Sutton and Mole Valley lines


The Sutton and Mole Valley lines were constructed between 1847 and 1868 by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, the London and South Western Railway and the LBSCR-sponsored Horsham, Dorking and Leatherhead Railway.

Services

Services include commuter services in South London, Surrey and West Sussex operated by Southern, usually from London Victoria to Horsham via Sutton and Dorking. Some Southern services in peak hours from call at and diverge at Leatherhead and serve Effingham Junction and Guildford via the New Guildford Line. The South Western Railway services are operated by Class 455/7s, 455/8s and 455/9s.
The Southern services use the same type of train, but sometimes instead. Southern previously used Class 456 trains but these were transferred to South West Trains in March 2014. SWT re-released these trains on the line in around November 2014.
South Western Railway operates services between London Waterloo and Leatherhead via Raynes Park and Epsom. Half continue along the main line to Dorking, others run to Guildford via Bookham and Effingham Junction.
Thameslink operates services from Tulse Hill to Sutton as part of the Thameslink route to London Blackfriars and Luton using trains.

Technical information

The route from Raynes Park to Horsham via Epsom and Dorking is known to commuters as the Mole Valley Line – seven out of the 15 stations are in the Surrey district of Mole Valley. The full title Sutton and Mole Valley Lines is used for the lines north of Epsom via Sutton. Confusingly, all Southern services that terminate or call at Sutton are branded as Sutton and Mole Valley Line services.
The lines which form the route include :
None of the lines leads directly to a London terminus, but services use the South Western Main Line to access London Waterloo, the Brighton Main Line to access London Victoria and the Brighton Main Line or the South London Line to access London Bridge.
The following lines are associated with the route, but are considered separate:
The lines are electrified at 750 V DC third rail. Class 455 electrical multiple units are used, with semi-fast and stopping services to Horsham from London Victoria frequently operated by Class 377 Electrostars. Up to the early 1980s, express services to Littlehampton and Bognor Regis were routed along these lines and called at Sutton, Dorking, Horsham and stations to the south coast along the Arun Valley Line & West Coastway Line.
The maximum speed is, with restrictions at Clapham Junction, Streatham Junction, Mitcham Junction, Raynes Park, West Croydon, Sutton and Epsom; at Dorking and the approach to London Victoria; and between Box Hill and Westhumble and Dorking, and between Dorking and Holmwood. Signalling between London Victoria and Ewell East is controlled by London Victoria ; between London Waterloo and Box Hill and Westhumble by Wimbledon ; between Box Hill and Westhumble and Warnham by Dorking ; and between West Croydon & Waddon and Warnham & Horsham by Three Bridges Signalling Centre.
Platform lengths have been extended recently at most stations with twelve-car length platforms at Sutton, Horsham and Dorking and ten-car platforms at most other stations including Ashtead, Ewell East and Epsom.

History of the route

The lines used were the result of several schemes:
There are two tunnels, built between 1860 and 1867.
Mickleham Tunnel is midway between Leatherhead and Box Hill & Westhumble. It is long and runs through the lower chalk of Norbury Park, entering the hillside immediately north of one of the three viaducts over the River Mole. Restrictions imposed by the landowner, Thomas Grissell, meant that vertical ventilation shafts could not be constructed and the tunnel portals were given lavish architectural treatment.
Betchworth Tunnel is south of Dorking. It is long with a maximum gradient of 1 in 80. It runs through the upper greensand of the Deepdene Ridge to the east of the town. Construction difficulties delayed the opening south of Dorking. It collapsed on 27 July 1887, remaining closed for over six months.