Dartford Loop Line

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Dartford Loop Line
Legend London Charing Cross River Thames Waterloo East London Cannon Street River Thames London Bridge To Deptford (Greenwich Line) New Cross St Johns To Nunhead (Nunhead to Lewisham Link) Lewisham To Ladywell (Hayes Line) To Blackheath (Bexleyheath Line) Hither Green To Grove Park Lee Mottingham New Eltham Sidcup Albany Park Bexley Crayford To Barnehurst & Slade Green Dartford To Gillingham

The Dartford Loop Line is one of three lines linking London with Dartford in Kent, England. It lies to the south of the other two: the North Kent Line and the Bexleyheath Line. It was opened by the South Eastern Railway on 1 September 1866: because there are no major engineering works on the route it took a mere four years to build.

The line was electrified with the other SECR local routes to Dartford on 6th June 1926 by Southern Railway.

The line is a little over 14 km (9 miles) in length. The following are the stations served:

• Hither Green - the station lies on the main line from London to Kent: there are separate platforms for the Loop Line
  • here there is a triangular junction for freight traffic going to the extensive Hither Green freight sidings
• Lee
• Mottingham - named Eltham until 1927
• New Eltham - built in 1878 to serve a growing suburban area; originally named Pope Street
• Sidcup
• Albany Park - opened 7 July 1935 to serve a new housing development
• Bexley (the scene of the Bexley derailment)
• Crayford
  • here there is a triangular junction with the North Kent Line providing access to the Slade Green carriage sidings and to Dartford.

Trains run from London (Charing Cross and/or Cannon Street): most terminate at Dartford, although two trains an hour serve the line to Gravesend also.

The line is due to be served by Thameslink trains following the completion of the first phase of the Thameslink Programme.

[edit] See also

• Bexley derailment

v • d • e Railway lines in London: North London: Dudding Hill Line • Gospel Oak-Barking Line • Hertford Loop Line • Lea Valley Lines • North London Line • Northern City Line • St Albans Branch Line • Thameslink • Watford DC Line East London: Romford-Upminster Line South London: Bexleyheath Line • Bromley North Line • Catford Loop Line • Greenwich Line • Dartford Loop Line • Hampton Court Branch Line • Hayes Line • Hounslow Loop Line • Inner South London Line • Outer South London Line • Kingston Loop Line • Nunhead to Lewisham link • Shepperton Branch Line • Tattenham Corner Line • Thameslink • Wimbledon to Sutton Line West London: Greenford Branch • West London Line