Ashford–Ramsgate line

Ashford to Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) Line
The Ashford to Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) Line, shown with other railway lines in Kent.
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Network Rail
Locale	Kent, South East England
Stations	11
Service
Type	Heavy rail
System	National Rail
Operator(s)	Southeastern
Rolling stock	Class 375 "Electrostar"
Technical
Track gauge	Standard gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

Ashford–Ramsgate line
Chatham Main Line to Faversham Margate Sands Margate Margate East Broadstairs Tivoli Dumpton Park Ramsgate Harbour Tunnel ( 1124 yd 1028 m ) Ramsgate Harbour Ramsgate Town Depot & Ramsgate St Lawrence for Pegwell Bay Thanet Parkway Ebbsfleet and Cliffsend Halt Kent Coast line to Dover Priory Minster Grove Ferry and Upstreet Chislet Colliery Halt Sturry Canterbury North Lane Canterbury & Whitstable Railway Canterbury West Curve closed 1953 Chatham Main Line to Dover Priory Elham Valley Railway A2 Chartham Chilham Wye M20 Ashford Steam Centre Depot High Speed 1 to Channel Tunnel Depot South Eastern Main Line Marshlink line Ashford International Maidstone line to Swanley High Speed 1 to St Pancras Depot South Eastern Main Line

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

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.