Sutton Loop Line

Sutton Loop
Sutton platform 2 looking towards West junction with the St Helier Line
Overview
Type	Heavy rail
System	National Rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Greater London South of England
Termini	Streatham Sutton
Stations	14
Services	2
Operation
Owner	Network Rail
Operator(s)	First Capital Connect Southern
Depot(s)	Bedford Cauldwell for FCC Selhurst for Southern
Rolling stock	Class 319 Class 455
Technical
No. of tracks	2 1 bi-directional line at Wimbledon
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Operating speed	Maximum 60 mph

Sutton Loop
Legend Mole Valley Line to Tulse Hill Streatham Brighton Main Line St Helier Line Streatham South Jn Tooting Eastfields Level Crossing Haydons Road Mitcham Eastfields Wimbledon Mitcham Junction Wimbledon Chase South Merton Hackbridge Morden South Carshalton St. Helier Mole Valley Line to West Croydon Sutton Common Sutton West Sutton Epsom Downs Line Mole Valley Line to Epsom

The Sutton Loop Line, now part of Thameslink, does not formally exist, but is the colloquial name for the circular route formed where the St Helier line diverges from the Portsmouth Line at Streatham South junction and rejoins it near Sutton station. Trains leave southwards from Streatham to enter the loop and then return going northwards. The short section between West Sutton station and West junction is known as the "Wall of Death", possibly due to the very steep concrete walls to the cutting on both sides and the sharpness of the curve which resemble the motorcycle ride at a funfair.

Stations

In a clockwise direction round the loop, the stations are:

• Mitcham Eastfields
• Mitcham Junction
• Hackbridge
• Carshalton
• Sutton
• West Sutton
• Sutton Common
• St Helier
• Morden South
• South Merton
• Wimbledon Chase
• Wimbledon
• Haydons Road
• Tooting

Infrastructure

Traction current is supplied at 750 volts DC via the Third Rail. The supply for this is overseen by Selhurst Electrical Control Room. Signalling is Track Circuit Block with multple aspect colour light signals, controlled by Victoria Eastern Power Signal Box. The line is double track throughout, except where a short bi-directionally signalled single line section passes through Wimbledon station platform 9. This is due to the Croydon Tramlink terminus occupying one half of platform 10 (the original Down St Helier Line). The other half of the platform forms a 4-car bay for the St Helier Line.

History

see Wimbledon and Sutton Railway

Services

First Capital Connect

FCC runs services from Luton and St Albans, via Blackfriars round the loop. Clockwise services are described as "Sutton via Mitcham Junction" and anti-clockwise as "Sutton via Wimbledon". Additionally during service disruption or when the core section of the Thameslink route is closed, FCC Sutton Loop services start and end at London Bridge low level station.

Southern

Southern runs a peak service round the loop (clockwise in the morning peak, anticlockwise in the evening peak) from London Bridge low level. It also runs regular services along the route between Sutton and Mitcham Eastfields.