Epsom Downs Branch

Epsom Downs Line
Legend London Victoria Sutton & Mole Valley Line Sutton Belmont Banstead Epsom Downs

The Epsom Downs Branch is a railway line in the United Kingdom. The line runs from Sutton to Epsom Downs and is about 3 ³⁄₄ miles (6.0 km) long. The line starts at Sutton in the London Borough of Sutton. It is double track for about ³⁄₄ mile (1.2 km) until it reaches the approach to Belmont where it becomes single track. The line continues from Belmont through Banstead and terminates at Epsom Downs in Surrey. The "Downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs.

History

The line was proposed in 1863 by the Banstead and Epsom Downs Railway, which became incorporated into the London Brighton and South Coast Railway in July 1864. It was opened for traffic on 22 May 1865.^[1]

Infrastructure

The line was electrified at 660 V using the third rail system in 1928, with electric services starting on 17 June.^[2] The line was reduced to single track in 1982 when all signalling was controlled from Victoria Signalling Centre. The line was shortened by 0.26 miles (0.42 km) when a new station was built at Epsom Downs. This opened on 13 December 1989.^[3]

Services

There are four stops on the line:

• Sutton - zone 5
• Belmont - zone 5
• Banstead - zone 6
• Epsom Downs - zone 6

All services on the line are currently operated by Southern, and form part of the Sutton & Mole Valley Line services. From January 2006 all stations are included in the Transport for London zonal pricing scheme, including those beyond the Greater London boundary.

The typical off-peak service calls at all stations on the line every hour from London Victoria via West Croydon; in peak times two trains call every hour.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Epsom Downs Branch.

• Route Map and Timetable for Sutton & Mole Valley Line
• The Epsom Downs Branch Website

Railway lines in London
Main Lines	Primary High Speed 1 East Coast Main Line Great Eastern Main Line Great Western Main Line Midland Main Line West Coast Main Line Secondary Chatham Main Line Chiltern Main Line Crossrail (under construction) South Eastern Main Line South Western Main Line West Anglia Main Line Thameslink London, Tilbury and Southend Line
Branch	Regional Aylesbury Line Bexleyheath Line Caterham Line Dartford Loop Line Epsom Downs Branch Hampton Court Branch Line Hertford Loop Line Lea Valley Lines North Kent Line Oxted Line Shepperton Branch Line Sutton and Mole Valley Lines Tattenham Corner Line Watford DC Line Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Line Intra-London Acton–Northolt Line Bromley North Line Catford Loop Line Chessington Branch Line Chingford Branch Line Crystal Palace Line Dudding Hill Line East London Line Gospel Oak to Barking Line Greenford Branch Line Greenwich Line Hayes Line Hounslow Loop Line Kingston Loop Line North London Line Northern City Line Nunhead to Lewisham Link Romford to Upminster Line South London Line West London Line
Disused	Addiscombe Line City Widened Lines Croxley Green Line Crystal Palace High Level Branch Line Greenwich Park Branch Line North London Line (City Branch) Palace Gates Line Staines & West Drayton Line Uxbridge (Vine Street) Branch Line Watford to Rickmansworth Line West Croydon to Wimbledon Line Woodside & Sanderstead Line
London Transport portal

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

Coordinates: 51°20′11″N 0°12′00″W / 51.3365°N 0.2000°W / 51.3365; -0.2000