North Kent Line

Last updated

North Kent Line
466028 Passing Milton Range.jpg
Overview
StatusOperational
Owner Network Rail
Locale Greater London
South East England
Termini
Service
Type Commuter rail, Suburban rail
System National Rail
Operator(s) Southeastern
Thameslink
Depot(s) Slade Green
Grove Park
Gillingham
Rolling stock Class 375 "Electrostar"
Class 376 "Electrostar"
Class 395 "Javelin"
Class 465 "Networker"
Class 466 "Networker"
Class 700 "Desiro City"
Technical
Line length27mi 34ch (44.13 km)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification 750 V DC third rail
Operating speed70 mph (110 km/h)
Route map
North Kent Line.png
(Click to expand)

The North Kent Line [1] [2] is a railway line which branches off the South East Main Line at St Johns junction west of Lewisham station in Greater London and runs to Rochester Bridge Junction near Strood, Medway where it links to the Chatham Main Line.

Contents

The section from Charlton to Dartford is also referred to as the "Woolwich Line" in the context of Southeastern Metro services.

History

Construction

The North Kent Line was the means by which the South Eastern Railway (SER) was able to connect its system to London at London Bridge. In 1846 the SER purchased the Thames and Medway Canal tunnel near Higham and laid railway tracks through it; in 1847 trains were working through from the Strood terminus, on the River Medway to Gravesend. From 30 July 1849 the line was extended, via Blackheath, to a junction with the London and Greenwich Railway at North Kent East Junction, near Deptford, and through trains were now able to operate.

Electrification

The line is electrified (750 V DC third rail). Electrification was initially to Dartford (6 June 1926) and was extended to Gillingham by World War Two.

Former services

From 1999 until 2002, there were semi-fast trains running from Plumstead to London Victoria, temporarily resuming a 1980s service pattern. This service was for the Millennium Dome; trains called at Woolwich Arsenal, Charlton, Blackheath, Lewisham, Peckham Rye, then ran non-stop to London Victoria. There was also an early morning semi-fast service to London Blackfriars from Dartford in the 1980s.

In 2003, there were plans to run a Plumstead to Clapham Junction service across South London which had never came to fruition.

Until May 2018, there were regular semi-fast services to Gillingham (Kent) from London Charing Cross via Lewisham (for DLR) and Woolwich Arsenal (for DLR) operated by Southeastern calling at Waterloo East, London Bridge then non-stop to Lewisham (for DLR), Blackheath, Charlton, Woolwich Arsenal (for DLR), Abbey Wood (for Elizabeth line), Dartford, Greenhithe (for Bluewater), Gravesend and then all stations to Gillingham (Kent). Since then, these services were replaced by the new Thameslink services from Luton calling at all but some stations to Rainham (Kent).

Route

North Kent Line
BSicon vCONTg.svg
South Eastern Main Line
Fast & Slow Lines to Charing Cross
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon STR~L.svg
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
BSicon STR~R.svg
BSicon STRc2.svg
BSicon d-KRZ3+1o.svg
BSicon dSHI2gr.svg
St Johns Jn
BSicon vSTR+1-.svg
BSicon STRc4.svg
BSicon vUST.svg
Lewisham Jn
BSicon vSTR-.svg
BSicon vSTR.svg
BSicon uSTRc2.svg
BSicon ud-CONT3.svg
BSicon kABZg3.svg
BSicon vINTACC.svg
BSicon utKBHFaq.svg
BSicon utSTRr+1a.svg
BSicon ucSTRc4.svg
Lewisham DLR no-text roundel.svg
BSicon lCONTg@Gq.svg
BSicon kABZq1.svg
BSicon STRc2.svg
BSicon KRZo+k4.svg
BSicon STR~L.svg
BSicon STR3.svg
BSicon STRr.svg
BSicon STR~R.svg
BSicon dSTRc2.svg
BSicon ABZ3+1g.svg
BSicon STRc4.svg
BSicon v-SHI1+l.svg
BSicon SHI1c4.svg
BSicon MFADEf.svg
BSicon dLSTR+1.svg
BSicon cSTRc4.svg
BSicon ACC.svg
Blackheath
BSicon LKRW+l.svg
BSicon KRWgr.svg
BSicon MFADEf.svg
BSicon LSTR.svg
BSicon TUNNEL1.svg
Blackheath Tunnel
1681 yd
1537 m
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STRc2.svg
BSicon CONT3.svg
Greenwich Line
to North Kent East Jn
BSicon STRc2.svg
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
BSicon KRZq3+1u.svg
BSicon STRc4.svg
BSicon KDSTeq.svg
Angerstein Wharf aggregates
BSicon ABZg+1.svg
BSicon STRc4.svg
Charlton Jn
BSicon ACC.svg
Charlton
BSicon BUE.svg
Charlton Lane Crossing
BSicon TUNNEL2.svg
Charlton Tunnel
154 yd
141 m
BSicon TUNNEL2.svg
Mount Street Tunnel
121 yd
111 m
BSicon TUNNEL2.svg
Dockyard Tunnel
121 yd
111 m
BSicon HST.svg
Woolwich Dockyard
BSicon TUNNEL2.svg
Coleman Street Tunnel
89 yd
81 m
BSicon TUNNEL2.svg
George IV Tunnel
238 yd
218 m
BSicon TUNNEL2.svg
Calderwood Street Tunnel
58 yd
53 m
BSicon TUNNEL2.svg
Cross Street Tunnel
134 yd
123 m
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon tCONTg.svg
BSicon mvBHF-KBHFa.svg
BSicon lvINTACC.svg
BSicon BLaq.svg
BSicon dBLq.svg
BSicon tINTACC.svg
BSicon BLeq.svg
Woolwich Arsenal DLR no-text roundel.svg | Woolwich Elizabeth line roundel (no text).svg
BSicon STR~L.svg
BSicon uSTRl.svg
BSicon STR~R.svg
BSicon tSTR.svg
BSicon utSTRa@gq.svg
BSicon utdCONTfq.svg
BSicon HST.svg
BSicon tSTR.svg
Plumstead
BSicon vSHI2gl-.svg
BSicon exvSTR2-.svg
BSicon exSTRc3.svg
BSicon tv-STR.svg
BSicon exSTRc1.svg
BSicon vSTR.svg
BSicon exvSTR+4-.svg
BSicon exSTRl+4.svg
BSicon tv-STR.svg
BSicon excSTRq.svg
BSicon exdCONTfq.svg
BSicon vSTR-DST.svg
BSicon exdSTR.svg
BSicon tvSTR-.svg
Plumstead Carriage Sidings (NR)
BSicon vSHI2g+l-.svg
BSicon exdSTR.svg
BSicon tdSTR.svg
BSicon extSTRc2.svg
BSicon evHST-.svg
BSicon d-KRZ3+1t.svg
BSicon tdSTR3-.svg
Church Manor Way Halt
BSicon tv-STR+1.svg
BSicon vSTR-.svg
BSicon extSTRc4.svg
BSicon vSTR-.svg
BSicon tv-STRe.svg
BSicon vSTR-.svg
BSicon vSHI2gl-.svg
BSicon v-SHI2+l.svg
BSicon vSTR.svg
BSicon dSHI2r.svg
BSicon dKDSTe.svg
Plumstead Carriage Sidings
(Elizabeth line)
BSicon vINTACC-KINTACCxe.svg
Abbey Wood Elizabeth line roundel (no text).svg
BSicon evSHI2g+l-.svg
safeguarded route towards Gravesend
BSicon HST.svg
Belvedere
BSicon eABZgl.svg
BSicon exKDSTeq.svg
Erith Pier
BSicon HST.svg
Erith
BSicon HST.svg
Slade Green
BSicon MFADEg.svg
BSicon LSTR.svg
BSicon SHI2gl.svg
BSicon BS2c3.svg
BSicon LSTRl.svg
BSicon STR~L.svg
BSicon ABZgr+r.svg
BSicon STR~R.svg
BSicon vSTR-DST.svg
BSicon vSHI2g+l-.svg
BSicon MFADEg.svg
BSicon kLLSTR2.svg
BSicon dWASSERq.svg
BSicon WBRUCKE1.svg
BSicon dWASSERq.svg
BSicon kSTRc1.svg
BSicon kSTRl+4.svg
BSicon ABZgr+r.svg
BSicon ACC.svg
Dartford
BSicon dWASSERq.svg
BSicon WBRUCKE1.svg
BSicon dWASSERq.svg
BSicon dSHI2+l.svg
BSicon dSHI2glr.svg
BSicon dSHI2+r.svg
BSicon dKDSTe.svg
BSicon dSTR.svg
BSicon dKDSTe.svg
Dartford Carriage Sidings
BSicon SKRZ-G4u.svg
A282 Dartford Tunnel Approach
BSicon HST.svg
Stone Crossing
BSicon ACC.svg
Greenhithe
for Bluewater
BSicon TUNNEL1.svg
Greenhithe Tunnel
253 yd
231 m
BSicon HST.svg
Swanscombe
BSicon kSTRc2.svg
BSicon kKRZ3+lo.svg
BSicon CONTfq.svg
BSicon kSTR+1.svg
BSicon HST.svg
Northfleet
BSicon INTACC.svg
BSicon STR.svg
Ebbsfleet International Eurostar icon RDT (2023).svg
BSicon KRWgl.svg
BSicon KRWg+r.svg
BSicon CONTf.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon exCONTgq.svg
BSicon eKRZo.svg
BSicon exCONTfq.svg
BSicon ACC.svg
Gravesend
BSicon eHST.svg
Milton Road Halt
BSicon eHST.svg
Denton Halt
BSicon eHST.svg
Milton Range Halt
BSicon pHST(L).svg
BSicon dSHI2+l.svg
BSicon dSHI2glr.svg
BSicon dSTRq.svg
BSicon dSHI2+r.svg
BSicon CONTfq.svg
BSicon STR~L.svg
BSicon STR~LR.svg
BSicon pHST(R).svg
BSicon STR~R.svg
BSicon dDST.svg
BSicon dSTR.svg
BSicon dDST.svg
Hoo Junction Freight Yard
BSicon dSHI2l.svg
BSicon dSHI2g+lr.svg
BSicon dSHI2r.svg
BSicon HST.svg
Higham
BSicon TUNNEL1.svg
3931 yd
3595 m
BSicon eABZgl.svg
BSicon exKBHFeq.svg
Strood
(Original terminus)
BSicon ACC.svg
Strood
BSicon d-CONT2.svg
BSicon STRc23.svg
BSicon ABZg3.svg
BSicon STRc12.svg
BSicon KRXo.svg
BSicon STRc34.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon dCONT1-.svg
BSicon STRc14.svg
BSicon ABZg+4.svg
Rochester Bridge Junction
BSicon hbKRZWae.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
Rochester
BSicon CONTf.svg

The line diverges from the Southeastern Main Line at Lewisham Vale junction [3] [4] at the south-east end of St Johns railway station, and runs as far as Rochester Bridge junction [5] [6] beside the River Medway on the north coast of mid-Kent.

Services

The North Kent Line is a high-frequency line, with all stations in the London area being served by at least 4 trains per hour, with Lewisham having 14tph.

London Charing Cross to Dartford 2tph, calling at Waterloo East, London Bridge fast to Lewisham (for DLR), Blackheath, Charlton, Woolwich Dockyard, Woolwich Arsenal (for DLR), Plumstead, Abbey Wood (for Elizabeth Line) Belvedere, Erith, Slade Green and Dartford.

London Cannon Street to Slade Green all stations via Greenwich 4tph, of which 2tph continue back to Cannon Street via Bexleyheath and Lewisham on the Bexleyheath line and 2tph to Cannon Street via Sidcup and Hither Green on the Dartford Loop Line.

Luton to Rainham 2tph, Semi Fast calling all stations to West Hampstead Thameslink, St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, London Blackfriars, London Bridge, Deptford, Greenwich (for DLR), Maze Hill, Westcombe Park, Charlton, Woolwich Arsenal (for DLR), Plumstead, Abbey Wood (for Elizabeth Line), Slade Green, Dartford, Stone Crossing, Greenhithe (for Bluewater), Swanscombe, Northfleet, Gravesend and all stations to Rainham.

Service patterns

As of May 2019, the service pattern is:

Off-peak & Saturday:

Sunday:

Peak hour frequencies vary, with services from the Bexleyheath and Dartford loop lines also running to and from stations to Gillingham.

Future

Abbey Wood station has been rebuilt to become the eastern terminus of the Elizabeth Line. However, a possible extension of the Elizabeth line to Gravesend has been safeguarded.

Stations

Slade Green station Slade Green stn high westbound.JPG
Slade Green station

Train services working the Line today take the following route; the first ten miles (16 km) passes through many tunnels, included on the list:

The North Kent Line connects with the LCDR Chatham Main Line at Rochester Bridge Junction, about 200 m beyond Strood station. It totals some 30 miles (48 km) in length.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackheath, London</span> Area of south-east London, England

Blackheath is an area in Southeast London, straddling the border of the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the London Borough of Lewisham. Historically within the county of Kent, it is located 1-mile (1.6 km) northeast of Lewisham, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Greenwich and 6.4 miles (10.3 km) southeast of Charing Cross, the traditional centre of London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plumstead</span> Human settlement in England

Plumstead is an area in southeast London, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich, England. It is located east of Woolwich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woolwich Arsenal station</span> Docklands Light Railway and National Rail station

Woolwich Arsenal station is a National Rail and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) paired interchange station in the heart of Woolwich in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It has two parts; its raised, south-western part of the station is on the semi-slow, commuter service, corollary of the North Kent Line and also in its Dartford Loop services section between London and Dartford, run by Southeastern. Regular services beyond Dartford are to the Medway Towns, which start/finish in the opposite direction at Luton via the City of London, West Hampstead and St Albans. Its other part is the terminus of its own branch of the DLR, run by Transport for London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackheath railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

Blackheath railway station is Grade II-listed and is in the south-centre of Blackheath, a village in southeast London. In traditional terms the area immediately south-west of the station around Lee Terrace and Lee Park is part of Lee; a status challenged by the station's naming, buildings such as the Blackheath Halls and the development of Blackheath Park to the south east. It is 8 miles 52 chains (13.9 km) measured from London Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenwich station</span> Docklands Light Railway and National Rail station

Greenwich station is about 400 m south-west of the district centre, in London, England. It is an interchange between National Rail between central London and Dartford, and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) between Lewisham to the south and Docklands and the City of London. It is in Travelcard Zones 2 and 3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westcombe Park railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

Westcombe Park station is in Greenwich, London, and is situated on the Greenwich Line connecting suburbs along the south side of the River Thames with central London stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewisham station</span> Docklands Light Railway and National Rail station

Lewisham is a National Rail and Docklands Light Railway station in Lewisham, south-east London which first opened in 1849. On the National Rail network it is 7 miles 61 chains (12.5 km) measured from London Victoria and is operated by Southeastern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dartford railway station</span> Railway station in Kent, England

Dartford railway station serves the town of Dartford in Kent, England. It is 17 miles 12 chains (27.6 km) down the line from London Charing Cross. Train services from the station are operated by Southeastern and Thameslink. Southeastern also manages the station. Dartford is a major interchange station in the North Kent region of the Southeastern network. Ticket barriers control access to the platforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbey Wood railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

Abbey Wood is a National Rail station in Abbey Wood in southeast London, England. It is between Plumstead and Belvedere stations on the North Kent Line. It is 11 miles 43 chains (18.6 km) measured from London Charing Cross, with services to central London routed via Greenwich or Lewisham, and Elizabeth line services to Paddington and Reading via Canary Wharf and Liverpool Street. The station is managed by Transport for London with passenger services provided by Southeastern, Thameslink and the Elizabeth line. It is the closest railway station to the suburb of Thamesmead, which is connected to the station by local buses. The station platforms are located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich with the station entrance in the London Borough of Bexley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plumstead railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

Plumstead railway station serves the suburb of Plumstead, in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, east of Woolwich Arsenal. It is 10 miles 1 chain (16.1 km) measured from London Charing Cross. It is managed by Southeastern and also served by Thameslink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bexleyheath line</span>

The Bexleyheath line runs for 8 miles (13 km) from Lewisham to Dartford in Kent. It separates from the North Kent Line just to the east of Blackheath Station, and rejoins the same line just south of Slade Green near Dartford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlton railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

Charlton railway station is a railway station in Charlton, Royal Borough of Greenwich. It is 7 miles 44 chains (12.2 km) measured from Charing Cross. The station is operated by Southeastern. Trains serving the station are operated by Southeastern and Thameslink. It is in Travelcard Zone 3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dartford Loop Line</span> Railway line in the UK

The Dartford Loop Line is one of three lines linking London with Dartford in Kent, England. It lies to the south of the other two: the North Kent Line and the Bexleyheath Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slade Green railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

Slade Green railway station is in the London Borough of Bexley, southeast London, on the North Kent Line. It is 15 miles 30 chains (24.7 km) measured from London Charing Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hither Green railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

Hither Green is a railway station located in Hither Green in the London Borough of Lewisham, south-east London. It is 7 miles 16 chains (11.6 km) down the line from London Charing Cross and is situated between Lewisham and either Grove Park or Lee depending on the route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stone Crossing railway station</span> Railway station in Kent, England

Stone Crossing railway station is located on the North Kent line, north-east of the village of Stone and east of Dartford. It was originally named Stone Crossing Halt. It is 19 miles 7 chains (30.7 km) down the line from London Charing Cross. Trains are operated by Southeastern and Thameslink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gravesend railway station</span> Railway station in Kent, England

Gravesend railway station serves the town of Gravesend in north Kent, England. It is 23 miles 75 chains (38.5 km) down the line from London Charing Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chatham Main Line</span> Main railway line in south-east England

The Chatham Main Line is a railway line in England that links London Victoria and Dover Priory / Ramsgate, travelling via Medway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenwich Park branch line</span>

The Greenwich Park branch line is a short section of railway line in south east London which links the Catford Loop line to the South Eastern Main Line which originally terminated at Greenwich Park station. It provides a link for freight trains travelling from north London to the south east, as well as a route for passenger trains from London Victoria station to destinations in South East London and Kent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenwich line</span> Railway line in south London

The Greenwich line is a short railway line in South London that follows part of the route of the London and Greenwich Railway, which was the first railway line in London.

References

  1. Quail Maps. Map#5 - Southern & TFL. Vol. [page 5] Feb 1998 (Retrieved 2018-01-14).
  2. "KSW2 Kent Sussex Wessex Routes Sectional Appendix; LOR SO290 Seq003 to 009" (PDF). Network Rail. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  3. Quail Map 5 – England South [page 7] Sept 2002 (Retrieved 25 December 2011)
  4. Network Rail (April 2001). Southern Zone Sectional Appendix. Vol. Module SO. p. 1/15 SO130. (Retrieved 25 December 2011)
  5. Quail Map 5 – England South [page 3] Sept 2002 (Retrieved 25 December 2011)
  6. Network Rail (April 2001). Southern Zone Sectional Appendix. Vol. Module SO. p. 1/37 SO130. (Retrieved 25 December 2011)