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Ashford to Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) Line

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Type
  
Heavy rail

Status
  
Operational

Operator(s)
  
Southeastern

System
  
National Rail

Stations
  
11

Owner
  
Network Rail

Ashford to Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) Line

Locale
  
Kent, South East England

The Ashford to Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) Line is the railway that runs from Ashford to Ramsgate via Canterbury West. The same termini can be reached by the Kent Coast Line

Contents

The line is electrified (750 V DC third rail).

Services

Services are operated by Southeastern.

Typical service is hourly from Charing Cross to Ashford, dividing there into a part to Ramsgate via Canterbury West, and a part via the Kent Coast Line.

History

The line was built by South Eastern Railway (SER) as a branch from its main line. Their rival London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR) had already built to Canterbury and Ramsgate.

Upon the merging of the SER and LCDR into the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR) the track layout and stations were rationalised at Ashford and on Thanet. In Thanet the SER branch to Margate Sands was closed.

The line was electrified in 1961 under the BR 1955 Modernisation Plan.

Accidents and incidents

  • On 11 August 1858, an excursion train was derailed near Chilham. Three people were killed.
  • On 15 July 1970, an electric multiple unit was in collision with a lorry on an occupation crossing between Chartham and Chilham due to an error by the crossing keeper. The driver of the lorry and the guard of the train were killed.
  • On 26 July 2015, electric multiple unit 375 703 was in collision with a herd of cattle on the line at Chilham and was derailed. There were no injuries amongst the 70 passengers. The line was closed until 30 July.

    • References

    Ashford to Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) Line Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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