View source for Crouch Valley line

{{Short description|Railway line in Essex, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox rail line
|name        = Crouch Valley line
|color       =
|logo        = 
|logo_width  = 
|image       = Wickford station 29th Oct 2022 02.jpg
|image_width = 300px
|caption     = {{rws|Wickford}} is the western terminus of the line. The station building is undergoing rebuilding as of October 2022, as can be seen in this view looking east. The Crouch Valley bay platforms are visible either side of the through platforms.
|type        = [[Commuter rail]]
|system      = [[National Rail]]
|status      = Operational
|locale      = [[Essex]]<br>[[East of England]]
|start       = {{rws|Wickford}}
|end         = {{stn|Southminster}}
|stations    = 7
|routes      = 
|daily_ridership = 
|open        = 1889
|close       = 
|owner       = [[Network Rail]]
|operator    = [[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]]
|character   = Rural
|stock       = {{Brc|720}}
|linelength  =  {{convert|16|mi|40|chain|km}}
|tracklength = 
|tracks      = 1
|gauge       = {{track gauge|uksg|allk=on}}
|electrification = [[25 kV AC|25 kV 50 Hz AC]] [[OHLE]]
|speed       = 60 mph maximum
|elevation   = 
|map         = [[File:Crouch Valley Line.png|300px]]<br>([[:commons:File:Crouch Valley Line.png|Click to expand]])
|map_state   = uncollapsed
}}
{{Crouch Valley Line|collapse=y}}
The '''Crouch Valley line''' (sometimes referred to as the '''Southminster branch line''')<ref>{{cite web |title=Event: 'Southminster’s Rail Romancing Rennaissance'.... an illustrated talk by Nathaniel Dodd |url=https://www.essexinfo.net/southwoodhamhistory/calendar/item/17139257 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131142909/https://www.essexinfo.net/southwoodhamhistory/calendar/item/17139257 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=31 January 2020 |website=South Woodham Ferrers Local History Society |publisher=South Woodham Ferrers Local History Society |accessdate=31 January 2020}}</ref> is a [[branch line]] off the [[Shenfield–Southend line]] in [[Essex]], in the [[east of England]]. It links {{rws|Wickford}} in the west to {{rws|Southminster}} in the east. During peak hours, trains connect to or from the [[Great Eastern Main Line]] at {{rws|Shenfield}}, and its London terminus at [[Liverpool Street station|Liverpool Street]].

The line is part of the [[Network Rail Route 7 (Great Eastern)|Network Rail Strategic Route 7]], SRS 07.05, and is classified as a London and South East commuter line.<ref name=NRR7>{{cite web
|url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2009/Route%207%20-%20Great%20Eastern.pdf
|title=Route 7 – Great Eastern
|publisher=[[Network Rail]]
|accessdate=2009-05-22
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607104601/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2009/Route%207%20-%20Great%20Eastern.pdf
|archive-date=7 June 2011
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> The stations and passenger services on the line are currently operated by [[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]].

==History==
[[File:Wickford_station.jpg|thumb|Wickford station as it appeared in 2006.]]
The route, which is {{convert|16|mi|40|chain|km}} in length, was opened to goods traffic on 1 June 1889 and to passengers on 1 July 1889, by the [[Great Eastern Railway]] (GER).<ref>{{cite news|title=Southminster Survivor Celebrates 100|date=29 June 1989|publisher=Maldon and Burnham Standard|author=Denis L. Swindale}}</ref> It was [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrified]] at [[25 kV AC|25&nbsp;kV AC overhead]] in 1986.

The number of trains on the Crouch Valley line is restricted to two trains per hour (one in each direction) at weekends and two every 40 minutes on weekdays, with some additional services during peak times.

==Nuclear freight==
[[File:Southminster nuclear flask transhipment facility, 2002 - geograph.org.uk - 1725958.jpg|thumb|Southminster nuclear flask transhipment facility, 2002]]

A nuclear flask handling facility operated to the south of Southminster station from 1962 during the operation and decommissioning of [[Bradwell nuclear power station]], this facility was last used on 31 August 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.essex-family-history.co.uk/bradwellpower.htm |title=Essex Family History – Bradwell Nuclear Power Station |accessdate=15 April 2011 |archive-date=20 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120034626/http://www.essex-family-history.co.uk/bradwellpower.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://abcrailwayguide.uk/england/essex#.W_6PhWj7TIX|title=The ABC railway guide – Level crossings in Essex}}</ref> Waste and fuel rods were transported to [[Sellafield]]. The timetable in the 1990s allowed for this traffic by the absence of a down and up passenger train on the branch late on Wednesday mornings.

==Infrastructure==

The line diverges from the [[Shenfield–Southend line]] at {{rws|Wickford}}. It is single track throughout, except for one [[passing loop]] at {{rws|North Fambridge}} (the midpoint of the line) to allow trains travelling in opposite directions to pass one another.

Only Wickford and {{rws|South Woodham Ferrers}} have platforms long enough to accommodate 10-coach trains, while each of the other stations on the line can accommodate five coaches; however, services on the line have only formed of five carriages due to the short terminus platform at Wickford being able to accommodate one five-car train.

Wickford's station building was demolished in 2021 for rebuilding; one key improvement has been to extend platform 1 to allow for the operation of the new longer trains on the Crouch Valley line.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Work starts on improving Wickford railway station |last=Holden |first=Alan |work=RailAdvent |date=28 May 2021 |access-date=21 April 2023 |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/05/work-starts-on-improving-wickford-railway-station.html }}</ref> This has now been completed allowing longer, class 720 units to serve the branch and has since lead to the downfall of the 321’s on this branch.

=== Stations ===

The following table summarises the line's seven stations, their distance measured from {{rws|London Liverpool Street}} and estimated number of passenger entries/exits in 2018–19:

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;" border="1" cellpadding="1"
!Station !!Location !!Local authority !!Mileage !!Patronage
|-
|{{rws|Wickford}}
|[[Wickford]]
|[[Borough of Basildon]]
|align=center|29
|align=right|2,261,210
|-
|{{rws|Battlesbridge}}
|[[Battlesbridge]]
|[[City of Chelmsford]]
|align=center|{{frac|31|1|2}}
|align=right|16,446
|-
|{{rws|South Woodham Ferrers}}
|[[South Woodham Ferrers]]
|[[City of Chelmsford]]
|align=center|34
|align=right|513,228
|-
|{{rws|North Fambridge}}
|[[North Fambridge]]
|[[Maldon District|District of Maldon]]
|align=center|{{frac|37|1|4}}
|align=right|83,038
|-
|{{rws|Althorne}}
|[[Althorne]]
|[[Maldon District|District of Maldon]]
|align=center|{{frac|40|1|4}}
|align=right|43,816
|-
|{{rws|Burnham-on-Crouch}}
|[[Burnham-on-Crouch]]
|[[Maldon District|District of Maldon]]
|align=center|{{frac|43|1|4}}
|align=right|241,362
|-
|{{rws|Southminster}}
|[[Southminster]]
|[[Maldon District|District of Maldon]]
|align=center|{{frac|45|1|2}}
|align=right|128,666
|}

== Services ==
The typical off-peak service is of one train every 40 minutes either each direction, with additional services at peak times. Some peak services continue to or from {{rws|Shenfield}} and/or {{rws|London Liverpool Street}}, via the [[Great Eastern Main Line]]. On Sundays, the service reduces to hourly.<ref>{{NRtimes|Dec 2022|6}}</ref>

All passenger services on this route are operated by [[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]], with [[British Rail Class 720|Class 720]] [[electric multiple units]].

There are limited ticket facilities along the route, so a conductor is often provided on the train to assist passengers.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090217155005/http://burnham.org.uk/crouchvalleyline.htm The Crouch Valley Line today]
*[http://www.essex-family-history.co.uk/crouchvalleyline.htm The History of the Crouch Valley Line] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120031024/http://www.essex-family-history.co.uk/crouchvalleyline.htm |date=20 November 2008 }}

{{Railway lines in the East of England}}

[[Category:Rail transport in Essex]]
[[Category:Railway lines in the East of England]]
[[Category:Network Rail routes|EA 1060]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1889]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in England]]