North Downs Line
Encyclopedia
The North Downs Line is the name of the passenger train service connecting Reading
, on the Great Western Main Line
, to Gatwick Airport
, on the Brighton Main Line
. It is also the name used to refer to the line over which these services run between Reading and Redhill.
Although the company had some independent shareholders, it was closely associated with the South Eastern Railway
(SER). The original intention was for the SER to build part of the line itself, but this proposal was rejected by Parliament. The independence of the company was only a formality to satisfy Parliament. The two companies had some common directors; a SER engineer controlled the construction of the line. As intended at outset, the line was leased to the SER in 1850, and the two companies finally merged in 1852. The company's relationship with the GWR is described as "enigmatic". The GWR initially offered the company the use of its facilities at Reading station but terms could not be agreed and a separate station was built.
The SER operated the line from its opening, and ran passenger services on it from Reading to London Charing Cross
via Redhill
. Even today, the distances along the line are measured from the terminus of the former SER.
The major capacity constraints are the platform capacities of Reading, Redhill and Gatwick Airport stations.
At Reading, North Downs Line services normally terminate at platforms 4a and 4b on the south side of the station, although access to other platforms is possible via a junction with the Great Western Main Line
(see map, right). Trains could formerly access the north side of Reading station via an underpass, although this has been disused for some time. The access to platforms 4a and 4b is via a short single track section, which severely limits capacity. As part of the 2012 Reading resignalling scheme, an additional platform will be provided for North Downs Line services. The underpass may also be reinstated.
Network SouthEast originally planned to electrify the whole route, with a completion date of 1993 being published, but these plans were dropped.
The main services on the line are provided by First Great Western
using Class 165
and Class 166
Network Turbo diesel multiple units. Hourly semi-fast services run from Reading
to Gatwick Airport
and there is an hourly stopping service between Reading
and Redhill
. At Redhill the Gatwick Airport services reverse to head south along the Brighton Main Line
. Before 1994, the stopping services continued to Tonbridge
, however the line between Redhill and Tonbridge was electrified in 1993 to provide an additional diversionary route for Eurostar
trains to continental Europe. Services on this line now run to London Bridge
and are operated by Southern.
Additional services on the North Downs Line are provided by South West Trains
between Reading and Wokingham (trains to/from London Waterloo) and between Ash and Guildford (trains to/from Alton
or Ascot
). Southern
operate weekday peak hour services between Reigate and Redhill and onwards to London.
Steam traction was replaced by 3R (Class 206)
DEMUs on 4 January 1965. The new trains consisted of two 6S (class 201) coaches from the Hastings Line
coupled to adapted 2EPB driving trailer units. As a result of the visible difference in width between the narrow Hastings Line stock and the standard width Hampshire trailer, the units were nicknamed Tadpoles. Additional peak time services were hauled by class 33
diesel locomotives until May 1977.
The express service from Reading to Gatwick Airport was launched on 12 May 1980 using three-car class 119
DMMUs, based on the Western region. The trains were especially modified for this service to create extra luggage space: the buffet counter in the centre coach was removed. Class 101
three-car units were later used on the route as well.
All of the stations between Shalford and Betchworth inclusive, were recommended for closure in the Beeching Report of 1962. The report recommended that the whole of the North Downs Line should be developed as a trunk route.
The Travelling Post Office
train from Dover
to Manchester
via Tonbridge
, Redhill
, Guildford
and Reading
was routed along the line from May 1988 until 2004. The Network Rail 2008 Strategic Business Plan recommended that an enhancement project for the line should be pursued to enable freight traffic from the Channel Tunnel
to use the line.
Electrification had been shelved prior to World War II as it was felt that little traffic would be generated. Unelectrified routes of the North Downs Line included Wokingham railway station
to Ash railway station
(Aldershot South Junction) and Shalford Junction to Reigate. In August 1981, Modern Railways magazine studied an electrification strategy for the then Southern Region of British Railways. The article saw potential on the route with the area having developed rapidly, and also with the prospect of Channel Tunnel traffic; cross-country passenger and freight workings might also be diverted along the route. Subsequently some of the routes considered were indeed electrified; other routes mentioned included South Croydon-Oxted-East Grinstead* (1987), Bournemouth-Weymouth (1988), Hilsea/Farlington Junction-St Denys/Eastleigh (1990) and Redhill-Tonbridge (at the time the furthest extent of North Downs Line services, in 1994).
According to internet sources, electrification of these sections of the North Downs Line was again discussed as part of the Blackwater Valley Rail Survey, in 1991. Motive power from the outset would have been the BR Mark 1-based electric stock classes, but the idea was scrapped when the conventional diesel multiple units on the region began to be replaced by the current Class 165/166 'Turbos'.
*Hurst Green/Tunbridge Wells to Eridge and Uckfield was also mentioned in the same scheme, but remains unelectrified today. The Tunbridge Wells-Eridge portion
closed to BR passenger traffic in 1985.
On the south side of the line between Chilworth
and Gomshall
a yew
hedge known as Jesse's Seat has been cut into the shape of a pheasant. It is a memorial to a guard who was killed in an accident at this spot in about 1910.
routes:
Based on the December 2006 - May 2007 timetable. Stations in italics are served in peak hours only.
Between Guildford and Redhill the off-peak stopping service pattern alternates every hour, giving Shalford an hourly service and Chilworth, Gomshall, Dorking West and Betchworth one train every two hours.
During peak hours the stopping service between Guildford and Redhill calls at all stations.
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, on the Great Western Main Line
Great Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
, to Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport railway station
Gatwick Airport station is the railway station at London Gatwick Airport that provides a direct rail connection to London 43 km away. The station platforms are located directly below the airport’s South Terminal, and the ticket office is adjacent to that terminal’s concourse...
, on the Brighton Main Line
Brighton Main Line
The Brighton Main Line is a British railway line from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton. It is about 50 miles long, and is electrified throughout. Trains are operated by Southern, First Capital Connect, and Gatwick Express, now part of Southern.-Original proposals:There were no fewer...
. It is also the name used to refer to the line over which these services run between Reading and Redhill.
The route
Despite its name the line does not run along the top of the North Downs, but loosely shadows the main chalk ridge of the North Downs between Redhill and Ash at a lower level. Between Reigate and Gomshall the line runs along the foot of the North Downs escarpment in the Vale of Holmesdale. At Guildford it runs through the gap in the Downs carved by the river Wey, with a short tunnel just south of Guildford station, and further west between Guildford and Ash the line runs to the north of the Hog's Back. It then follows the Blackwater valley as far as Sandhurst, before continuing to Reading.History of the line's construction
The line was authorised by Acts of Parliament in 1846 and 1847 and most of it was constructed by the Reading, Guildford and Reigate Railway Company (RG&RRC), opening in 1849. (A central section of the line near Guildford was built by a predecessor of the LSWR.) The stated objective of the company was to
"secure through traffic passing between the West, North and Midlands and the Channel Ports avoiding the congestion of London and thus saving time, distance and expense."
Although the company had some independent shareholders, it was closely associated with the South Eastern Railway
South Eastern Railway (UK)
The South Eastern Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent...
(SER). The original intention was for the SER to build part of the line itself, but this proposal was rejected by Parliament. The independence of the company was only a formality to satisfy Parliament. The two companies had some common directors; a SER engineer controlled the construction of the line. As intended at outset, the line was leased to the SER in 1850, and the two companies finally merged in 1852. The company's relationship with the GWR is described as "enigmatic". The GWR initially offered the company the use of its facilities at Reading station but terms could not be agreed and a separate station was built.
The SER operated the line from its opening, and ran passenger services on it from Reading to London Charing Cross
Charing Cross station
Charing Cross station may refer to:In London, England:*Charing Cross railway station*Charing Cross tube station **Embankment tube station was previously named Charing CrossIn Glasgow, Scotland:...
via Redhill
Redhill railway station
Redhill railway station serves the town of Redhill, Surrey, England. The station is a major interchange point on the Brighton Main Line 21 miles south of London Victoria...
. Even today, the distances along the line are measured from the terminus of the former SER.
Technical information
The line is two track throughout, except for a short single track section on the approach to Reading. Reversible working is provided on the down line between Guildford and Shalford. The entire line is designated W6 gauge and overnight engineering possessions of up to 4.5 hours are available.- Reading to Wokingham is electrifiedRailway electrification in Great BritainRailway 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...
(3rd rail, 750 V DC) and signalled under the TCB (Track circuit blockTrack circuitA track circuit is a simple electrical device used to detect the absence of a train on rail tracks, used to inform signallers and control relevant signals.- Principles and operation :...
) system from Wokingham Signal Box. Signalling headways are 3 minutes for fast services and 3.5 minutes for stopping services. The line speed is 70 mph (31.3 m/s), except for two 30 mph (13.4 m/s) restrictions (on the approach to Reading and through Wokingham station). - Wokingham to North Camp is also under the control of Wokingham Signal Box, however long distances between signals increase headways to 6 minutes and 11 minutes for fast and stopping services respectively (the longest headways on the line). This section is not electrified and the line speed is 70 mph.
- North Camp to Shalford Junction is controlled from Guildford (TCB). Signalling headways are 2 minutes with an additional 1 minute added for stopping services. This section is electrified (3rd rail, 750 V DC) from Aldershot South Junction. The line speed is 70 mph, except for a 40 mph (17.9 m/s) restriction at Ash Junction (between Ash and Wanborough) where the line curves sharply, and a 30 mph restriction on the approaches to Guildford station.
- Shalford Junction to Reigate The route leaves the Portsmouth Direct LinePortsmouth Direct LineThe Portsmouth Direct Line is the route of a railway service operated by South West Trains which runs between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour, England...
at Shalford Junction and there is a 20 mph restriction. From here to Reigate the line is not electrified. It is controlled by Guildford from Shalford Junction to Gomshall and by Reigate Signal Box (TCB) from Gomshall to Redhill. Signalling headways are 5 minutes for fast trains and 7 minutes for stopping services. The line speed varies from 30 mph (on the approach to Shalford junction) to 70 mph. - Redhill to Reigate is electrifiedRailway electrification in Great BritainRailway 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...
(3rd rail, 750 V DC). The approach to Redhill is controlled by Three Bridges Signalling Centre and has a 30 mph speed restriction.
The major capacity constraints are the platform capacities of Reading, Redhill and Gatwick Airport stations.
At Reading, North Downs Line services normally terminate at platforms 4a and 4b on the south side of the station, although access to other platforms is possible via a junction with the Great Western Main Line
Great Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
(see map, right). Trains could formerly access the north side of Reading station via an underpass, although this has been disused for some time. The access to platforms 4a and 4b is via a short single track section, which severely limits capacity. As part of the 2012 Reading resignalling scheme, an additional platform will be provided for North Downs Line services. The underpass may also be reinstated.
Network SouthEast originally planned to electrify the whole route, with a completion date of 1993 being published, but these plans were dropped.
Current passenger services and rolling stock
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
using Class 165
British Rail Class 165
The British Rail Class 165 Turbo is a fleet of suburban diesel multiple units , originally specified by and built for British Rail, the then United Kingdom state owned railway operator. They were built by BREL at York Works between 1990 and 1992...
and Class 166
British Rail Class 166
The British Rail Class 166 Turbo Express is a fleet of diesel multiple units , originally specified by and built for British Rail, the then United Kingdom state owned railway operator. They were built by ABB at York Works between 1992 and 1993...
Network Turbo diesel multiple units. Hourly semi-fast services run from Reading
Reading railway station
Reading railway station is a major rail transport hub in the English town of Reading. It is situated on the northern edge of the town centre, close to the main retail and commercial areas, and also the River Thames...
to Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport railway station
Gatwick Airport station is the railway station at London Gatwick Airport that provides a direct rail connection to London 43 km away. The station platforms are located directly below the airport’s South Terminal, and the ticket office is adjacent to that terminal’s concourse...
and there is an hourly stopping service between Reading
Reading railway station
Reading railway station is a major rail transport hub in the English town of Reading. It is situated on the northern edge of the town centre, close to the main retail and commercial areas, and also the River Thames...
and Redhill
Redhill railway station
Redhill railway station serves the town of Redhill, Surrey, England. The station is a major interchange point on the Brighton Main Line 21 miles south of London Victoria...
. At Redhill the Gatwick Airport services reverse to head south along the Brighton Main Line
Brighton Main Line
The Brighton Main Line is a British railway line from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton. It is about 50 miles long, and is electrified throughout. Trains are operated by Southern, First Capital Connect, and Gatwick Express, now part of Southern.-Original proposals:There were no fewer...
. Before 1994, the stopping services continued to Tonbridge
Tonbridge railway station
Tonbridge railway station is a station serving the town of Tonbridge in Kent, England. It is a junction between two important commuter routes; the South Eastern Main Line serving Ashford, Ramsgate and Dover and the Hastings Main Line serving Tunbridge Wells and Hastings, as well as a branch to...
, however the line between Redhill and Tonbridge was electrified in 1993 to provide an additional diversionary route for Eurostar
Eurostar
Eurostar is a high-speed railway service connecting London with Paris and Brussels. All its trains traverse the Channel Tunnel between England and France, owned and operated separately by Eurotunnel....
trains to continental Europe. Services on this line now run to London Bridge
London Bridge station
London Bridge railway station is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex in the London Borough of Southwark, occupying a large area on two levels immediately south-east of London Bridge and 1.6 miles east of Charing Cross. It is one of the oldest railway stations in the...
and are operated by Southern.
Additional services on the North Downs Line are provided by South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
between Reading and Wokingham (trains to/from London Waterloo) and between Ash and Guildford (trains to/from Alton
Alton railway station
Alton railway station is a railway station in the town of Alton, in the English county of Hampshire. The station is the terminus for two railway lines; the Alton Line which runs to Brookwood and onto London Waterloo and the Mid Hants Watercress Railway, which runs to Alresford. The latter once ran...
or Ascot
Ascot railway station
Ascot railway station is a railway station in the town of Ascot in Berkshire, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by South West Trains. It is at the junction of the Waterloo to Reading line with the Ascot to Guildford line....
). Southern
Southern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
operate weekday peak hour services between Reigate and Redhill and onwards to London.
Passenger services and rolling stock before privatisation
British Rail Class 206
The British Rail Class 206 or 3R was a type of Diesel electric multiple unit first created in 1964. They were not 'built' as such but rather re-formed from Class 201 and EPB vehicles for use on -- services...
DEMUs on 4 January 1965. The new trains consisted of two 6S (class 201) coaches from the Hastings Line
Hastings Line
The Hastings Line is a railway line in Kent and East Sussex linking Hastings with the main town of Tunbridge Wells, and from there into London via Sevenoaks.-Openings:The line was opened by the South Eastern Railway in main three stages: – :...
coupled to adapted 2EPB driving trailer units. As a result of the visible difference in width between the narrow Hastings Line stock and the standard width Hampshire trailer, the units were nicknamed Tadpoles. Additional peak time services were hauled by class 33
British Rail Class 33
The British Rail Class 33 also known as the BRCW Type 3 or Crompton is a class of Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotives ordered in 1957 and built for the Southern Region of British Railways between 1960 and 1962....
diesel locomotives until May 1977.
The express service from Reading to Gatwick Airport was launched on 12 May 1980 using three-car class 119
British Rail Class 119
The British Rail Class 119 DMUs were used throughout the Western Region and on services in the Midlands sourced by Tyseley Depot. Shortly after their introduction, sets were transferred from Cardiff to serve the intermediate stations on outer suburban services from London Paddington to Oxford...
DMMUs, based on the Western region. The trains were especially modified for this service to create extra luggage space: the buffet counter in the centre coach was removed. Class 101
British Rail Class 101
The British Rail Class 101 diesel multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham from 1956 to 1959, following construction of a series of prototype units. This class proved to be the most successful and longest-lived of all BR's First Generation DMUs, with the final five...
three-car units were later used on the route as well.
All of the stations between Shalford and Betchworth inclusive, were recommended for closure in the Beeching Report of 1962. The report recommended that the whole of the North Downs Line should be developed as a trunk route.
Freight services and rolling stock
there are no scheduled freight services which use the line.The Travelling Post Office
Travelling Post Office
A Travelling Post Office was a type of mail train in the UK where the post was sorted en-route. The last Travelling Post Office services were ended on 9 January 2004, with the carriages used now sold for scrap or to preservation societies....
train from Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
via Tonbridge
Tonbridge
Tonbridge is a market town in the English county of Kent, with a population of 30,340 in 2007. It is located on the River Medway, approximately 4 miles north of Tunbridge Wells, 12 miles south west of Maidstone and 29 miles south east of London...
, Redhill
Redhill, Surrey
Redhill is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead, Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. Redhill and the adjacent town of Reigate form a single urban area.-History:...
, Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
and Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
was routed along the line from May 1988 until 2004. The Network Rail 2008 Strategic Business Plan recommended that an enhancement project for the line should be pursued to enable freight traffic from the Channel Tunnel
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
to use the line.
Electrification proposals
Wokingham
Wokingham is a market town and civil parish in Berkshire in South East England about west of central London. It is about east-southeast of Reading and west of Bracknell. It spans an area of and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 30,403...
to Ash railway station
Ash railway station
Ash railway station serves the village of Ash in Surrey, England. The station is served by South West Trains, who manage the station, and by First Great Western...
(Aldershot South Junction) and Shalford Junction to Reigate. In August 1981, Modern Railways magazine studied an electrification strategy for the then Southern Region of British Railways. The article saw potential on the route with the area having developed rapidly, and also with the prospect of Channel Tunnel traffic; cross-country passenger and freight workings might also be diverted along the route. Subsequently some of the routes considered were indeed electrified; other routes mentioned included South Croydon-Oxted-East Grinstead* (1987), Bournemouth-Weymouth (1988), Hilsea/Farlington Junction-St Denys/Eastleigh (1990) and Redhill-Tonbridge (at the time the furthest extent of North Downs Line services, in 1994).
According to internet sources, electrification of these sections of the North Downs Line was again discussed as part of the Blackwater Valley Rail Survey, in 1991. Motive power from the outset would have been the BR Mark 1-based electric stock classes, but the idea was scrapped when the conventional diesel multiple units on the region began to be replaced by the current Class 165/166 'Turbos'.
*Hurst Green/Tunbridge Wells to Eridge and Uckfield was also mentioned in the same scheme, but remains unelectrified today. The Tunbridge Wells-Eridge portion
Spa Valley Railway
The Spa Valley Railway is a standard gauge heritage railway that runs between Tunbridge Wells, High Rocks, Groombridge, and Eridge railway station, where it links with the Oxted Line. En route it crosses the Kent and East Sussex border, a distance of 5 miles , along the former Three Bridges to...
closed to BR passenger traffic in 1985.
Lineside features
On the south side of the line between Chilworth
Chilworth railway station
Chilworth railway station serves the village of Chilworth in Surrey, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by First Great Western. It is situated on the North Downs Line.-Services:...
and Gomshall
Gomshall railway station
Gomshall railway station serves the village of Gomshall in Surrey, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by First Great Western. It is situated on the North Downs Line.-History:...
a yew
Taxus
Taxus is a genus of yews, small coniferous trees or shrubs in the yew family Taxaceae. They are relatively slow-growing and can be very long-lived, and reach heights of 1-40 m, with trunk diameters of up to 4 m...
hedge known as Jesse's Seat has been cut into the shape of a pheasant. It is a memorial to a guard who was killed in an accident at this spot in about 1910.
Network Rail routes
The service uses all or part of the following Network RailNetwork Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
routes:
- SW 210 from Reading
- SW 265 from Wokingham
- SW 110 from Guildford
- SW 300 from Shalford Junction
- SO 560 from Gomshall to Redhill
Typical off-peak journey times from Reading
| Destination | Semi-fast services (minutes) |
Stopping services (minutes) |
Frequency (trains per hour) |
Change for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnersh Winnersh railway station Winnersh railway station is a railway station serving Winnersh, Berkshire, England, located between Reading and Wokingham. The station, and the majority of trains calling there, are operated by South West Trains... |
7 | |||
| Wokingham Wokingham railway station Wokingham railway station is a railway station in the town of Wokingham in Berkshire, England. It is situated at the junction of the Waterloo to Reading line with the North Downs Line... |
9 | 9 | 2 | London Waterloo via Bracknell Bracknell railway station Bracknell railway station is a railway station serving the town of Bracknell in Berkshire, England. The station, and all trains calling there, are operated by South West Trains. It is on the London Waterloo-Reading line.... and Staines |
| Crowthorne Crowthorne railway station Crowthorne railway station is a railway station in the town of Crowthorne in Berkshire, England. The station is managed by First Great Western, who operate services on the North Downs Line from Reading to Guildford, Redhill and Gatwick Airport.... |
14 | 1 | ||
| Sandhurst Sandhurst railway station Sandhurst railway station is a railway station in the town of Sandhurst in Berkshire, England. The station is managed by First Great Western, who operate services on the North Downs Line from Reading to Guildford, Redhill and Gatwick Airport... |
18 | 1 | ||
| Blackwater Blackwater railway station Blackwater railway station is a railway station in Blackwater, a town on the borders of Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire in England. The station is managed by First Great Western, who provide services on the North Downs Line from Reading to Guildford, Redhill and Gatwick Airport.Blackwater station... |
14 | 21 | 2 | |
| Farnborough North Farnborough North railway station Farnborough North railway station is a railway station in the town of Farnborough in Hampshire, England. The station is managed by First Great Western, who operate services on the North Downs Line from Reading to Guildford, Redhill and Gatwick Airport.... |
26 | 1 | ||
| North Camp North Camp railway station North Camp railway station is situated in the civil parish of Ash in Surrey, England. It takes its name from an area of the nearby town of Farnborough, Hampshire.... |
23 | 30 | 2 | |
| Ash Ash railway station Ash railway station serves the village of Ash in Surrey, England. The station is served by South West Trains, who manage the station, and by First Great Western... |
34 | 1 | Aldershot, Farnham, Alton and Ascot | |
| Wanborough Wanborough railway station Wanborough railway station is situated in Flexford in Surrey, England and serves the village of Normandy to the north and Wanborough to the south. The station is served by South West Trains, who manage the station, and by First Great Western... |
38 | |||
| Guildford | 34 | 45 | 2 | London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour |
| Shalford Shalford railway station Shalford railway station serves the village of Shalford in Surrey, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by First Great Western. It is situated on the North Downs Line.- Services :... |
49 | 1 | ||
| Chilworth Chilworth railway station Chilworth railway station serves the village of Chilworth in Surrey, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by First Great Western. It is situated on the North Downs Line.-Services:... |
53 | 0.5 | ||
| Gomshall Gomshall railway station Gomshall railway station serves the village of Gomshall in Surrey, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by First Great Western. It is situated on the North Downs Line.-History:... |
59 | 0.5 | ||
| Dorking West Dorking West railway station Dorking West railway station serves the town of Dorking in Surrey, England. It is the quietest of the three stations in the town, the others being Dorking and Dorking Deepdene... |
62 | 0.5 | ||
| Dorking (Deepdene) | 52 | 64 | 2 | London Waterloo, London Victoria and Horsham from Dorking Station |
| Betchworth Betchworth railway station Betchworth railway station is in Surrey, England. The station is on the North Downs Line and is unmanned. All trains serving it are operated by First Great Western.-History:The station was built by the Reading, Guildford and Reigate Railway Company in 1849... |
69 | 0.5 | ||
| Reigate Reigate railway station Reigate railway station is in Surrey, England. On the North Downs Line, the station is managed by Southern, which provides an hourly service to London Bridge via Redhill... |
60 | 74 | 2 | |
| Redhill Redhill railway station Redhill railway station serves the town of Redhill, Surrey, England. The station is a major interchange point on the Brighton Main Line 21 miles south of London Victoria... |
64 | 81 | 2 | London Victoria, London Bridge and Tonbridge |
| Gatwick Airport Gatwick Airport railway station Gatwick Airport station is the railway station at London Gatwick Airport that provides a direct rail connection to London 43 km away. The station platforms are located directly below the airport’s South Terminal, and the ticket office is adjacent to that terminal’s concourse... |
76 | 1 | Eastbourne, Brighton and Littlehampton |
Between Guildford and Redhill the off-peak stopping service pattern alternates every hour, giving Shalford an hourly service and Chilworth, Gomshall, Dorking West and Betchworth one train every two hours.
| Hour 1 | Guildford Guildford (Surrey) railway station Guildford railway station is an important railway junction on the Portsmouth Direct Line serving the town of Guildford in Surrey, England. It is 30.3 miles from London Waterloo.... |
Shalford | Chilworth | Gomshall | Dorking (Deepdene) Dorking Deepdene railway station Dorking Deepdene railway station is in Surrey.The station and all trains serving it are operated by First Great Western. It is on the North Downs Line. It is one of three stations in Dorking, the other two being Dorking and Dorking West... |
Reigate Reigate railway station Reigate railway station is in Surrey, England. On the North Downs Line, the station is managed by Southern, which provides an hourly service to London Bridge via Redhill... |
Redhill Redhill railway station Redhill railway station serves the town of Redhill, Surrey, England. The station is a major interchange point on the Brighton Main Line 21 miles south of London Victoria... |
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| Hour 2 | Guildford Guildford (Surrey) railway station Guildford railway station is an important railway junction on the Portsmouth Direct Line serving the town of Guildford in Surrey, England. It is 30.3 miles from London Waterloo.... |
Shalford | Dorking West | Dorking (Deepdene) Dorking Deepdene railway station Dorking Deepdene railway station is in Surrey.The station and all trains serving it are operated by First Great Western. It is on the North Downs Line. It is one of three stations in Dorking, the other two being Dorking and Dorking West... |
Betchworth | Reigate Reigate railway station Reigate railway station is in Surrey, England. On the North Downs Line, the station is managed by Southern, which provides an hourly service to London Bridge via Redhill... |
Redhill Redhill railway station Redhill railway station serves the town of Redhill, Surrey, England. The station is a major interchange point on the Brighton Main Line 21 miles south of London Victoria... |
During peak hours the stopping service between Guildford and Redhill calls at all stations.
See also
- Great Western Main LineGreat Western Main LineThe Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
- Reading to Waterloo LineWaterloo to Reading LineThe Waterloo to Reading Line is a National Rail suburban electric railway line running generally westwards from London, England. It is operated by South West Trains...
- Alton LineAlton LineThe Alton Line is a railway line operated by South West Trains. Today Alton station is the terminus of a main line branch, although it was at one time the junction for three lines. The branch leaves the South Western Main Line at Pirbright Junction near Brookwood...
- Portsmouth Direct LinePortsmouth Direct LineThe Portsmouth Direct Line is the route of a railway service operated by South West Trains which runs between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour, England...
- Mole Valley LineSutton & Mole Valley LineThe Sutton & Mole Valley Lines are a group of railway lines constructed between 1847 and 1868 by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, the London and South Western Railway and the LBSCR-sponsored Horsham, Dorking and Leatherhead Railway.-Services:The scheduled services run along the Sutton...
- Brighton Main LineBrighton Main LineThe Brighton Main Line is a British railway line from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton. It is about 50 miles long, and is electrified throughout. Trains are operated by Southern, First Capital Connect, and Gatwick Express, now part of Southern.-Original proposals:There were no fewer...
- Redhill to Tonbridge LineRedhill to Tonbridge LineThe Redhill to Tonbridge Line is a railway line running from Redhill, Surrey to Tonbridge, Kent in southeast England. It branches off the Brighton Main Line at Redhill station and, after 20 miles, joins the South Eastern Main Line at Tonbridge station....