail
System	National Rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Kent South East England
Operation
Owner	Network Rail
Operator(s)	Southeastern Thameslink
Technical
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Maidstone East Line
Legend
Swanley to Ashford  Chatham Main Line to London Victoria Swanley Swanley Junction Chatham Main Line to Dover and Ramsgate 18m 60ch Eynsford Tunnel (828 yards) 19m 39ch Lullingstone(never opened) Lullingstone Airfield(never opened) Eynsford Viaduct over River Darent 20m 32ch Eynsford 22m 52ch Shoreham 24m 06ch Otford (Otford Junction 1904–1929) 24m 53ch South Eastern Main Line to London Otford(1874–1880) Bat & Ball Sevenoaks South Eastern Main Line to Tunbridge Wells 26m 79ch Kemsing 29m 52ch Borough Green & Wrotham Offham Siding 34m 61ch West Malling 35m 64ch East Malling 37m 43ch Barming former Preston Hall Tunnels (33 & 54 yds) Medway Valley Line River Medway 39m 76ch Maidstone East Week Street Tunnel (98 yds) Wheeler Street Tunnel (358 yds) 42m 59ch Bearsted File:BSicon lCONTgg.svg High Speed 1 45m 02ch Hollingbourne 47m 36ch Harrietsham 49m 11ch Lenham 53m 11ch Charing 55m 61ch Hothfield Halt Ashford West x20px High Speed 1 File:BSicon BRIDGE-Rg.svg File:BSicon BRIDGE-Lg.svg South Eastern Main Line 59m 19ch Ashford International Marshlink Line Ashford to Ramsgate Line (via Canterbury West) x20px Ashford Steam Centre High Speed 1 South Eastern Main Line

The Maidstone Line diverges from the Chatham Main Line at Swanley Junction and proceeds down the Darenth valley to Otford junction (where the Bat & Ball line divides towards Sevenoaks). It continues via Borough Green & Wrotham and Maidstone East to Ashford, where it joins the South Eastern Main Line.

History

The line was built by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway from their first line (the Chatham Main Line). Upon the creation of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway the original Ashford terminus was closed in 1899 and services diverted to the South Eastern Railway's Ashford station. The line was electrified in 1939 (750 V DC third rail) to Maidstone East by the Southern Railway prior to World War Two. Electrification between Maidstone East and Ashford was completed in 1961 under the BR 1955 Modernisation Plan.

Infrastructure

Traction current is supplied at 750 volts DC via the Third Rail. The supply for this is overseen by Paddock Wood Electrical Control Room. Signalling is Track Circuit Block with multiple aspect colour light signals throughout, controlled by Ashford IECC. The line is double track throughout.

Services

Services on the line are run by Southeastern. Services run to London Victoria and Ashford, with some peak services to Bedford via London Blackfriars, which are run as a joint service with First Capital Connect.

Due to its route between the two main lines through Kent (the South Eastern Main Line and the Chatham Main Line), the line has comparatively infrequent services and longer journey times.