Hampton Court Branch Line

Hampton Court Branch Line
Legend
0 mi 00 ch 0.00 km London Waterloo South Western Main Line Surbiton New Guildford Line to Guildford South Western Main Line to Weymouth 14 mi 01 ch 22.55 km Thames Ditton River Mole 14 mi 78 ch 24.10 km Hampton Court

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.

History

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.

Services

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.

Rolling stock

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.

Future

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.^[1]

See also

• South Western Main Line

References

Further reading

• Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. 

External links

• Ordnance Survey

Railway lines in the South East
Primary	International High Speed 1 (Ashford • Ebbsfleet) National Great Western Main Line (Slough • Maidenhead • Reading • Didcot Parkway) West Coast Main Line (Watford Junction • Milton Keynes Central)
Secondary	Berks/Bucks/Oxon to London Aylesbury Line Chiltern Main Line Waterloo to Reading Line (and in Surrey) Windsor & Eton Riverside Line (and in Surrey) Crossrail (under construction) (and past London to Essex) Kent to London Bexleyheath Line Chatham Main Line Dartford Loop Line Kent Coast Line Maidstone Line Medway Valley Line North Kent Line Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) Line Sheerness Line South Eastern Main Line Tonbridge Line (and in Surrey) Surrey/Sussex/Hants to London Ascot to Guildford Line Alton Line Arun Valley Line Brighton Main Line Caterham Line Fareham Line Hampton Court Branch Line Hastings Line (and in Kent) Chertsey Branch Line Epsom Downs Branch New Guildford Line Oxted Line (and in Kent) Portsmouth Direct Line Shepperton Branch Line South Western Main Line Sutton and Mole Valley Lines Tattenham Corner Line Thameslink (and past London to Beds/Herts) West of England Main Line Others Cherwell Valley Line Cotswold Line Eastleigh to Romsey Line East Coastway Line (inc Marshlink Line) Henley Branch Line Island Line Lymington Branch Line Marlow Branch Line Marston Vale Line North Downs Line Oxford to Bicester Line Princes Risborough to Aylesbury Line Reading to Taunton Line West Coastway Line Wessex Main Line Slough to Windsor & Eton Line Reading to Basingstoke Line Seaford Branch Line
Heritage	Bluebell Railway Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway Cholsey & Wallingford Railway East Kent Railway Isle of Wight Steam Railway Kent and East Sussex Railway Lavender Line Spa Valley Railway Watercress Line
Non-passenger/ Defunct	Hundred of Hoo Railway Oxfordshire Ironstone Railway