Bexleyheath Line
Encyclopedia
The Bexleyheath Line runs for 8 miles (13 km) from Blackheath
to Dartford
in Kent
operating between the North Kent Line
just to the east of Blackheath station and to the same line south of Slade Green
in Dartford.
) secured the necessary Act of Parliament
to build the line in 1883 but was not until 1 May 1895 that the Bexleyheath Line was finally opened. The company soon went into bankruptcy South Eastern Railway
who had refused to build a line to serve the area between the two lines was then forced to take it over.
The line was electrified
with the other South Eastern and Chatham Railway
local routes to Dartford
on 6 June 1926 by Southern Railway
.
The Eltham Well Hall rail crash
took place close to at Eltham Well Hall station in 1972 and resulted in 5 deaths and 126 injuries.
In 1985 the new Eltham railway station
replaced two nearby stations; Well Hall station/Eltham Well Hall station) and Shooters Hill & Eltham Park station/Eltham Park station. The change coincided with the opening of the Rochester Relief Road which forms part of the A2 road.
From 11 December it is planned that the Barnehurst will continue to and return to London Cannon Street.
Evenings & Sunday:
Blackheath railway station
Blackheath railway station is situated in the heart of Blackheath village in London at . The track passes through the village and is crossed by a road overbridge on which the station buildings stand....
to Dartford
Dartford railway station
Dartford railway station serves the town of Dartford in Kent, England. All train services from the station are operated by Southeastern, which also manages the station...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
operating between the North Kent Line
North Kent Line
The North Kent Line is a railway line which connects central and south east London with Dartford and Medway.-Construction:The North Kent Line was the means by which the South Eastern Railway were able to connect its system to London at London Bridge...
just to the east of Blackheath station and to the same line south of Slade Green
Slade Green railway station
Slade Green railway station is in the London Borough of Bexley, southeast London, on the North Kent Line. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by Southeastern.- Services :The typical off-peak service from the station is:...
in Dartford.
History
The Bexley Heath Railway led by railway engineer Alfred Bean (owner of Danson HouseDanson House
Danson House is a Georgian mansion at the centre of Danson Park, to the west of Bexleyheath in the London Borough of Bexley, south-east London.-18th Century:...
) secured the necessary Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
to build the line in 1883 but was not until 1 May 1895 that the Bexleyheath Line was finally opened. The company soon went into bankruptcy 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...
who had refused to build a line to serve the area between the two lines was then forced to take it over.
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...
with the other South Eastern and Chatham Railway
South Eastern and Chatham Railway
The South Eastern and Chatham Railway Companies Joint Management Committee , known by its shorter name of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway was a working union of two neighbouring rival railways, the South Eastern Railway and London, Chatham and Dover Railway , that operated services between...
local routes to Dartford
Dartford railway station
Dartford railway station serves the town of Dartford in Kent, England. All train services from the station are operated by Southeastern, which also manages the station...
on 6 June 1926 by Southern Railway
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
.
The Eltham Well Hall rail crash
Eltham Well Hall rail crash
The Eltham Well Hall rail crash was an accident on the British railway system that occurred on 11 June 1972 at approximately 21:35.An excursion train from Margate to Kentish Town derailed on a sharp curve at Eltham Well Hall station, Eltham, London. The driver and five passengers were killed, and...
took place close to at Eltham Well Hall station in 1972 and resulted in 5 deaths and 126 injuries.
In 1985 the new Eltham railway station
Eltham railway station
Eltham railway station is a railway station in Eltham, in the London Borough of Greenwich and on the Bexleyheath Line. The station and all trains serving it, are operated by Southeastern...
replaced two nearby stations; Well Hall station/Eltham Well Hall station) and Shooters Hill & Eltham Park station/Eltham Park station. The change coincided with the opening of the Rochester Relief Road which forms part of the A2 road.
Service patterns
Off-peak & Saturday:- 2tph between London Charing Cross & DartfordDartford railway stationDartford railway station serves the town of Dartford in Kent, England. All train services from the station are operated by Southeastern, which also manages the station...
(not calling at New Cross) - 2tph between London Cannon Street & BarnehurstBarnehurst railway stationBarnehurst railway station serves Barnehurst, London Borough of Bexley: it is 13.9 miles from Central London on the Bexleyheath Line...
(calling at New Cross) - 2tph between London Victoria & DartfordDartford railway stationDartford railway station serves the town of Dartford in Kent, England. All train services from the station are operated by Southeastern, which also manages the station...
From 11 December it is planned that the Barnehurst will continue to and return to London Cannon Street.
Evenings & Sunday:
- 2tph between London Charing Cross & DartfordDartford railway stationDartford railway station serves the town of Dartford in Kent, England. All train services from the station are operated by Southeastern, which also manages the station...
(calling at New Cross)