Crouch Valley Line
Encyclopedia
The Crouch Valley Line is a branch line
from Wickford
to Southminster
in Essex
. It is usually called the Southminster Branch by users of the line, although that is no longer its official name. The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 7
, SRS 07.05 and is classified as a London and South East commuter line.
. The line was electrified
at 25 kV AC overhead
in 1986.
Passenger services are currently operated by National Express East Anglia. They replaced the previous operator, First Great Eastern
, on 1 April 2004, when all the operators in East Anglia
were merged into one new franchise.
The number of trains on the Crouch Valley Line is normally restricted to two trains per hour (one train in each direction), with additional trains during the rush-hour. This is due to the limited capacity available after the line was reduced to single track in the 1960s as part of the Beeching Axe
railway closures. The line was also used to take waste and fuel rods from Bradwell
's decommissioned nuclear power station to another part of the country, but this service has now ceased.
at Wickford. It is single track throughout, with a passing loop at North Fambridge station (the mid-point of the line) to allow trains travelling in opposite directions to pass. The line is electrified
at 25 kV AC
, has a loading gauge of W6, and a line speed of 40–75 mph.
All services are scheduled for operation by Class 321
, Class 315
or occasionally Class 360
electrical multiple units.
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
from Wickford
Wickford
Wickford is a town in the south of the English county of Essex, with a population of more than 32,500. Located approximately 30 miles east of London, it falls within the District of Basildon along with Basildon, Billericay, Laindon and Pitsea....
to Southminster
Southminster
Southminster is a town on the Dengie peninsula in the Maldon district of Essex in the East of England. It lies about three miles north of Burnham-on-Crouch and ten miles south-east of Maldon. To the north is the River Blackwater, which is tidal and since Roman times has been the gateway to trading...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. It is usually called the Southminster Branch by users of the line, although that is no longer its official name. The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 7
Network Rail Route 7 (Great Eastern)
Strategic Route 7 - Great Eastern is the designation given by Network Rail to a grouping of railway lines in the East of England that encompasses the Great Eastern Main Line and its various branch lines...
, SRS 07.05 and is classified as a London and South East commuter line.
History
The 16.5 miles (26.6 km) route was first opened to goods traffic on 1 June 1889, and to passengers on 1 July 1889 by the Great Eastern RailwayGreat Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
. The line was electrified
Railway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
at 25 kV AC overhead
25 kV AC
The 25 kV Alternating current railway electrification system is commonly used in railways worldwide, especially for high-speed rail.-Overview:This electrification system is ideal for railways that cover long distances and/or carry heavy traffic...
in 1986.
Passenger services are currently operated by National Express East Anglia. They replaced the previous operator, First Great Eastern
First Great Eastern
First Great Eastern was an award-winning train operating company that operated suburban, local and medium distance train services from London Liverpool Street via Romford to Essex and Ipswich in the United Kingdom on the Great Eastern Main Line railway.First Group gained the Great Eastern...
, on 1 April 2004, when all the operators in East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
were merged into one new franchise.
The number of trains on the Crouch Valley Line is normally restricted to two trains per hour (one train in each direction), with additional trains during the rush-hour. This is due to the limited capacity available after the line was reduced to single track in the 1960s as part of the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
railway closures. The line was also used to take waste and fuel rods from Bradwell
Bradwell-on-Sea
Bradwell-on-Sea is a village in Essex, England. The village is on the Dengie peninsula. It is located about north-northeast of Southminster and is east from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the District of Maldon in the parliamentary constituency of Maldon whose boundaries were...
's decommissioned nuclear power station to another part of the country, but this service has now ceased.
Infrastructure
The line diverges from the Shenfield-Southend Victoria lineShenfield to Southend Line
The Shenfield to Southend Line is a railway line from Southend-on-Sea to Shenfield in Essex. Almost all trains continue through to London Liverpool Street along the Great Eastern Main Line...
at Wickford. It is single track throughout, with a passing loop at North Fambridge station (the mid-point of the line) to allow trains travelling in opposite directions to pass. The line is electrified
Railway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
at 25 kV AC
25 kV AC
The 25 kV Alternating current railway electrification system is commonly used in railways worldwide, especially for high-speed rail.-Overview:This electrification system is ideal for railways that cover long distances and/or carry heavy traffic...
, has a loading gauge of W6, and a line speed of 40–75 mph.
All services are scheduled for operation by Class 321
British Rail Class 321
The British Rail Class 321 alternating current electric multiple units were built by BREL York in three batches from 1988-91. The design was successful and led to the development of the similar Class 320 and Class 322 units for use by Strathclyde PTE and Stansted Express respectively...
, Class 315
British Rail Class 315
British Rail Class 315 alternating current electric multiple units were built by BREL at York works from 1980 to 1981. They were the fifth and final variety of British Rail's then-standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs, which eventually encompassed 755 vehicles and five Classes...
or occasionally Class 360
British Rail Class 360
The British Rail Class 360 electric multiple units were built by Siemens in two sub-types from 2002-2003 and 2004-2005. These units are part of the Siemens Desiro family.The Siemens "Desiro UK" family also includes units of Classes 185, 350, 380, 444 and 450....
electrical multiple units.