View source for Brighton Main Line

{{Short description|Railway line between London and Brighton}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox rail line
|name = Brighton Main Line
|image = Clayton Tunnel.JPG
|image_width = 300px
|caption = [[Clayton Tunnel]], one of the most notable structures on the line
|type = [[Regional rail]], [[Suburban rail]]
|system = [[National Rail]]
|status = Operational
|locale = [[Greater London]]<br>[[South East England]]
|start = {{rws|London Victoria}}, {{rws|London Bridge}},
|end = {{rws|Brighton}}
|stations = 37
|routes = 
|open = 1839-1862
|close =
|owner = [[Network Rail]]
|operator = [[Govia Thameslink Railway]]<br>[[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]<br>[[London Overground]]
|depot = [[Stewarts Lane]], [[Selhurst Train and Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot|Selhurst]],<br>[[Brighton Lovers Walk Traction and Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot|Brighton]]
|stock = [[British Rail Class 165|Class 165 "Turbo"]]<br>[[British Rail Class 166|Class 166 "Turbo Express"]]<br>[[British Rail Class 171|Class 171 "Turbostar"]]<br>[[British Rail Class 377|Class 377 "Electrostar"]]<br>[[British Rail Class 378|Class 378 "Capitalstar"]]<br>[[British Rail Class 387|Class 387 "Electrostar"]]<br>[[British Rail Class 700|Class 700 "Desiro City"]]
|linelength = 
|tracklength =
|tracks = 2-5
|gauge = {{track gauge|uksg}}<br>[[Standard-gauge railway|standard gauge]]
|electrification = 750 [[Volt|V]] [[Direct Current|DC]] [[third rail]]
|speed = Max. {{convert|90|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}
|map = [[File:Brighton main line.png|300px]]
|map_state = uncollapsed
}}

The '''Brighton Main Line''' is a railway line in southern England linking London to [[Brighton]]. It starts at two termini in the capital, {{rws|London Victoria}} and {{rws|London Bridge}}, and the branches from each meet at {{rws|East Croydon}}, from where the route continues southwards via {{rws|Gatwick Airport}} to the coast. The line serves the suburbs of [[South London]], as well as the towns of [[Redhill, Surrey|Redhill]], [[Horley]], [[Crawley]], [[Haywards Heath]] and [[Burgess Hill]].

The distance from the London termini to Brighton is around {{cvt|50|mi}} and the fastest end-to-end journey time is about an hour. A variety of passenger services runs on the line, including limited-stop airport expresses, semi-fast regional and outer-suburban trains, and shorter-distance commuter services. These are operated by [[Govia Thameslink Railway]] ([[Gatwick Express]], [[Southern (GTR)|Southern]] and [[Thameslink]]){{efn|Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink are (along with [[Great Northern route|Great Northern]]), all sub-brands of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).}}, [[Transport for London]] ([[London Overground]]) and [[Great Western Railway]]. 

The first part of the Brighton Main Line to be built was the section from London Bridge to Croydon, which was opened by the [[London and Croydon Railway]] (L&CR) in 1839. Two years later, a separate company, the [[London and Brighton Railway]] (L&BR), extended the line to the south coast. In 1846, the L&CR and the L&BR merged to form the [[London, Brighton and South Coast Railway]] (LB&SCR), which began to run trains to London Victoria via the [[West End of London and Crystal Palace Railway]] in 1848. The Brighton Main Line was completed in December 1862, when the LB&SCR opened the direct route between Croydon and Victoria via {{rws|Thornton Heath}}.

The Brighton Main Line is electrified using the 750 [[Volt|V]] [[Direct current|DC]] [[third rail|third-rail]] system and the majority of the route has four tracks. There are seven tunnels, including two on the Quarry Line, which allows express services to bypass the junctions at {{rws|Redhill}} station. The most serious accident on the Brighton Main Line occurred in October 1947, when [[South Croydon rail crash|two trains collided in fog near South Croydon station]], killing 32 people. The listed structures on the route include the [[Ouse Valley Viaduct]], the north portal of [[Clayton Tunnel]] and all three termini.

==Route==
{{Brighton Main Line|collapse=y}}
===Overview===
The Brighton Main Line is a railway line in southern England. It links the capital to [[Brighton]] and passes through [[Greater London]], [[Surrey]] and [[West Sussex]]. It serves [[Gatwick Airport]] and the towns of [[Redhill, Surrey|Redhill]], [[Horley]], [[Crawley]], [[Haywards Heath]] and [[Burgess Hill]], as well as the [[South London]] suburbs. The line starts at two [[London Terminals|central London termini]]: the western branch runs from {{rws|London Victoria}} while the eastern branch originates at {{rws|London Bridge}}. The two branches join at Windmill Bridge Junction, to the north of {{rws|East Croydon}} station. The distance from London Victoria to Brighton is around {{cvt|50|mi}}{{efn|The Sectional Appendix published by [[Network Rail]] in 2009 uses {{rws|London Victoria}} as the [[kilometre zero|datum point]] for the Brighton Main Line and gives a mileage of {{cvt|50|mi|49|ch}} for {{rws|Brighton}} station. However, there are changes in mileage on both the fast (Quarry Line) and slow lines on the south side of {{rws|Redhill}} station and also on the slow lines at Coulsdon North. This means that the total distance from Victoria to Brighton via the Quarry Line is {{cvt|50|mi|55|ch}} and via Redhill is {{cvt|9|ch|-1}} shorter. The distance from {{rws|London Bridge}} to Brighton via the Quarry Line is {{cvt|50|mi|32|ch}} and via Redhill is {{cvt|50|mi|23|ch}}.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}}}} and the line is electrified using the 750 [[Volt|V]] [[Direct Current|DC]] [[third rail|third-rail]] system.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}}

===London Victoria to Windmill Bridge Junction===
[[File:View_over_Grosvenor_railway_bridge_and_beyond,_from_the_NW_chimney_of_Battersea_Power_Station_(geograph_7605652).jpg|thumb|right|[[Grosvenor Bridge]] carries the Brighton Main Line over the [[River Thames]] between {{rws|London Victoria}} and {{rws|Battersea Park}}]]
The London Victoria to Windmill Bridge Junction section of the Brighton Main Line is {{cvt|10|mi|2|ch}} in length and has nine stations in total.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}} Victoria and {{rws|Clapham Junction}} stations are managed by [[Network Rail]]<ref>{{cite web |title= London Victoria |publisher= Network Rail |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/london-victoria/ |access-date= 29 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Clapham Junction |publisher= Network Rail |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/clapham-junction/ |access-date= 29 March 2024}}</ref> and have 19 and 17 operational platforms respectively.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=65-68}}{{efn|Although {{rws|London Victoria}} has a total of 19 platforms, only platforms 9-19 are connected to the Brighton Main Line. Platforms 9-12 are typically used for slow line services, platforms 13 and 14 are used by [[Gatwick Express]] and platforms 15-19 are for fast line services.{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=65-68}} {{rws|Clapham Junction}} has a total of 19 operational platforms, but only platforms 12-17 are connected to the Brighton Main Line.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}}} The other stations ({{rws|Battersea Park}}, {{rws|Wandsworth Common}}, {{rws|Balham}}, {{rws|Streatham Common}}, {{rws|Norbury}}, {{rws|Thornton Heath}} and {{rws|Selhurst}}) are managed by Southern and have four operational platforms each.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}} Train services that use this section of the Brighton Main Line are:
* Victoria to Gatwick Airport and Brighton services, operated by [[Gatwick Express]]
* Victoria to {{rws|East Grinstead}}, {{rws|Reigate}} and the South Coast, operated by [[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]]
* Suburban services from Victoria via [[Sutton railway station (London)|Sutton]] or {{rws|Streatham Hill}}, operated by Southern
* London Bridge to East Croydon stopping services via Norbury, operated by Southern
* {{rws|Hemel Hempstead}} to East Croydon via {{rws|Kensington (Olympia)}}, operated by Southern

With the exception of the line between Victoria and Battersea Park, this part of the Brighton Main Line has four parallel tracks. The fast lines for longer-distance express services are on the western side of the formation and the slow lines are to the east.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}} In general fast services stop at Victoria and Clapham Junction and do not make scheduled calls at the other stations. The maximum permitted speed is {{cvt|70|mph}} on the fast lines and {{cvt|60|mph}} on the slow lines.{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=65-68}} Signalling is controlled from Three Bridges [[rail operating centre]].{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}

 {|class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|+ class="nowrap"|Stations from London Victoria to Windmill Bridge Junction {{nobold|(ordered from north to south)}}
|-
!scope="col"|Station
!scope="col"|Distance from London Victoria{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}
!scope="col"|Number of<br> platforms
!scope="col"|Opening date 
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Original name
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref.
|- style="background:#F8F8FF"
|{{rws|London Victoria}}||{{cvt|0|mi|00|ch}}||19 (10 for main line)||{{date table sorting|1 October 1860}}||||{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=78-79}}
|-
|{{rws|Battersea Park}}||{{cvt|1|mi|23|ch}}||4 (3 for main line)||{{date table sorting|1 May 1857}}||Coulsdon||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=73}}
|-
|{{rws|Clapham Junction}}||{{cvt|2|mi|57|ch}}||17 (6 for main line)||{{date table sorting|2 March 1863}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=135}}
|-
|{{rws|Wandsworth Common}}||{{cvt|4|mi|05|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|1 December 1856}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=469}}
|-
|{{rws|Balham}}||{{cvt|4|mi|52|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|1 December 1856}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=64}}
|-
|{{rws|Streatham Common}}||{{cvt|6|mi|48|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|1 December 1862}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=437}}
|-
|{{rws|Norbury}}||{{cvt|7|mi|36|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|1 January 1878}}||Norbury Hill||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=340}}
|-
|{{rws|Thornton Heath}}||{{cvt|8|mi|64|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|pp=448-449}}
|-
|{{rws|Selhurst}}||{{cvt|9|mi|31|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|1 May 1865}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=409}}
|}

===London Bridge to Windmill Bridge Junction===
[[File:Railway_east_of_London_Bridge_-_panoramio.jpg|thumb|upright|right|The approach to {{rws|London Bridge}} station looking eastwards: The Brighton Main Line tracks are on the right hand side (south side) of the formation.]]
The London Bridge to Windmill Bridge Junction section of the Brighton Main Line is {{cvt|9|mi|61|ch}} in length and has nine stations in total.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}} London Bridge station is managed by [[Network Rail]]<ref>{{cite web |title= London Bridge |publisher= Network Rail |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/london-bridge/ |access-date= 29 March 2024}}</ref> and has 15 platforms.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}}{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=73-76}} All other stations ({{rws|New Cross Gate}}, {{rws|Brockley}}, {{rws|Honor Oak Park}}, {{rws|Forest Hill}}, [[Sydenham railway station (London)|Sydenham]], {{rws|Penge West}}, {{rws|Anerley}} and {{rws|Selhurst}}) are managed by London Overground. Both New Cross Gate and Norwood Junction have five operational platforms, but the intermediate stations have two platforms each, which serve the slow lines only.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}}
Train services that use this section of the Brighton Main Line are:
* [[Govia Thameslink Railway|Thameslink]] services to destinations in Sussex (including Brighton, {{rws|Horsham}} and East Grinstead)
* Outer suburban services from London Bridge to destinations in Surrey (including {{rws|Epsom}}, {{rws|Caterham}} and {{rws|Tattenham Corner}}) operated by Southern
* Victoria{{endash}}London Bridge and Victoria{{endash}}West Croydon via Crystal Palace, operated by Southern
* London Bridge{{endash}}{{rws|Uckfield}}, operated by Southern
* [[London Overground]] [[Windrush line]] services to Crystal Palace and West Croydon

The Brighton Main Line between London Bridge and Windmill Bridge Junction has four parallel tracks. The fast lines for longer-distance express services are in the centre of the formation and the slow lines are to the outside.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}} The maximum permitted speed is {{cvt|70|mph}} on the fast lines and {{cvt|60|mph}} on the slow lines.{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=73-76}} Signalling is controlled from Three Bridges [[rail operating centre]].{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}}

{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|+ class="nowrap"|Stations from London Bridge to Windmill Bridge Junction {{nobold|(ordered from north to south)}}
|-
!scope="col"|Station
!scope="col"|Distance from London Bridge{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO510}}
!scope="col"|Number of<br> platforms
!scope="col"|Opening date 
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Original name
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref.
|- style="background:#F8F8FF"
|{{rws|London Bridge}}||{{cvt|0|mi|00|ch}}||15 (6 for main line)||{{date table sorting|1 December 1836}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=294}}
|-
|{{rws|New Cross Gate}}||{{cvt|2|mi|70|ch}}||5||{{date table sorting|5 June 1839}}|| New Cross||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=333}}
|-
|{{rws|Brockley}}||{{cvt|3|mi|56|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|6 March 1871}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=104}}
|-
|{{rws|Honor Oak Park}}||{{cvt|4|mi|59|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|1 April 1886}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=246}}
|-
|{{rws|Forest Hill}}||{{cvt|5|mi|50|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|5 June 1839}}||Dartmouth Arms||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=197}}
|-
|[[Sydenham railway station (London)|Sydenham]]||{{cvt|6|mi|32|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|5 June 1839}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=442}}
|-
|{{rws|Penge West}}||{{cvt|7|mi|15|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|5 June 1839}}||Penge||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=361}}
|-
|{{rws|Anerley}}||{{cvt|7|mi|47|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|5 June 1839}}||Anerley Bridge||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=51}}
|-
|{{rws|Norwood Junction}}||{{cvt|8|mi|55|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|5 June 1839}}||Jolly Sailor||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=345}}
|}

===Windmill Bridge Junction to Balcombe Tunnel Junction===
{{Annotated image
| image = Ordnance Survey One-inch Sheet 170 London S.W., Published 1970.jpg
| image-width = 8000 <!-- choose any width, as you like it. It doesn't matter the factual width of the image-->
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| annotations =      {{Annotation |90|195|← Windmill Bridge Jnc&nbsp;| text-align=left | font-size-css=85% | font-weight=bold | background-color=#C4C4C4 | color=black |line-height=1}}
| caption = The north Croydon area showing: {{rws|Selhurst}} station (red circle) on the line to {{rws|London Victoria}} (top left); the line to {{rws|London Bridge}} (top right); the line to {{rws|West Croydon}} (bottom left); the line to {{rws|Brighton}} via {{rws|East Croydon}} (bottom centre).
}}The Brighton Main Line between Windmill Bridge Junction and Balcombe Tunnel Junction is {{cvt|21|mi|26|ch}} long and has twelve stations in total.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}} Gatwick Airport station is managed by Gatwick Express,<ref>{{cite web |title= Gatwick Airport |publisher= National Rail |url= https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/gatwick-airport/ |access-date= 29 March 2024 }}</ref> but the other stations are managed by Southern. Gatwick Airport has seven operational platforms, East Croydon and {{rws|Purley}} have six, {{rws|South Croydon}} and {{rws|Three Bridges}} have five, {{rws|Purley Oaks}}, {{rws|Redhill}} and {{rws|Horley}} have four, and the remaining stations ({{rws|Coulsdon South}}, {{rws|Merstham}}, [[Earlswood railway station (Surrey)|Earlswood]] and {{rws|Salfords}}) have two platforms each.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=69-72}} Train services that use this section of the Brighton Main Line are:
* Thameslink services to destinations in Sussex (including Brighton, Horsham and East Grinstead)
* Outer suburban services from London Bridge to Caterham and Tattenham Corner, operated by Southern
* Victoria to East Grinstead, Reigate and the South Coast, operated by Southern
* London Bridge to Uckfield, operated by Southern
* Hemel Hempstead to East Croydon via Kensington (Olympia), operated by Southern
* Victoria to Gatwick Airport and Brighton, operated by Gatwick Express
* {{rws|Reading}} to Gatwick Airport via {{rws|Guildford}}, operated by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]

Between Windmill Bridge Junction and {{rws|South Croydon}} there are five parallel tracks, but for the remainder of this section there are four parallel tracks. Between Stoats Nest Junction and the south of Redhill station, the fast and slow lines diverge. The fast tracks are generally known as the Quarry Line, which provides a bypass route to avoid the junctions at Redhill. There are changes in track mileage on both the fast and slow lines to the south of Redhill. The maximum speed on this section of the Brighton Main Line is {{cvt|90|mph}}.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}

[[File:Merstham_orig_tunnel_south_portal.jpg|thumb|right|South portal of Merstham Tunnel]]
The Brighton Main Line passes in tunnel beneath the [[North Downs]]. The slow lines run through the {{cvt|1|mi|71|yd|adj=on}} [[Merstham tunnels|Merstham Tunnel]] and the fast lines pass through the longer, {{cvt|1|mi|353|yd|adj=on}} Quarry Tunnel. There is one additional tunnel on the Quarry Line, [[Redhill Tunnel]], which is {{cvt|649|yd}} long.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}

{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|+ class="nowrap"|Stations from Windmill Bridge Junction to Balcombe Tunnel Junction {{nobold|(ordered from north to south)}}
|-
!scope="col"|Station
!scope="col"|Distance from London Victoria{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}
!scope="col"|Number of<br> platforms
!scope="col"|Opening date 
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Original name
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref.
|- style="background:#F8F8FF"
|{{rws|East Croydon}}||{{cvt|10|mi|28|ch}}||6||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}||Croydon||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=176}}
|-
|{{rws|South Croydon}}||{{cvt|11|mi|21|ch}}||5||{{date table sorting|1 September 1865}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=421}}
|-
|{{rws|Purley Oaks}}||{{cvt|12|mi|34|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|5 November 1899}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=380}}
|-
|{{rws|Purley}}||{{cvt|13|mi|29|ch}}||6 (4 for main line)||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}||Godstone Road||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=380}}
|-
|{{rws|Coulsdon South}}||{{cvt|17|mi|03|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|1 October 1889}}||Coulsdon||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=145}}
|-
|{{rws|Merstham}}||{{cvt|20|mi|59|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=313}}
|-
|{{rws|Redhill}}||{{cvt|22|mi|40|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|15 April 1844}}||Reigate||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=486}}
|-
|[[Earlswood railway station (Surrey)|Earlswood]]||{{cvt|21|mi|50|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|30 April 1849}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=175}}
|-
|{{rws|Salfords}}||{{cvt|23|mi|37|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|8 October 1915}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=402}}
|-
|{{rws|Horley}}||{{cvt|25|mi|60|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=247}}
|-
|{{rws|Gatwick Airport}}||{{cvt|26|mi|47|ch}}||7||{{date table sorting|28 May 1958}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=205}}
|-
|{{rws|Three Bridges}}||{{cvt|29|mi|21|ch}}||5 (4 for main line)||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|pp=448-449}}
|}

===Balcombe Tunnel Junction to Brighton===
The section of the Brighton Main Line from Balcombe Tunnel Junction to Brighton is {{cvt|19|mi|21|ch}} long. All seven stations on this section are managed by Southern. Brighton has eight platforms, of which six are connected to the Brighton Main Line. Haywards Heath has four platforms and Preston Park has three. The other four stations ({{rws|Balcombe}}, {{rws|Wivelsfield}}, {{rws|Burgess Hill}} and {{rws|Hassocks}}) have two operational platforms each.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}} Train services that use this section of the Brighton Main Line are:
* Thameslink services to Brighton
* Victoria to the South Coast, operated by Southern
* Victoria to Brighton, operated by Gatwick Express

[[File:Haywards Heath Simbids.jpg|thumb|right|The approach to [[Haywards Heath Tunnel]] is signalled for bi-directional working.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}]]
Between Balcombe Tunnel Junction and Brighton, the Brighton Main Line generally has two tracks, signalled for bi-directional working.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}} There are short three- and four-track sections at {{rws|Preston Park}} and {{rws|Haywards Heath}} stations respectively. The maximum line speed is {{cvt|90|mph}}.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}

There are four tunnels on this section of the line: [[Balcombe tunnel]] is {{cvt|1141|yd}} long; [[Haywards Heath Tunnel]] is {{cvt|249|yd}} long;{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}} [[Clayton Tunnel]], at the summit of the line, is {{cvt|1|mi|499|yd}} long; [[Patcham Tunnel]] is {{cvt|1|mi|492|yd}} long. There are two viaducts on this part of the Brighton Main Line: The {{cvt|22|ch|adj=on}} [[Ouse Valley Viaduct]] crosses the [[River Ouse, Sussex|River Ouse]] on 37 brick arches and the shorter Vale Viaduct is {{cvt|3.5|ch}} long.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=69-72}}{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=38-39}}

{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|+ class="nowrap"|Stations from Balcombe Tunnel Junction to Brighton {{nobold|(ordered from north to south)}}
|-
!scope="col"|Station
!scope="col"|Distance from London Victoria{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}}
!scope="col"|Number of<br> platforms
!scope="col"|Opening date 
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Original name
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref.
|- style="background:#F8F8FF"
|{{rws|Balcombe}}||{{cvt|33|mi|64|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=64}}
|-
|{{rws|Haywards Heath}}||{{cvt|37|mi|59|ch}}||4||{{date table sorting|12 July 1841}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=234}}
|-
|{{rws|Wivelsfield}}||{{cvt|40|mi|52|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|1 August 1886}}||Keymer Junction||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=492}}
|-
|{{rws|Burgess Hill}}||{{cvt|41|mi|39|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|January 1842}}{{efn|{{rws|Burgess Hill}} station is first recorded in newspaper advertisements on 27 January 1842, but the exact date of opening is unknown.{{sfn|Quick|2023|pp=109-110}}}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|pp=109-110}}
|-
|{{rws|Hassocks}}||{{cvt|43|mi|42|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|21 September 1841}}||Hassocks Gate||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=231}}
|-
|{{rws|Preston Park}}||{{cvt|49|mi|21|ch}}||3||{{date table sorting|1 November 1869}}||Preston||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=378}}
|-
|{{rws|Brighton}}||{{cvt|50|mi|49|ch}}||8 (6 for main line)||{{date table sorting|12 May 1840}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=101}}
|}

==History==
===London and Croydon Railway (1834{{endash}}1846)===
[[File:S_E_London_railways_1840.jpg|thumb|right|The junction between the [[London and Greenwich Railway]] and the [[London and Croydon Railway]] to the east of {{rws|London Bridge}} in 1840]]
The first part of the Brighton Main Line to be constructed was the section between London Bridge and Croydon. It was proposed in 1834 by the [[London and Croydon Railway]] (L&CR) company.<ref>{{cite news |title= London and Croydon Railway |date= 16 November 1834 |work= The Observer |page= 4 }}</ref> Much of the route, surveyed by [[Joseph Gibbs (engineer)|Joseph Gibbs]], followed the course of the [[Croydon Canal]], the southern terminus of which would be used for Croydon station (now {{rws|West Croydon}}).{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=26-27}}{{efn|The [[Croydon Canal]] closed on 22 August 1836. Its route was followed by the [[London and Croydon Railway]] (L&CR) between New Cross and West Croydon.{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=23-24}}{{sfn|Oppitz|1987|p=8}} Only the southernmost part of the line was directly laid over the course of the former canal. For the remainder, the L&CR followed the general corridor of the waterway.{{sfn|Turner|1977|p=53}} Several sections of canal that were not built over were deliberately retained (some were even stocked with fish) in the hope that they would attract potential residents to new housing developments.{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=47-48}}}} The line would diverge from the [[London and Greenwich Railway]] (L&GR) around {{cvt|1.75|mi}} east of London Bridge station and the L&CR would have running powers into the terminus.{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=26-27}}{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=23-24}}

Passenger trains began running on the L&GR between {{rws|Deptford}} and its temporary London terminus at {{rws|Spa Road}} on 8 February 1835. London Bridge station, the first permanent terminus in the capital, opened on 14 December the following year.{{sfn|Turner|1977|p=28}}{{sfn|Baker|1989|p=20}} The L&CR was authorised by act of parliament on 12 June 1835{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=23-24}} and a second act, permitting the company to build its own terminus at London Bridge, was given royal assent on 14 July 1836.{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=30-31}}{{efn|The [[London and Croydon Railway]]'s London Bridge terminus was to the north of that of the [[London and Greenwich Railway]]. The two companies swapped stations in 1844.{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|pp=14-15}}}} The line between the capital and Croydon was built by the engineer, [[William Cubitt]], and construction began in 1838.{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=47-48}}{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=25-26}} The cost of the line was originally estimated to be around £400,000, but difficulties encountered during the excavation of the [[cut (earthworks)|cutting]] at New Cross, meant that an additional £216,000 was required.{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=25-26}} The route originally surveyed by Gibbs was also modified to ease curves and to reduce the maximum gradient from 1 in 80 to 1 in 100.{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=47-48}}

[[File:JollySailor.jpg|thumb|right|Jolly Sailor station (now {{rws|Norwood Junction}}) in 1845]]
The official opening ceremony for the L&CR took place on 1 June 1839, although passenger trains for the general public did not start until four days later.{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=25-26}}<ref name=Clarke_2020>{{cite magazine |last= Clarke |first= Jeremy |date= April 2020  |title= The 'Croydon Tangle'  |magazine= Southern Way  |issue= 50  |pages= 61–78 |publisher= Crécy Publishing Ltd |location= Manchester |isbn= 978-1-90-932895-2 }}</ref> Since the area between New Cross and Croydon was sparsely populated and largely undeveloped countryside, the majority of passenger journeys on the line were between the two termini. Nevertheless, when the line opened, intermediate stations were provided at New Cross (now New Cross Gate), Dartmouth Arms (now Forest Hill), Sydenham, Penge (now Penge West), Anerley Bridge (now Anerley) and Jolly Sailor (now Norwood Junction).{{sfn|Turner|1977|p=151}} Initially nine steam locomotives operated on the line: five [[Sharp, Stewart and Company|Sharp, Roberts and Co.]] and two [[J. and G. Rennie]] [[2-2-2]] engines were used to haul trains and two [[0-4-2]] locomotives were used as [[bank engine|banking engines]] for the steep climb to New Cross from the junction with the L&GR.{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=25-26}}

===London and Brighton Railway (1837{{endash}}1846)===
In the early 1830s, several different routes for a railway between London and Brighton were proposed. [[John Rennie the Younger]] favoured a line via Merstham and Horley, while the engineers [[Robert Stephenson]] and [[Nicholas Wilcox Cundy|Nicholas Cundy]] preferred longer, but cheaper routes via [[Dorking]] and [[Shoreham-by-Sea]].{{sfn|Turner|1977|p=28}}{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=30-31}}{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=72-74}} The [[London and Brighton Railway]] (L&BR) company, formed to promote Rennie's more direct route,{{sfn|Baker|1989|p=28}} received parliamentary approval for its scheme on 15 July 1837.{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|pp=14-15}}{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=21-23}} The line was to leave the L&CR about a mile from its southern terminus, to head southwards towards Brighton. The L&BR purchased the defunct [[Surrey Iron Railway|Croydon, Merstham and Godstone Railway]] in order to use part of its abandoned trackbed for the new railway.{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=30-31}}

[[File:The North entrance of the Clayton Tunnel - geograph.org.uk - 1577506.jpg|thumb|right|The northern portal of [[Clayton Tunnel]] is constructed in the style of a medieval castle.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1986|loc=Fig. 75}}]]
The first construction contracts were let in 1838 and the first track was laid at Hassocks on 4 February the following year.{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=132-134}} The engineer was [[John Urpeth Rastrick]] and the stations were designed by [[David Mocatta]]. In total, around 6000 [[navvy|navvies]] are thought to have worked to build the railway.{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=30-31}} The line, which required five tunnels and a viaduct over the Ouse valley, cost £2.63M (around £57,000 per mile). Completion was delayed due to bad weather during the winter of 1840-41 and the first section, from Croydon to Haywards Heath, did not open until 12 July 1841.{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=137-139}} The initial timetable included four trains each way on weekdays between the capital and Haywards Heath, with intermediate calls at Redhill, Horley and Three Bridges (calls were made at other stations on request). The journey time was two hours from London and a [[stagecoach|coach]], taking a further two hours to reach Brighton, was provided for onward travel.{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=163-164}}

The final section of the Brighton Main Line, between Haywards Heath and Brighton, opened on 21 September 1841.{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=137-139}} The initial service on the whole line was six trains per day in each direction, with most trains taking {{frac|2|1|4}} hours to complete the journey and one non-stop service in each direction taking {{frac|1|3|4}} hours.{{sfn|Baker|1989|p=40}} The station at Merstham opened on 1 December 1841, but was closed two years later. A station was opened at Stoats Nest (later Coulsdon North) in the spring of 1842 to cater for racegoers at [[Epsom Racecourse|Epsom]].{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=165-166}} Work to widen the shared section of the L&GR viaduct was completed on 10 May that year.{{sfn|Turner|1977|p=167}} The new L&CR London Bridge station, designed by [[Henry Roberts (architect)|Henry Roberts]], opened in 1844.{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=48, 50}} Since the new terminus was not designed to handle freight, a spur line primarily for goods trains was built to {{rws|Bricklayers Arms}} and opened on 1 May that year.{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=46-47}}{{efn|Although {{rws|Bricklayers Arms}} was primarily intended to handle freight, it also provided a stopping place for coaches and so passenger trains were also run to the station although London Bridge remained the primary terminus for the capital.{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=46-47}}}}

[[File:Redhill_jct_station.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|{{rws|Redhill}} station {{circa|1853}}: The station was moved to its current location by the [[South Eastern Railway (England)|South Eastern Railway]] in 1844.{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|pp=44-45}}]]
The [[South Eastern Railway (England)|South Eastern Railway]] (SER) company was formed to promote a railway from London to [[Dover Priory railway station|Dover]]. Under the terms of the act of parliament passed on 21 June 1836, the company was empowered to build a line that left the L&CR at Penge,{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=23-24}} but the following year, parliament permitted the company to instead form a connection to the L&BR at Redhill.{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=33-34}} The Redhill to {{rws|Tonbridge}} section of the SER opened on 26 May 1842.{{sfn|Turner|1977|p=172}} In 1839, anticipating that disputes might arise over the use of the line north of Redhill, parliament instructed the L&BR to sell the Coulsdon{{endash}}Redhill section to the SER. A price of £340,000 was agreed and the transfer of ownership took place in July 1845.{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|pp=17-18}}

On 27 July 1846, parliamentary authority was granted to merge the L&CR and L&BR to form the [[London, Brighton and South Coast Railway]] (LB&SCR).{{sfn|Turner|1978|p=1}}

===London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (1846{{endash}}1922)===
A branch line from Sydenham to {{rws|Crystal Palace}} was opened on 10 June 1854 by the [[West End of London and Crystal Palace Railway]] (WELCPR). The company extended its line to Balham on 1 December 1856 and to {{rws|Pimlico}} in March 1858.{{sfn|Turner|1978|pp=57-58}} A west{{endash}}south spur linking Crystal Palace and Norwood Junction stations was opened in 1857, allowing trains from Brighton to reach the Pimlico terminus. The LB&SCR purchased the WELCPR in 1859.{{sfn| Turner|1978|pp=117-118}} In 1860, the [[Victoria Station and Pimlico Railway]] constructed [[Grosvenor Bridge]] across the [[River Thames]], opening Victoria station on 1 October that year.{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=78-79}}{{efn|The [[Victoria Station and Pimlico Railway]] was authorised by act of parliament on 23 July 1858. The new terminus station, {{rws|London Victoria}}, was built on the site of the former [[Grosvenor Canal]] basin.{{sfn|Turner|1978|p=119}}}}

Although LB&SCR trains could access Victoria station via Crystal Palace,{{sfn|Turner|1978|p=126}} John Rastrick advised that a shorter route to the [[West End of London]] would be "most desirable".{{sfn| Turner|1978|pp=117-118}} The company therefore decided to build a "cut-off" line between Croydon and Balham via Streatham Common. The proposal was authorised by parliament on 3 July 1860{{sfn|Turner|1978|p=126}} and the new double-track line opened on 1 December 1862 with intermediate stations at Thornton Heath and Streatham Common.{{sfn|Turner|1978|p=129}}{{efn|An independent proposal for a line linking {{rws|East Croydon}} to {{rws|Wandsworth Common}} had been presented to parliament in 1851, but had been withdrawn the following year.{{sfn| Turner|1978|pp=60-61}}}} A further act of parliament was passed on 18 July 1864 authorising a link between the Victoria and London Bridge arms of the Brighton Main Line that allowed trains to travel between Norwood Junction and Thornton Heath without a reversal.{{sfn|Turner|1978|p=132}} Selhurst station, on the Victoria arm, opened on 1 May 1865 and South Croydon opened that September.{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=41-42}}

A third track had been laid between New Cross and Croydon in August 1844 for [[atmospheric railway|atmospheric trains]].{{sfn|Turner|1978|p=38}} This method of train propulsion was abandoned by the LB&SCR in 1847,{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|pp=25-26}} but the extra track was retained to provide additional capacity for northbound locomotive-hauled trains. A fourth track, used for southbound services, was added to this section of line by 1854.{{sfn|Turner|1978|p=50}}

[[File:Purley, Red Hill & Stoats Next RJD 130.jpg|thumb|right|upright|The Quarry Line was built at the end of the 19th century to bypass the station and junctions at Redhill.]]
Between Stoats Nest and Redhill, the Brighton Main Line was owned by the SER.{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|pp=17-18}} Congestion at the junctions at the south end of Redhill station prompted the LB&SCR to propose a two-track bypass of this section of line. The new line, which included two new tunnels and extensive cuttings, was authorised by parliament on 20 July 1894.{{sfn|Turner|1979|pp=114-115}} A second act, permitting minor changes to the route, was given royal assent on 20 July 1896.{{sfn|Turner|1979|p=118}} The Quarry Line, as the bypass became known, opened to freight services on 5 November 1899 and to passenger trains on 1 April the following year.{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|pp=100-101}}

Five stations opened on the Brighton Main Line in the 1870s and 1880s. Brockley opened on 6 March 1871 to serve a new area of residential development.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988a|loc=Fig. 53}} Norbury was built on a speculative basis, with one third of the cost being contributed by developers, and opened on 1 January 1878.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1987|loc=Fig. 80}} Similarly, the cost of Honor Oak Park station, which opened on 1 April 1886, was also part-paid by developers.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988a|loc=Fig. 59}} On 1 August that year Wivelsfield opened and trains began calling at Coulsdon South on 1 October 1889. The final station to be built on the line in the 19th century was Purley Oaks, which opened on 5 November 1899.{{sfn|Baker|1989|pp=41-42}}

Work to quadruple the Brighton Main Line continued in the first decade of the 20th century. Two additional tracks were brought into use between Streatham Common and Windmill Bridge Junction (north of Croydon) in July 1903.{{sfn|Baker|1989|p=122}}{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1987|loc=Fig. 76}} The line between Redhill and Three Bridges was quadrupled in 1907{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|pp=100-101}}{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988b|loc=Fig. 113}} and from Three Bridges to the southern limit of four-tracking at Balcombe Tunnel Junction in 1911.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988b|loc=Fig. 116}}

[[File:Electric_railway_journal_(1911)_(14572219409).jpg|thumb|right|Overhead line electrification at {{rws|Balham}} in 1911]]
The first parts of the Brighton Main Line to be electrified, were the approaches to London Bridge and Victoria stations. The chosen system used overhead wires, energised to 6,700 V AC, and multiple units equipped with [[pantograph (transport)|pantographs]] for current collection. The new infrastructure allowed electric trains to start running between the two termini via the [[South London Line]] on 1 December 1909.{{sfn|Brown|2009|p=10}}{{sfn|Turner|1979|p=174}}{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988a|loc= Fig. 7}} On 12 May 1911, the electrification was extended from Battersea Park to Crystal Palace via Balham{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|p=28}} and to Norwood Junction and Selhurst on 3 March 1912.{{sfn|Turner|1979|p=178}}

[[File:The British Army on the Home Front, 1914-1918 Q30511.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Soldiers at {{rws|London Victoria}} station during the First World War]]
During the First World War, the Brighton Main Line was the target of two [[Zeppelin]] attacks. The line at the south end of East Croydon station was damaged on 13 October 1915{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988b|loc= Fig. 3}} and Streatham Common station was hit by a bomb in September 1916.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1987|loc= Fig. 83}} Salfords station was opened on 8 October 1915 initially for the use of workers at the nearby [[Monotype Imaging|Monotype Corporation]] factory. It continued to operate as a private halt after the war and was not opened to the general public until 1932.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=138}}

===Grouping (1923{{endash}}1948)===
[[File:4-lav_emu.jpg|thumb|right|A [[SR Class 4Lav|4-LAV]] electric multiple unit approaching {{rws|Coulsdon North}}: These trains were used on the Brighton Main Line between 1933 and 1969.{{sfn|Glover|2001|pp=42-43}}]]
Under the [[Railways Act 1921]], the Brighton Main Line became part of the [[Southern Railway (UK)|Southern Railway]] in 1923.{{sfn|White|1992|p=179}} The overhead electrification of the line as far south as Coulsdon North was completed in April 1925,<ref>{{cite news |title= More electric trains : New SR sections open |date= 1 April 1925 |work= Daily Telegraph |issue= 21819 |page= 14 }}</ref> but in August the following year, the company decided that all future electrification projects would use the DC third-rail system and that the existing overhead wire system would be replaced.<ref>{{cite news |title= £3,000,000 scheme of Southern Railway : 'Overhead' to disappear |date= 10 August 1926 |work= Daily Telegraph |issue= 22233 |page= 9 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Southern Railway's £3,750,000 scheme : Overhead system to disappear |date= 10 August 1926 |work= Manchester Guardian |issue= 24947 |page= 12 }}</ref> The conversion of the existing electrified sections was completed in September 1929<ref name=Clarke_2020/> and third-rail electrification reached Three Bridges in July 1932.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1986|loc= Fig. 9}}<ref>{{cite news |title= Wiping out the steam trains : First stage of a great electrification scheme |date= 5 July 1932 |work= Evening Standard |issue= 33659 |page= 18 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Electric trains further extensions : Coulsdon to Reigate and Three Bridges |date= 7 July 1932 |work= Sutton and Cheam Advertiser |page= 3 }}</ref> The electrification of the entire line was completed on 1 January 1933, when the section between Three Bridges and Brighton was commissioned.<ref name=Clarke_2020/>{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1986|loc=Fig. 113}}{{sfn|Bonavia|1987|pp=87-89}}

A major resignalling project on the southern part of the Brighton Main Line was undertaken in 1932. Colour light signalling was commissioned between Coulsdon North and Balcombe Tunnel Junction on 4 June 1932. Six signal boxes were closed and control of this section of line was transferred to Three Bridges.{{sfn|Glover|2001|pp=42-43}} In October 1932, colour light signalling was commissioned between Balcombe Tunnel Junction and Brighton. Haywards Heath station was rebuilt with two island platforms, each with two platform faces able to accommodate 12-car trains. Platforms 3 to 6 at Brighton were also lengthened as part of the same project.{{sfn|Glover|2001|pp=42-43}}<ref name=ES_July_1932>{{cite news |title= Southern Railway : Stations under reconstruction |date= 29 July 1932 |work= Evening Standard |issue= 33680 |page= 20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Railway light signals |date= 21 October 1932 |work= Surrey Mirror and County Post |issue= 2855 |page= 9 }}</ref>

Redhill station was substantially rebuilt in 1932 as part of the electrification programme. A new [[sorting office]] was opened in the town in 1933,<ref name=ES_July_1932/>{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=18}}<ref>{{cite news |title= Postal development |date= 22 September 1933 |work= Surrey Mirror and County Post |issue= 2903 |page= 6 }}</ref> replacing the previous facility which had been built in 1884.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=24-25}} Further upgrades to enable larger volumes of mail to be handled at the station were undertaken in 1935 and 1938.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=18}} Rail transport of Post Office mail ceased following the opening of the [[Willesden]] postal rail hub in 1996.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=100}}

[[File:BB_at_Purley_Oaks_1964_cropped.jpg|thumb|right|A [[British Rail Class 403|Class 403 (5-BEL)]] unit in Pullman livery at {{rws|Purley Oaks}} in 1964]]
A [[Pullman train (UK)|Pullman]] dining service between London and Brighton, nicknamed the ''[[Brighton Belle]]'', was launched on 29 June 1934. It used five-car {{cvt|75|mph|adj=on}} capable [[British Rail Class 403|Class 403 (5-BEL)]] units, the first all-electric Pullman trains in the world.{{sfn|Glover|2001|pp=107-108}}{{sfn|Glover|2001|p=45}}<ref>{{cite news |last= Pring |first= Martyn |date= 13 February 2020 |title= The iconic Brighton Belle is returning after 50 years (with wider seats to handle expanding girths) |work= The Telegraph |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/articles/dawn-of-a-new-brighton-belle-epoch/ |access-date= 26 March 2024 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Initially, three return trips ran each day, but the service was increased to four in 1963. The Class 403 sets were withdrawn on 30 April 1972.{{sfn|Glover|2001|pp=107-108}}{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1986|loc= Fig. 116}}

The [[Beehive, Gatwick Airport|Beehive]], the original terminal building at [[Gatwick Airport]], opened in mid-1936. It was served by Tinsley Green station, which had opened in September the previous year and which was renamed Gatwick Airport on 1 June 1936.{{sfn|Oppitz|1987|pp=73-74}}<ref>{{cite news |last= Robertson |first= F. |date= 8 June 1936 |title= London's second airport : Opening ceremony at Gatwick |work= Manchester Guardian |issue= 27996|page= 10 }}</ref> The station was relocated northwards to its current site at the South Terminal on 27 May 1958.{{sfn|Oppitz|1987|pp=73-74}}<ref>{{cite news |title= The Queen's plane makes a trial run into Gatwick |date= 29 May 1958 |work= Evening Standard |issue= 41666 |page= 8 }}</ref>

During the Second World War, the Brighton Main Line was a target for enemy bombing. Bombs caused damage to the tracks at Norbury on 19 October 1940{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1987|loc=Fig. 81}} and outside Victoria station on 21 December that year.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1987|loc=Fig. 21}} Both London termini were damaged in a raid on 11 May 1941 and a [[V-1 flying bomb]] caused extensive damage to the station offices at Victoria on 12 June 1944.{{sfn|Baker|1989|p=175}} Further bomb damage occurred at Forest Hill on 23 June 1944.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988a|loc=Fig. 70}}

===Nationalisation (1948{{endash}}1996)===
[[File:(The former) Balham signal box - geograph.org.uk - 899090.jpg|thumb|right|Balham signal box opened on 12 October 1952 and closed on 7 June 1981.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1987|loc=Fig. 70}}]]
Under the [[Transport Act 1947]], the Brighton Main Line became part of the [[Southern Region of British Railways]]. During the 1950s, work continued to modernise the signalling system, which included the installation of colour lights between Selhurst and East Croydon in March 1954.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988a|loc=Figs 99, 117}} In the same decade, the number of signal boxes on the line was reduced and new boxes were commissioned at Balham,{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1987|loc=Fig. 70}} Norwood Junction,{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988a|loc=Figs 103, 104, 108}} Gloucester Road Junction{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1987|loc=Fig. 101}} and Purley.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988b|loc=Fig. 31}}

The South Terminal at Gatwick Airport was opened on 9 June 1958. The new terminal was directly linked to a new railway station on the Brighton Main Line, which had opened on 27 May that year. The former airport station, located close to the redundant Beehive terminal, had closed on 18 May 1958.{{sfn|Oppitz|1987|pp=73-74}}{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988b|loc= Fig. 111}}

[[File:BREL_Class_455_No_455841_(8061890234).jpg|thumb|right|A [[British Rail Class 455|Class 455]] unit at {{rws|Sydenham|London}} in [[Network SouthEast]] livery]]
On 4 January 1982, the Brighton Main Line and the majority of the Southern Region of British Railways, became part of the new "London & South Eastern" sector of British Rail. Four years later, on 10 June 1986, the sector was rebranded to become [[Network SouthEast]].{{sfn|Brown|Jackson|1990|pp=7-8}}

In the early 1980s, a major resignalling project was undertaken that involved the closure of the majority of the signal boxes on the line and the transfer of control to Victoria and Three Bridges signalling centres.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1987|loc=Fig. 20}} London Bridge panel box, which had opened in 1975, retained control of the line north of Norwood Junction.<ref name=Clarke_2020/>{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988a|loc=Fig. 16}} Remodelling of Windmill Bridge Junction was undertaken, with the creation of an additional flyover to eliminate conflicting movements between trains on the slow lines.<ref name=Clarke_2020/>{{efn|The embankments required for the creation of the new flyovers at Windmill Bridge Junction were constructed using spoil from [[Betteshanger Colliery]] in Kent.<ref name=Clarke_2020/>{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1987|loc=Fig. 104}}}} The arrangement of the tracks at East Croydon was changed to route all fast services through platforms 1, 2 and 3 on the west side of the station.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1987|loc= Map XXIII}}

[[File:73208_at_Horley.jpg|thumb|right|A [[British Rail Class 73|Class 73]] locomotive in [[InterCity]] livery operating a Gatwick Express service in push mode]]
Gatwick Express services were launched by Network SouthEast on 14 May 1984 using {{cvt|90|mph|adj=on}} capable [[British Rail Class 73|Class 73]] locomotives in push-pull mode, each hauling a rake of [[British Rail Mark 4|Mark 4f]] coaches and a [[British Rail Class 414|Class 414 (2-HAP)]] driver motor brake unit.{{sfn|Glover|2001|pp=79-80}}{{sfn|Oppitz|1987|p=75}} The journey was timetabled to take 30 minutes and seven trainsets were required to operate the service.{{sfn|Glover|2001|pp=79-80}}<ref name=Foster_2014>{{cite magazine |last= Foster |first= Suzanne |date= 18 November 2014 |orig-date= 11 June 2014 |title= "Catch the train and you've caught the plane" |magazine= Rail |url= https://www.railmagazine.com/trains/new-trains/catch-the-train-and-you-ve-caught-the-plane |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref><ref name=Wolmar>{{cite news |last= Wolmar |first= Christian |date= 3 April 1996 |title= National Express wins Gatwick rail franchise |work= The Independent |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/national-express-wins-gatwick-rail-franchise-1303118.html |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref> In the first seven months of the service, the number of passengers travelling by rail to Gatwick Airport went up by 38% and revenue on the route increased by 52%.<ref name=Foster_2014/> Responsibility for running the Gatwick Express was transferred to the [[InterCity (British Rail)|InterCity]] sector of British Rail in April of the following year.{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|pp=18-19}} A service from {{rws|Reading}} to Gatwick via {{rws|Guildford}} and Redhill, later branded the [[North Downs Line]], was introduced in May 1980.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=102}} A third new route launched by Network SouthEast was the {{rws|Bedford}}{{endash}}Brighton [[Thameslink]] service via the [[Snow Hill tunnel (London)|Snow Hill tunnel]] under central London, which began on 16 May 1988.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=100-101}}{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=101}}<ref>{{cite news |title= All systems go for Thameslink |date= 13 May 1988 |work= Croydon Advertiser |issue= 6232 |page= 5 }}</ref>

Two major stations on the Brighton Main Line were rebuilt in the early 1990s. A new circular station building at Redhill station, designed by the architecture firm, Troutham & Macasum, was completed towards the end of 1990.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=100}}{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=69}} East Croydon station, designed by Alan Brookes Associates, opened on 19 August 1992.<ref>{{cite news |last= Alford |first= Simon |date= 21 August 1992 |title= BR unwraps its vision of the future |work= Croydon Advertiser |issue= 6455 |page= 3 }}</ref>

===Privatisation (1996{{endash}}present)===
[[File:Hugh_llewelyn_(460_0)_04_(6390134977)_adjusted.jpg|thumb|right|A [[British Rail Class 460|Class 460]] in [[Gatwick Express]] livery at {{rws|Clapham Junction}}]]
The [[Gatwick Express]] franchise was one of the first parts of the UK rail network to be transferred to a private operator, when [[National Express]] began running the trains on 28 April 1996.<ref name=Foster_2014/><ref name=Wolmar/> The company introduced [[British Rail Class 460|Class 460]] units to their services in 1999, although the final locomotive-hauled trains were not withdrawn until 2005.<ref name=Foster_2014/>

[[File:421855_at_Horley_on_7th_April_2001.jpg|thumb|right|A [[British Rail Class 421|Class 421]] (4-CIG) unit in [[Connex South Central]] livery at {{rws|Horley}}]]
[[Veolia Transport|Connex]] was awarded a seven-year franchise in 1996 to operate passenger trains on the Brighton Main Line as [[Connex South Central]]. The company introduced a Gatwick Airport{{endash}}{{rws|Rugby}} service, which ran via the [[West London Line]], and also deployed [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]] units to Victoria{{endash}}Brighton express services.{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=135}} Following concerns over Connex's management and performance, the [[Strategic Rail Authority|Shadow Strategic Rail Authority]] decided to re-tender the franchise in 2000. In October that year, the competition was won by [[Govia]],<ref>{{cite news |title= Connex loses rail franchise |date= 24 October 2000 |work= BBC News |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/988016.stm |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref> which took over the running of trains in August 2001, having bought out the final two years of Connex's contract for £30M.<ref>{{cite news |title= Connex loses rail franchise |date= 26 August 2001 |work= BBC News |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1509731.stm |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref>{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|pp=136-137}}

Govia's ten-year franchise formally began in May 2003, when it introduced the "Southern" brand name. The agreement required the company to retire the final slam-door trains, achieved in 2005, and to invest £853M in new rolling stock.<ref>{{cite news |title= £1bn train improvements promised |date= 12 May 2003 |work= BBC News |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3019807.stm |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Slam-door trains at end of line |date= 19 August 2005 |work= BBC News |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4163768.stm |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref> The Gatwick Express and Southern franchises were merged in May 2008, to allow capacity increases and better use of train paths on the Brighton Main Line.<ref>{{cite news |title= Gatwick Express service to remain |date= 4 April 2007 |work= BBC News |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6524763.stm |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref>{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=138}} The new arrangement allowed Gatwick Express services to be extended to Brighton, initially during peak periods, but required the replacement of the ten Class 460s with seventeen [[British Rail Class 442|Class 442]] units.<ref name=Foster_2014/>{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=138}} The third South Central franchise, awarded again to Govia, began in 2009 and required the operator to increase capacity on its routes by 10% by December 2013.{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=138}} In 2014, 700 more services were running on the South Central network on weekdays than at privatisation in 1996.{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=139}} In May 2010, [[London Overground]] began running stopping services on the Norwood Junction{{endash}}New Cross Gate section of the Brighton Main Line, allowing trains that had previously terminated at London Bridge to run via the [[East London Line]] to {{rws|Dalston Junction}}.<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Whitelaw |first= Jackie |date= 27 May 2010 |title= East London Line special : An introduction |magazine= New Civil Engineer |url= https://www.newcivilengineer.com/archive/east-london-line-special-an-introduction-27-05-2010/ |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref>

[[File:319432 at East Croydon 9th April 2011.jpg|thumb|right|A [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]] unit in [[First Capital Connect]] livery at {{rws|Gatwick Airport}}]]
The Thameslink franchise, which included services from Brighton to Bedford, was awarded to Govia in 1997. It was initially due to end in 2004, but delays in the Thameslink 2000 project resulted in the company being awarded a two-year extension to 2006.{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=163}} The new franchise, also incorporating services on the [[Great Northern Route]], was awarded to [[FirstGroup]], which began operating trains under the [[First Capital Connect]] brand on 1 April 2006.<ref>{{cite news |title= FirstGroup wins rail franchises |date= 13 December 2005 |work= BBC News |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4523592.stm |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref> The company introduced 12-car trains to the Brighton Main Line in December 2011.<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Bottom |first= Hannah |date= 17 November 2011 |title= Thameslink route ready for 12-car trains |magazine= New Civil Engineer |url= https://www.newcivilengineer.com/archive/thameslink-route-ready-for-12-car-trains-17-11-2011/ |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref>

The South Central franchise was terminated two years early in 2014, allowing Southern- and Gatwick Express-branded services to be combined with those run by First Capital Connect, to create the [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise]]. Awarded to Govia, the new franchise took the form of a [[management contract]], reducing the risks to the operator arising from the introduction of new services as part of the Thameslink programme.{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=139}}<ref>{{cite news |last= Topham |first= Gwyn |date= 23 May 2014 |title= FirstGroup loses Thameslink franchise to Go-Ahead joint venture |work= The Guardian |url= https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/may/23/firstgroup-loses-thameslink-franchise-go-ahead-joint-venture |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Govia wins Thameslink rail franchise |date= 23 May 2014 |work= BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27534731 |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref> During the lifetime of the franchise, the [[Bermondsey dive-under]] was constructed, reducing the conflict between Southern trains departing from London Bridge and northbound Thameslink services heading towards London Blackfriars,<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Stacy |first= Mungo |date= 1 February 2017 |title= Thameslink progress around London Bridge |magazine= Rail Engineer |url= https://www.railengineer.co.uk/thameslink-progress-around-london-bridge/ |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref> and an extensive refurbishment of London Bridge station was completed.<ref>{{cite news |title= London Bridge station reopens platforms in £1bn project |date= 2 January 2018 |work= BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42540990 |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref> Govia was heavily criticised for the poor implementation of a new timetable in May 2018, which routed additional services from the Brighton Main Line via the Thameslink core.<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Ford |first= Roger |date= 22 March 2018 |title= Perfect storm hits May 2018 timetable |magazine= Modern Railways |url= https://www.modernrailways.com/article/perfect-storm-hits-may-2018-timetable |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Topham |first= Gwyn |date= 21 May 2018 |title= Cancellations and delays as new timetables introduced |work= The Guardian |url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/21/cancellations-and-delays-as-new-rail-timetables-introduced |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title= News timetables in disarray |date= 21 June 2018 |magazine= Modern Railways |url= https://www.modernrailways.com/article/new-timetables-disarray |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref> The company was also criticised for its role in the [[2016–2019 United Kingdom railway strikes]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Southern rail strike : 48-hour walkout causes chaos for commuters |date= 13 December 2016 |work= BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-38296623 |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1= Ackerman |first1= Naomi |last2= Murray |first2= Dick |date= 3 January 2017 |title= 'It has ruined my life': Southern Rail commuters at 'breaking point' over strikes |work= Evening Standard |url= https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/it-has-ruined-my-life-southern-rail-commuters-at-breaking-point-over-strikes-a3431376.html |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref> In 2022, Govia was awarded a three-year extension to its management contract, which took effect on 1 April that year.<ref>{{cite news |last= Topham |first= Gwyn |date= 25 March 2022 |title= New rail contract award to Go-Ahead branded a sick joke |work= The Guardian |url= https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/mar/25/new-rail-contract-award-go-ahead-branded-sick-joke-thameslink-southern-great-northern- |access-date= 25 March 2024 }}</ref>

==Major accidents==
* 21 August 1854: An SER excursion train collided with an LB&SCR locomotive hauling ballast waggons between East Croydon and Windmill Bridge. Three passengers sustained fatal injuries.<ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= Fatal accident on the Brighton and Dover railway |date= 22 August 1854 |issue= 21826 |page= 7 }}</ref><ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= The late fatal accident on the Brighton and Dover railway |date= 25 August 1854 |issue= 21829 |page= 10 }}</ref><ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= The fatal accident on the Brighton and Dover railway |date= 29 August 1854 |issue= 21832 |page= 4 }}</ref>
* 25 August 1861, [[Clayton Tunnel rail crash]]: Two trains collided in the tunnel due to a signaller's error, killing 23 passengers.<ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= Terrible accident on the London and Brighton railway |date= 26 August 1861 |issue= 24021 |page= 7 }}</ref><ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= The fatal accident on the London and Brighton railway |date= 3 September 1861 |issue= 24028 |page= 7 }}</ref>
* 30 April 1866: An SER passenger train collided with an LB&SCR goods train near Caterham Junction station (now Purley), killing two passengers and a guard.<ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= Frightful accident on the Brighton railway |date= 1 May 1866 |issue= 25486 |page= 11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= The fatal accident on the Brighton railway |date= 2 May 1866 |issue= 25487 |page= 12 }}</ref> The fireman of the passenger train later died of his injuries.<ref>{{cite web |last= Yolland |first= W. |date= 26 May 1866 |title= London, Brighton and South Coast Railway |publisher= Board of Trade (Railway Department) |location= London |url= https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BoT_CaterhamJunction1866.pdf |access-date= 21 March 2024 }}</ref>
* 23 December 1899: A Pullman express from Brighton ran into the back of a train from Newhaven in fog at Wivelsfield. Six people were killed.<ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= Serious railway accidents |date= 25 December 1899 |issue= 36021 |page= 5 }}</ref><ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= The Wivelsfield railway accident |date= 25 December 1899 |issue= 36022 |page= 7 }}</ref>
* 29 January 1910: A passenger express train from Brighton to Victoria derailed at Stoats Nest station (later Coulsdon North). Five passengers and two people standing on the station platform were killed.<ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= The Stoats Nest accident |date= 2 February 1910 |issue= 39185 |page= 7 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Jarmyn |first= Luke |date= 4 August 2018 |title= The deadly Croydon train crash you've probably never heard of |work= Croydon Advertiser |url= https://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/news/croydon-news/deadly-croydon-train-crash-youve-1860470 |access-date= 21 March 2024 }}</ref>
* 2 April 1937, [[Battersea Park rail crash]]: Two passenger trains, one from Coulsdon North to Victoria and the other from Victoria to London Bridge, collided at Battersea Park due to a signaller's error, killing six passengers and the guard of the London Bridge train. A further three passengers subsequently died of their injuries.<ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= London train collision |date= 3 April 1937 |issue= 47649 |page= 12 }}</ref><ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= Battersea train smash |date= 7 April 1937 |issue= 47652 |page= 10 }}</ref><ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= Report on Battersea rail collision |date= 29 June 1937 |issue= 47723 |page= 18 }}</ref>
* 24 October 1947, [[South Croydon rail crash]]: Two passenger trains, both travelling to London Bridge, collided in fog due to a signaller's error. A total of 32 people died, including the driver of the second train.<ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= 31 killed in SR crash |date= 25 October 1947 |issue= 50901 |page= 4 }}</ref><ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= Croydon rail crash |date= 25 November 1947 |issue= 50927 |page= 3 }}</ref>
* 4 March 1989 [[Purley station rail crash]]: Two passenger trains, both travelling to Victoria, collided north of Purley station. Part of the rear train fell down the embankment, killing five people.<ref>{{cite news |last= Whalley |first= Kirsty |date= 1 March 2009 |title= Death in the afternoon: 20 years on, Croydon remembers the Purley rail crash |work= Your Local Guardian |url= https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/4163774.death-in-the-afternoon-20-years-on-croydon-remembers-the-purley-rail-crash/  |access-date= 21 March 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= The Purley train crash |publisher= London Fire Brigade |url= https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/museum/history-and-stories/historical-fires-and-incidents/the-purley-train-crash-1989/  |access-date= 21 March 2024 }}</ref>

==Listed buildings==
There are 13 [[listed building|listed structures]] associated with the Brighton Main Line.   
{{EH listed building header
| show_grade = yes
| show_listed = yes
| show_img = yes
}}
{{EH listed building row
| name= Victoria railway station: The former London, Brighton and South Coast railway station and rear concourse
| location= London
| grade= II
| show_grade= yes
| type= station
| completed= 1908
| show_listed= yes
| date_listed= {{dts|25 July 2001}}
| grid_ref= TQ28897901
| lat= 51.4952
| lon= -0.1448
| uid= 1389322
| show_img= yes
| image= London Victoria Station - geograph.org.uk - 785368.jpg
| commonscat= London Victoria station
}}
{{EH listed building row
| name= British Airways terminal
| location= Buckingham Palace Road, London
| grade= II
| show_grade= yes
| type= airline terminal
| completed= 1939
| show_listed= yes
| date_listed= {{dts|16 January 1981}}
| grid_ref= TQ28657858
| lat= 51.4916
| lon= -0.1483
| uid= 1291075
| show_img= yes
| image= Old British Airways Terminal Westminster (5136330818).jpg
| commonscat= National Audit Office, London
}}
{{EH listed building row
| name= Battersea Park railway station
| location= Battersea, London
| grade= II
| show_grade= yes
| type= station
| completed= 1867
| show_listed= yes
| date_listed= {{dts|6 April 1983}}
| grid_ref= TQ28767700
| lat= 51.4770
| lon= -0.1475 
| uid= 1357652
| show_img= yes
| image= 2018 at Battersea Park station - facade.JPG
}}
{{EH listed building row
| name= Railway bridge (Southern Region) 
| location= Battersea, London
| grade= II
| show_grade= yes
| type= rail bridge over road
| completed= 1848
| show_listed= yes
| date_listed= {{dts|6 April 1983}}
| grid_ref= TQ28747692
| lat= 51.4766
| lon= -0.1476 
| uid= 1065548
| show_img= yes
| image= Bridges at Battersea Park Station - geograph.org.uk - 1888425.jpg
}}
{{EH listed building row
| name= London Bridge station, platforms 6{{endash}}16 (Brighton side) 
| location= London
| grade= II
| show_grade= yes
| type= rail bridge over road
| completed= 1867
| show_listed= yes
| date_listed= {{dts|19 December 1988}}
| grid_ref= TQ32968010
| lat= 51.5042
| lon= -0.0857
| uid= 1385808
| show_img= yes
| image= 4-SUB and 4-VEP units at London Bridge on 06 May 1979.jpg
| commonscat= London Bridge station
}}
{{EH listed building row
| name= Railway viaduct arches 
| location= Bermondsey Street, London
| grade= II
| show_grade= yes
| type= rail bridge over road
| completed= 1866
| show_listed= yes
| date_listed= {{dts|7 July 2011}}
| grid_ref= TQ33177993
| lat= 51.5026
| lon= -0.0825
| uid= 1400290
| show_img= yes
| image= Crucifix Lane railway bridge - geograph.org.uk - 3785959.jpg
| commonscat= London Bridge station southern railway arches
}}
{{EH listed building row
| name= Railway bridge 
| location= Abbey Street, London
| grade= II
| show_grade= yes
| type= rail bridge over road
| completed= 1836
| show_listed= yes
| date_listed= {{dts|2 July 1979}}
| grid_ref= TQ33877945
| lat= 51.4981
| lon= -0.0729
| uid= 1376520
| show_img= yes
| image= Abbey Street Railway Bridge, London SE1 - geograph.org.uk - 4380409.jpg
}}
{{EH listed building row
| name= Railway bridge
| location= Spa Road, London
| grade= II
| show_grade= yes
| type= rail bridge over road
| completed= 1836
| show_listed= yes
| date_listed= {{dts|2 July 1979}}
| grid_ref= TQ34147924
| lat= 51.4962
| lon= -0.0691
| uid= 1385932
| show_img= yes
| image= Spa Road Railway Bridge (geograph 2623772).jpg
}}
{{EH listed building row
| name= Station goods shed 
| location= Horley, Surrey
| grade= II
| show_grade= yes
| type= goods shed
| completed= 1840
| show_listed= yes
| date_listed= {{dts|26 May 1993}}
| grid_ref= TQ28644297
| lat= 51.1715
| lon= -0.1613
| uid= 1261682
| show_img= yes
| image= Horley, Former London Brighton ^ South Coast Railway goods shed - geograph.org.uk - 3261350.jpg
}}
{{EH listed building row
| name= Ouse Valley Railway Viaduct 
| location= Balcombe, West Sussex
| grade= II*
| show_grade= yes
| type= railway viaduct
| completed= 1841
| show_listed= yes
| date_listed= {{dts|10 May 1983}}
| grid_ref= TQ32262795
| lat= 51.0352
| lon= -0.1148
| uid= 1366101
| show_img= yes
| image= Path to the viaduct-2 (8023871077).jpg
| commonscat= Ouse Valley Viaduct
}}
{{EH listed building row
| name= Clayton Tunnel north portal tunnel cottage 
| location= Pycombe, West Sussex
| grade= II
| show_grade= yes
| type= tunnel portal and cottage
| completed= 1841
| show_listed= yes
| date_listed= {{dts|10 May 1983}}
| grid_ref= TQ29841407
| lat= 51.9115
| lon= -0.1545
| uid= 1025594
| show_img= yes
| image= Clayton Tunnel North Portal - geograph.org.uk - 2596209.jpg
}}
{{EH listed building row
| name= New England Viaduct 
| location= Brighton
| grade= II
| show_grade= yes
| type= railway viaduct
| completed= 1839
| show_listed= yes
| date_listed= {{dts|25 August 1999}}
| grid_ref= TQ30910538
| lat= 50.8331
| lon= -0.1428
| uid= 1380101
| show_img= yes
| image= New England Road Viaduct, New England Road, Brighton (NHLE Code 1380101) (November 2010).jpg
| commonscat= New England Railway Viaduct, Brighton
}}
{{EH listed building row
| name= Brighton station including train sheds 
| location= Brighton
| grade= II*
| show_grade= yes
| type= station
| completed= 1841 and 1883
| show_listed= yes
| date_listed= {{dts|29 April 1973}}
| grid_ref= TQ31030492
| lat= 50.8292
| lon= -0.1409
| uid= 1380797
| show_img= yes
| image= Brighton railway station.jpg
| commonscat= Brighton railway station
}}
|}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last= Baker |first= Michael H. C. |year= 1989 |title= London to Brighton |publisher= Patrick Stephens Ltd |location= Wellingborough |isbn= 978-1-85-260146-1 }}
* {{cite book |last= Bonavia |first= Michael R. |year= 1987 |title= The history of the Southern Railway |location= London |publisher= Unwin Hyman |isbn= 978-0-04-385107-4 }}
* {{cite book |last= Brown |first= David |year= 2009 |title= Development of the London Suburban Network and Its Trains |series= Southern Electric |volume= 1 |publisher= Capital Transport Publishing |location= Crowthorne |isbn= 978-1-85-414330-3}}
* {{cite book |last= Brown |first= David |year= 2010 |title= Main line electrification, the war years and British Railways |series= Southern Electric |volume= 2 |publisher= Capital Transport Publishing |location= Crowthorne |isbn= 978-1-85-414340-2}}
*{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=David |last2=Jackson |first2=Alan A. |year=1990 |title=Network SouthEast Handbook |publisher=Capital Transport Publishing |location=Harrow Weald |isbn=978-1-85-414129-3 }}
* {{cite book |last= Glover |first= John |year= 2001 |title= Southern Electric |publisher= Ian Allan Ltd |location= Hersham |isbn= 978-0-71-102807-4 }}
* {{cite book |last1= Green |first1= Chris |last2= Vincent |first2= Mike |year= 2014 |title= The Network SouthEast story |publisher= Ian Allan Ltd |location= Hersham |isbn= 978-0-86-093653-4 }}
* {{cite book |last= Jackson |first= Alan A. |year= 1999 |title= The railway in Surrey |publisher= Atlantic Transport Publishers |location= Penryn |isbn= 978-0-90-689990-8 }}
* {{cite book |last1= Mitchell |first1= Vic |last2= Smith |first2= Keith |year= 1986 |title= Three Bridges to Brighton |publisher= Middleton Press |location= Midhurst |isbn= 978-0-90-652035-2 }}
* {{cite book |last1= Mitchell |first1= Vic |last2= Smith |first2= Keith |year= 1987 |title= Victoria to East Croydon |publisher= Middleton Press |location= Midhurst |isbn= 978-0-90-652040-6 }}
* {{cite book |last1= Mitchell |first1= Vic |last2= Smith |first2= Keith |year= 1988a |title= London Bridge to East Croydon |publisher= Middleton Press |location= Midhurst |isbn= 978-0-90-652058-1 }}
* {{cite book |last1= Mitchell |first1= Vic |last2= Smith |first2= Keith |year= 1988b |title= East Croydon to Three Bridges |publisher= Middleton Press |location= Midhurst |isbn= 978-0-90-652053-6 }}
* {{cite book |last= Oppitz |first= Leslie |year= 1987 |title= Sussex railways remembered |publisher= Countryside Books |location= Newbury |isbn= 978-0-90-539299-8 }}
* {{cite book |last= Oppitz |first= Leslie |year= 1988 |title= Surrey railways remembered |publisher= Countryside Books |location= Newbury |isbn= 978-1-85-306005-2 }}
* {{cite book |last= Quick |first= Michael |year= 2023 |orig-year= 2001 |title= Railway Passenger Stations in Great Britain |edition= 5.05 |publisher= Railway and Canal Historical Society |location= London |url= https://rchs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Railway-Passenger-Stations.pdf |access-date= 29 January 2024 }}
* {{cite book |last= Turner |first= J.T. Howard |year= 1977 |title= The London, Brighton & South Coast Railway |volume= 1 : Origins and formation |publisher= B.T. Batsford |location= London |isbn= 978-0-71-340275-9 }}
* {{cite book |last= Turner |first= J.T. Howard |year= 1978 |title= The London, Brighton & South Coast Railway |volume= 2 : Establishment and growth |publisher= B.T. Batsford |location= London |isbn= 978-0-71-341198-0}}
* {{cite book |last= Turner |first= J.T. Howard |year= 1979 |title= The London, Brighton & South Coast Railway |volume= 3 : Completion and maturity |publisher= B.T. Batsford |location= London |isbn= 978-0-71-341389-2}}
* {{cite book |last= White |first= H.P. |year= 1992 |orig-year= 1961 |title= Southern England |series= A regional history of the railways of Great Britain |volume= 2 |edition= 5th |publisher= Redwood Press |isbn= 978-0-94-653777-8 }}
* {{cite web |title= Kent / Sussex / Wessex Routes Sectional Appendix |publisher= Network Rail |year= 2009 |url= https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/sectional-appendix/Sectional%20Appendix%20full%20PDFs%20December%2023/Kent%20Sussex%20and%20Wessex%20Sectional%20Appendix%20December%202023%20.pdf |access-date= 23 January 2024 |ref= {{harvid|"Sectional Appendix"|2009}}}}
* {{cite web |title= Delivering a better railway for a better Britain {{!}} Route Specifications: South East |year= 2016 |publisher= Network Rail |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Route-Specifications-2016-South-East.pdf |access-date= 7 February 2024 |ref= {{harvid|"Route Specifications"|2016}}}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Brighton Main Line}}

{{Railway lines in London}}
{{Railway lines in South East England}}
{{Airport rail links in the United Kingdom}}
{{Transport in Surrey}}

[[Category:Transport in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Wandsworth]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Lambeth]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Surrey]]
[[Category:Rail transport in West Sussex]]
[[Category:Rail transport in East Sussex]]
[[Category:Transport in Brighton and Hove]]
[[Category:Airport rail links in London]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1841]]
[[Category:Railway lines in London]]
[[Category:Railway lines in South East England]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in England]]
[[Category:1841 establishments in England]]