South Eastern Main Line

South Eastern Main Line
Southeastern electric multiple units at Charing Cross in 2009
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerNetwork Rail
Locale
Termini
Stations29
Service
TypeCommuter rail, Regional Rail
SystemNational Rail
Operator(s)SE Trains
Depot(s)
Rolling stock
History
Opened1842–44 in stages
Technical
Line length77mi 23ch (124.38 km)
Number of tracks
  • 5 (across Hungerford Bridge)
  • 4 (Charing Cross–Borough Market)
  • 2 (Borough Market–London Bridge)
  • 12 (London Bridge–Bermondsey split
    including Brighton lines)
  • 5 to 6 (Bermondsey split–New Cross)
  • 4 (New Cross–Orpington)
  • 2 (Orpington–Dover)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC third rail
Operating speed100 mph (161 km/h) maximum
Route map

(Click to expand)

The South Eastern Main Line is a major long-distance railway route in South East England, UK, one of the three main routes crossing the county of Kent, going via Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Ashford and Folkestone to Dover. The other routes are the Chatham Main Line which runs along the north Kent coast to Ramsgate or Dover via Chatham and High Speed 1 which runs through the centre of Kent to the coast at Folkestone where it joins the Channel Tunnel.