Editing Oxted line (section)

===Hurst Green Junction–Uckfield===
[[File:Hurst_Green_Junction,_Oxted_Line,_Surrey.jpg|thumb|right|Hurst Green Junction: The unelectrified branch to {{rws|Uckfield}} diverges to the left and the electrified line to {{rws|East Grinstead}} continues ahead.]]
The Hurst Green Junction–Uckfield section is {{cvt|24|mi|53|ch}} in length and has eight stations in total.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO540}}{{sfn|Bridge|2017|p=20}}{{sfn|Bridge|2017|p=12}} {{rws|Eridge}} station has three platforms, of which one is used by the Oxted line and the other two by the [[Spa Valley Railway]]. {{rws|Edenbridge Town}}, Hever, {{rws|Ashurst}} and {{rws|Crowborough}} stations have two platforms each; the remaining three stations ({{rws|Cowden}}, {{rws|Buxted}} and Uckfield) have a single platform.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO540}}{{sfn|Bridge|2017|p=12}} All stations are managed by Southern<ref>{{unbulleted list citebundle | {{cite web |title= Edenbridge Town (EBT) |publisher= Southern |url= https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/station-information/EBT/Edenbridge-Town |access-date= 25 September 2024 }} | {{cite web |title= Hever (HEV) |publisher= Southern |url= https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/station-information/HEV/Hever |access-date= 25 September 2024 }} | {{cite web |title= Ashurst (Kent) (AHS) |publisher= Southern |url= https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/station-information/AHS/Ashurst-Kent |access-date= 25 September 2024 }} | {{cite web |title= Cowden (Kent) (CWN) |publisher= Southern |url= https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/station-information/CWN/Cowden-Kent |access-date= 25 September 2024 }} | {{cite web |title= Eridge (ERI) |publisher= Southern |url= https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/station-information/ERI/Eridge |access-date= 25 September 2024 }} | {{cite web |title= Crowborough (COH) |publisher= Southern |url= https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/station-information/COH/Crowborough |access-date= 25 September 2024 }} | {{cite web |title= Buxted (BXD) |publisher= Southern |url= https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/station-information/BXD/Buxted |access-date= 25 September 2024 }} | {{cite web |title= Uckfield (UCK) |publisher= Southern |url= https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/station-information/UCK/Uckfield |access-date= 25 September 2024 }} }}</ref> and passenger services are operated using Class 171 diesel multiple units.<ref name=RAIL_2024/>

This part of the Oxted line is unelectrified and signalling is controlled from Oxted Signal Box. North of Hever is double track, but to the south the line has been singled, although trains may pass at Ashurst and Crowborough stations.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO540}}{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=101–104}} The maximum speed is {{cvt|70|mph}} and trains typically reach Hurst Green from Uckfield in around 40 minutes.{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=101–104}} The steepest gradient, 1 in 66, is at Burnt Oak Bridge, to the north of Buxted.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1986|loc=Fig. 52}} There are three tunnels on the Hurst Green Junction–Uckfield section of the line. The double-track Edenbridge Tunnel (sometimes known as Little Browns Tunnel) is {{cvt|319|yd}} long and opens out in the middle to allow the Redhill–Tonbridge line to cross over on a bridge.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO540}}{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1990|loc=Fig. 29}}{{efn|An out-of-station interchange is available between [[Edenbridge Town railway station|Edenbridge Town station]] (on the {{rws|Uckfield}} branch of the Oxted line) and [[Edenbridge railway station|Edenbridge station]] (on the [[Redhill–Tonbridge line]]), but there is a distance of {{cvt|1.4|km|mi|0|order=flip}} between the two.<ref>{{cite web |title= Kent–Gatwick Rail Connectivity |year= 2024 |publisher= Network Rail |url= https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/regional-long-term-planning/Southern%20region%20-%20planning%20documents/Kent-Gatwick%20Rail%20Connectivity%20Strategic%20Advice%202024.pdf |access-date= 14 August 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250426000023/https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/regional-long-term-planning/Southern%20region%20-%20planning%20documents/Kent-Gatwick%20Rail%20Connectivity%20Strategic%20Advice%202024.pdf |archive-date= 26 April 2025 |url-status= live |pages=42–43 }}</ref>}} The other two tunnels are the {{cvt|1341|yd|adj=on}} Mark Beech Tunnel (built for double track but containing only a single track) and the {{cvt|1022|yd|adj=on}} Crowborough Tunnel.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO540}}{{sfn|Bridge|2017|p=12}}
{{clear}}
{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible"
|+ class="nowrap"|Stations on the Hurst Green Junction–Uckfield section {{nobold|(ordered from north to south)}}
|-
!scope="col"|Station
!scope="col"|Distance from London Victoria<br> via East Croydon{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO540}}
!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|Edenbridge Town}}||{{cvt|25|mi|47|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|2 January 1888}}||Edenbridge||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=179}}
|-
|{{rws|Hever}}||{{cvt|27|mi|27|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|1 October 1888}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=240}}
|-
|{{rws|Cowden}}||{{cvt|29|mi|26|ch}}||1||{{date table sorting|1 October 1888}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=146}} 
|-
|{{rws|Ashurst}}||{{cvt|32|mi|08|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|1 October 1888}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=58}}
|-
|{{rws|Eridge}}||{{cvt|35|mi|53|ch}}||3 (1 for Oxted line)||{{date table sorting|3 August 1868}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=185}}
|-
|{{rws|Crowborough}}||{{cvt|39|mi|11|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|3 August 1868}}||Rotherfield||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=151}}
|-
|{{rws|Buxted}}||{{cvt|43|mi|68|ch}}||1||{{date table sorting|3 August 1868}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=113}}
|-
|{{rws|Uckfield}}||{{cvt|46|mi|08|ch}}||1||{{date table sorting|18 October 1858}}<br>(relocated 13 May 1991)|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=452}}
|}