Caterham line

The Caterham branch was opened as the Caterham Railway on 5 August 1856, from a junction with the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR). The opening had been delayed because of a quarrel between the LB&SCR and the South Eastern Railway (SER), in whose territory the line was deemed to be. When the Caterham Railway went bankrupt in 1859, the SER took it over. The line was increased from single track to double track in 1899. It was electrified in 1928.

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  A 4 EPB on the Southern Region standing at Caterham railway station in 1984
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  A 1905 Railway Clearing House map of the Caterham line and surrounding lines

The line is double-track and electrified at 750 V DC using third rail. Immediately south of the junction station at Purley the Tattenham Corner line leaves, and the railway follows the valley opposite Riddlesdown and the Oxted line, which it parallels almost to Caterham. The branch has a line speed of 60 mph.

2 tph to London Bridge, calling at Caterham, Whyteleafe South, Whyteleafe, Kenley, Purley, Purley Oaks, South Croydon, East Croydon and London Bridge. This service divides/attaches at Purley, with the other portion continuing to the Tattenham Corner line. This service is operated by Class 377/6 or 7.

2 tph to London Bridge, calling at Caterham, Whyteleafe South, Whyteleafe, Kenley, Purley, East Croydon, Selhurst, Thornton Heath, Norbury, Streatham Common, Streatham, Tulse Hill, North Dulwich, East Dulwich, Peckham Rye, Queen's Road Peckham, South Bermondsey and London Bridge. This service is operated by a pair of Class 455s.

During the peak hours, the latter service is replaced by a train to/from London Victoria, which calls at all stations to East Croydon, then Clapham Junction and London Victoria. This service runs jointly to Tattenham Corner, and is operated by Class 377/6 or 7.

Oyster and contactless payment cards are valid for travel on the entire length of the route. The line from Purley to Caterham is located entirely within Travelcard Zone 6.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caterham Line.

• History of the branch line

• Spence, Jeoffry (1986). The Caterham Railway. The Oakwood Press. ISBN 978-0-85361-325-1. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011.
• Moody, G.T. (1979). Southern Electric 1909-1979. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0924-4.
• Glover, John (2001). Southern Electric. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-2807-9.