| Caterham line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Overview | |||
| Status | Operational | ||
| Owner | Network Rail | ||
| Locale | Greater London Surrey | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | Kenley Whyteleafe Whyteleafe south | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Commuter rail, Suburban rail | ||
| System | National Rail | ||
| Operator(s) | Southern | ||
| Rolling stock | Class 377 "Electrostar" | ||
| Ridership | 2006–07 = 1.657 million  2007–08 = 1.843 million 2008–09 = 1.808 million  2009–10 = 1.799 million 2010–11 = 1.857 million 2011–12 = 1.936 million | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 5 August 1856 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
| Electrification | 750 V DC third rail | ||
| |||
The Caterham line is a railway branch line running from Caterham in Surrey to Purley in South London. It operates as a commuter service to London.
The line was opened by local promoters as the Caterham Railway in 1856 primarily to convey firestone from quarries south of Caterham. There was intense rivalry and suspicion between the two main line railway companies at Purley, the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) and the South Eastern Railway (SER), and this led to both of them obstructing successful operation of the Caterham Railway. In any case the local population was sparse and agricultural in character, and the Caterham Railway was loss-making.
It was acquired by the SER in 1859, but it was not until the latter years of the nineteenth century that residential development made the commercial situation of the line more buoyant. The line was doubled and a programme of station and infrastructure improvements was completed by 1900. The line was electrified in 1928.
After many years allied to the South Eastern Division of British Railways, the line is now operated by the Southern train operating company; a half-hourly service to London Bridge is operated.