Editing Brighton Main Line (section)

==Route==
{{Brighton Main Line|collapse=y}}
===Overview===
The Brighton Main Line is a railway line in southern England. It links the capital to [[Brighton]] and passes through [[Greater London]], [[Surrey]] and [[West Sussex]]. It serves [[Gatwick Airport]] and the towns of [[Redhill, Surrey|Redhill]], [[Horley]], [[Crawley]], [[Haywards Heath]] and [[Burgess Hill]], as well as the [[South London]] suburbs. The line starts at two [[London Terminals|central London termini]]: the western branch runs from {{rws|London Victoria}} while the eastern branch originates at {{rws|London Bridge}}. The two branches join at Windmill Bridge Junction, to the north of {{rws|East Croydon}} station. The distance from London Victoria to Brighton is around {{cvt|50|mi}}{{efn|The Sectional Appendix published by [[Network Rail]] in 2009 uses {{rws|London Victoria}} as the [[kilometre zero|datum point]] for the Brighton Main Line and gives a mileage of {{cvt|50|mi|49|ch}} for {{rws|Brighton}} station. However, there are changes in mileage on both the fast (Quarry Line) and slow lines on the south side of {{rws|Redhill}} station and also on the slow lines at Coulsdon North. This means that the total distance from Victoria to Brighton via the Quarry Line is {{cvt|50|mi|55|ch}} and via Redhill is {{cvt|9|ch|-1}} shorter. The distance from {{rws|London Bridge}} to Brighton via the Quarry Line is {{cvt|50|mi|32|ch}} and via Redhill is {{cvt|50|mi|23|ch}}.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}}}} and the line is electrified using the 750 [[Volt|V]] [[Direct Current|DC]] [[third rail|third-rail]] system.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}}

===London Victoria to Windmill Bridge Junction===
[[File:View_over_Grosvenor_railway_bridge_and_beyond,_from_the_NW_chimney_of_Battersea_Power_Station_(geograph_7605652).jpg|thumb|right|[[Grosvenor Bridge]] carries the Brighton Main Line over the [[River Thames]] between {{rws|London Victoria}} and {{rws|Battersea Park}}]]
The London Victoria to Windmill Bridge Junction section of the Brighton Main Line is {{cvt|10|mi|2|ch}} in length and has nine stations in total.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}} Victoria and {{rws|Clapham Junction}} stations are managed by [[Network Rail]]<ref>{{cite web |title= London Victoria |publisher= Network Rail |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/london-victoria/ |access-date= 29 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Clapham Junction |publisher= Network Rail |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/clapham-junction/ |access-date= 29 March 2024}}</ref> and have 19 and 17 operational platforms respectively.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=65-68}}{{efn|Although {{rws|London Victoria}} has a total of 19 platforms, only platforms 9-19 are connected to the Brighton Main Line. Platforms 9-12 are typically used for slow line services, platforms 13 and 14 are used by [[Gatwick Express]] and platforms 15-19 are for fast line services.{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=65-68}} {{rws|Clapham Junction}} has a total of 19 operational platforms, but only platforms 12-17 are connected to the Brighton Main Line.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}}} The other stations ({{rws|Battersea Park}}, {{rws|Wandsworth Common}}, {{rws|Balham}}, {{rws|Streatham Common}}, {{rws|Norbury}}, {{rws|Thornton Heath}} and {{rws|Selhurst}}) are managed by Southern and have four operational platforms each.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}} Train services that use this section of the Brighton Main Line are:
* Victoria to Gatwick Airport and Brighton services, operated by [[Gatwick Express]]
* Victoria to {{rws|East Grinstead}}, {{rws|Reigate}} and the South Coast, operated by [[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]]
* Suburban services from Victoria via [[Sutton railway station (London)|Sutton]] or {{rws|Streatham Hill}}, operated by Southern
* London Bridge to East Croydon stopping services via Norbury, operated by Southern
* {{rws|Hemel Hempstead}} to East Croydon via {{rws|Kensington (Olympia)}}, operated by Southern

With the exception of the line between Victoria and Battersea Park, this part of the Brighton Main Line has four parallel tracks. The fast lines for longer-distance express services are on the western side of the formation and the slow lines are to the east.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}} In general fast services stop at Victoria and Clapham Junction and do not make scheduled calls at the other stations. The maximum permitted speed is {{cvt|70|mph}} on the fast lines and {{cvt|60|mph}} on the slow lines.{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=65-68}} Signalling is controlled from Three Bridges [[rail operating centre]].{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}

 {|class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|+ class="nowrap"|Stations from London Victoria to Windmill Bridge Junction {{nobold|(ordered from north to south)}}
|-
!scope="col"|Station
!scope="col"|Distance from London Victoria{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}
!scope="col"|Number of<br> platforms
!scope="col"|Opening date 
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Original name
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref.
|- style="background:#F8F8FF"
|{{rws|London Victoria}}||{{cvt|0|mi|00|ch}}||19 (10 for main line)||{{date table sorting|1 October 1860}}||||{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=78-79}}
|-
|{{rws|Battersea Park}}||{{cvt|1|mi|23|ch}}||4 (3 for main line)||{{date table sorting|1 May 1857}}||Coulsdon||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=73}}
|-
|{{rws|Clapham Junction}}||{{cvt|2|mi|57|ch}}||17 (6 for main line)||{{date table sorting|2 March 1863}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=135}}
|-
|{{rws|Wandsworth Common}}||{{cvt|4|mi|05|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|1 December 1856}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=469}}
|-
|{{rws|Balham}}||{{cvt|4|mi|52|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|1 December 1856}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=64}}
|-
|{{rws|Streatham Common}}||{{cvt|6|mi|48|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|1 December 1862}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=437}}
|-
|{{rws|Norbury}}||{{cvt|7|mi|36|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|1 January 1878}}||Norbury Hill||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=340}}
|-
|{{rws|Thornton Heath}}||{{cvt|8|mi|64|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|pp=448-449}}
|-
|{{rws|Selhurst}}||{{cvt|9|mi|31|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|1 May 1865}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=409}}
|}

===London Bridge to Windmill Bridge Junction===
[[File:Railway_east_of_London_Bridge_-_panoramio.jpg|thumb|upright|right|The approach to {{rws|London Bridge}} station looking eastwards: The Brighton Main Line tracks are on the right hand side (south side) of the formation.]]
The London Bridge to Windmill Bridge Junction section of the Brighton Main Line is {{cvt|9|mi|61|ch}} in length and has nine stations in total.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}} London Bridge station is managed by [[Network Rail]]<ref>{{cite web |title= London Bridge |publisher= Network Rail |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/london-bridge/ |access-date= 29 March 2024}}</ref> and has 15 platforms.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}}{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=73-76}} All other stations ({{rws|New Cross Gate}}, {{rws|Brockley}}, {{rws|Honor Oak Park}}, {{rws|Forest Hill}}, [[Sydenham railway station (London)|Sydenham]], {{rws|Penge West}}, {{rws|Anerley}} and {{rws|Selhurst}}) are managed by London Overground. Both New Cross Gate and Norwood Junction have five operational platforms, but the intermediate stations have two platforms each, which serve the slow lines only.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}}
Train services that use this section of the Brighton Main Line are:
* [[Govia Thameslink Railway|Thameslink]] services to destinations in Sussex (including Brighton, {{rws|Horsham}} and East Grinstead)
* Outer suburban services from London Bridge to destinations in Surrey (including {{rws|Epsom}}, {{rws|Caterham}} and {{rws|Tattenham Corner}}) operated by Southern
* Victoria{{endash}}London Bridge and Victoria{{endash}}West Croydon via Crystal Palace, operated by Southern
* London Bridge{{endash}}{{rws|Uckfield}}, operated by Southern
* [[London Overground]] [[Windrush line]] services to Crystal Palace and West Croydon

The Brighton Main Line between London Bridge and Windmill Bridge Junction has four parallel tracks. The fast lines for longer-distance express services are in the centre of the formation and the slow lines are to the outside.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}} The maximum permitted speed is {{cvt|70|mph}} on the fast lines and {{cvt|60|mph}} on the slow lines.{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=73-76}} Signalling is controlled from Three Bridges [[rail operating centre]].{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}}

{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|+ class="nowrap"|Stations from London Bridge to Windmill Bridge Junction {{nobold|(ordered from north to south)}}
|-
!scope="col"|Station
!scope="col"|Distance from London Bridge{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}}
!scope="col"|Number of<br> platforms
!scope="col"|Opening date 
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Original name
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref.
|- style="background:#F8F8FF"
|{{rws|London Bridge}}||{{cvt|0|mi|00|ch}}||15 (6 for main line)||{{date table sorting|1 December 1836}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=294}}
|-
|{{rws|New Cross Gate}}||{{cvt|2|mi|70|ch}}||5||{{date table sorting|5 June 1839}}|| New Cross||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=333}}
|-
|{{rws|Brockley}}||{{cvt|3|mi|56|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|6 March 1871}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=104}}
|-
|{{rws|Honor Oak Park}}||{{cvt|4|mi|59|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|1 April 1886}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=246}}
|-
|{{rws|Forest Hill}}||{{cvt|5|mi|50|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|5 June 1839}}||Dartmouth Arms||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=197}}
|-
|[[Sydenham railway station (London)|Sydenham]]||{{cvt|6|mi|32|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|5 June 1839}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=442}}
|-
|{{rws|Penge West}}||{{cvt|7|mi|15|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|5 June 1839}}||Penge||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=361}}
|-
|{{rws|Anerley}}||{{cvt|7|mi|47|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|5 June 1839}}||Anerley Bridge||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=51}}
|-
|{{rws|Norwood Junction}}||{{cvt|8|mi|55|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|5 June 1839}}||Jolly Sailor||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=345}}
|}

===Windmill Bridge Junction to Balcombe Tunnel Junction===
{{Annotated image
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| caption = The north Croydon area showing: {{rws|Selhurst}} station (red circle) on the line to {{rws|London Victoria}} (top left); the line to {{rws|London Bridge}} (top right); the line to {{rws|West Croydon}} (bottom left); the line to {{rws|Brighton}} via {{rws|East Croydon}} (bottom centre).
}}The Brighton Main Line between Windmill Bridge Junction and Balcombe Tunnel Junction is {{cvt|21|mi|26|ch}} long and has twelve stations in total.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}} Gatwick Airport station is managed by Gatwick Express,<ref>{{cite web |title= Gatwick Airport |publisher= National Rail |url= https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/gatwick-airport/ |access-date= 29 March 2024 }}</ref> but the other stations are managed by Southern. Gatwick Airport has seven operational platforms, East Croydon and {{rws|Purley}} have six, {{rws|South Croydon}} and {{rws|Three Bridges}} have five, {{rws|Purley Oaks}}, {{rws|Redhill}} and {{rws|Horley}} have four, and the remaining stations ({{rws|Coulsdon South}}, {{rws|Merstham}}, [[Earlswood railway station (Surrey)|Earlswood]] and {{rws|Salfords}}) have two platforms each.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=69-72}} Train services that use this section of the Brighton Main Line are:
* Thameslink services to destinations in Sussex (including Brighton, Horsham and East Grinstead)
* Outer suburban services from London Bridge to Caterham and Tattenham Corner, operated by Southern
* Victoria to East Grinstead, Reigate and the South Coast, operated by Southern
* London Bridge to Uckfield, operated by Southern
* Hemel Hempstead to East Croydon via Kensington (Olympia), operated by Southern
* Victoria to Gatwick Airport and Brighton, operated by Gatwick Express
* {{rws|Reading}} to Gatwick Airport via {{rws|Guildford}}, operated by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]

Between Windmill Bridge Junction and {{rws|South Croydon}} there are five parallel tracks, but for the remainder of this section there are four parallel tracks. Between Stoats Nest Junction and the south of Redhill station, the fast and slow lines diverge. The fast tracks are generally known as the Quarry Line, which provides a bypass route to avoid the junctions at Redhill. There are changes in track mileage on both the fast and slow lines to the south of Redhill. The maximum speed on this section of the Brighton Main Line is {{cvt|90|mph}}.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}

[[File:Merstham_orig_tunnel_south_portal.jpg|thumb|right|South portal of Merstham Tunnel]]
The Brighton Main Line passes in tunnel beneath the [[North Downs]]. The slow lines run through the {{cvt|1|mi|71|yd|adj=on}} [[Merstham tunnels|Merstham Tunnel]] and the fast lines pass through the longer, {{cvt|1|mi|353|yd|adj=on}} Quarry Tunnel. There is one additional tunnel on the Quarry Line, [[Redhill Tunnel]], which is {{cvt|649|yd}} long.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}

{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|+ class="nowrap"|Stations from Windmill Bridge Junction to Balcombe Tunnel Junction {{nobold|(ordered from north to south)}}
|-
!scope="col"|Station
!scope="col"|Distance from London Victoria{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}
!scope="col"|Number of<br> platforms
!scope="col"|Opening date 
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Original name
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref.
|- style="background:#F8F8FF"
|{{rws|East Croydon}}||{{cvt|10|mi|28|ch}}||6||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}||Croydon||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=176}}
|-
|{{rws|South Croydon}}||{{cvt|11|mi|21|ch}}||5||{{date table sorting|1 September 1865}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=421}}
|-
|{{rws|Purley Oaks}}||{{cvt|12|mi|34|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|5 November 1899}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=380}}
|-
|{{rws|Purley}}||{{cvt|13|mi|29|ch}}||6 (4 for main line)||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}||Godstone Road||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=380}}
|-
|{{rws|Coulsdon South}}||{{cvt|17|mi|03|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|1 October 1889}}||Coulsdon||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=145}}
|-
|{{rws|Merstham}}||{{cvt|20|mi|59|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=313}}
|-
|{{rws|Redhill}}||{{cvt|22|mi|40|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|15 April 1844}}||Reigate||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=486}}
|-
|[[Earlswood railway station (Surrey)|Earlswood]]||{{cvt|21|mi|50|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|30 April 1849}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=175}}
|-
|{{rws|Salfords}}||{{cvt|23|mi|37|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|8 October 1915}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=402}}
|-
|{{rws|Horley}}||{{cvt|25|mi|60|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=247}}
|-
|{{rws|Gatwick Airport}}||{{cvt|26|mi|47|ch}}||7||{{date table sorting|28 May 1958}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=205}}
|-
|{{rws|Three Bridges}}||{{cvt|29|mi|21|ch}}||5 (4 for main line)||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|pp=448-449}}
|}

===Balcombe Tunnel Junction to Brighton===
The section of the Brighton Main Line from Balcombe Tunnel Junction to Brighton is {{cvt|19|mi|21|ch}} long. All seven stations on this section are managed by Southern. Brighton has eight platforms, of which six are connected to the Brighton Main Line. Haywards Heath has four platforms and Preston Park has three. The other four stations ({{rws|Balcombe}}, {{rws|Wivelsfield}}, {{rws|Burgess Hill}} and {{rws|Hassocks}}) have two operational platforms each.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}} Train services that use this section of the Brighton Main Line are:
* Thameslink services to Brighton
* Victoria to the South Coast, operated by Southern
* Victoria to Brighton, operated by Gatwick Express

[[File:Haywards Heath Simbids.jpg|thumb|right|The approach to [[Haywards Heath Tunnel]] is signalled for bi-directional working.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}]]
Between Balcombe Tunnel Junction and Brighton, the Brighton Main Line generally has two tracks, signalled for bi-directional working.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}} There are short three- and four-track sections at {{rws|Preston Park}} and {{rws|Haywards Heath}} stations respectively. The maximum line speed is {{cvt|90|mph}}.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}

There are four tunnels on this section of the line: [[Balcombe tunnel]] is {{cvt|1141|yd}} long; [[Haywards Heath Tunnel]] is {{cvt|249|yd}} long;{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}} [[Clayton Tunnel]], at the summit of the line, is {{cvt|1|mi|499|yd}} long; [[Patcham Tunnel]] is {{cvt|1|mi|492|yd}} long. There are two viaducts on this part of the Brighton Main Line: The {{cvt|22|ch|adj=on}} [[Ouse Valley Viaduct]] crosses the [[River Ouse, Sussex|River Ouse]] on 37 brick arches and the shorter Vale Viaduct is {{cvt|3.5|ch}} long.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=69-72}}{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=38-39}}

{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|+ class="nowrap"|Stations from Balcombe Tunnel Junction to Brighton {{nobold|(ordered from north to south)}}
|-
!scope="col"|Station
!scope="col"|Distance from London Victoria{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}
!scope="col"|Number of<br> platforms
!scope="col"|Opening date 
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Original name
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref.
|- style="background:#F8F8FF"
|{{rws|Balcombe}}||{{cvt|33|mi|64|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=64}}
|-
|{{rws|Haywards Heath}}||{{cvt|37|mi|59|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=234}}
|-
|{{rws|Wivelsfield}}||{{cvt|40|mi|52|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|1 August 1886}}||Keymer Junction||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=492}}
|-
|{{rws|Burgess Hill}}||{{cvt|41|mi|39|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|January 1842}}{{efn|{{rws|Burgess Hill}} station is first recorded in newspaper advertisements on 27 January 1842, but the exact date of opening is unknown.{{sfn|Quick|2023|pp=109-110}}}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|pp=109-110}}
|-
|{{rws|Hassocks}}||{{cvt|43|mi|42|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|21 September 1841}}||Hassocks Gate||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=231}}
|-
|{{rws|Preston Park}}||{{cvt|49|mi|21|ch}}||3||{{date table sorting|1 November 1869}}||Preston||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=378}}
|-
|{{rws|Brighton}}||{{cvt|50|mi|49|ch}}||8 (6 for main line)||{{date table sorting|12 May 1840}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=101}}
|}