View source for North Downs Line

{{Short description|Railway line in South East England}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width               = 
| name                          = North Downs Line
| color                           = 
| logo                            = 
| logo_width               = 
| logo_alt                     = 
| image                           = A Class 165 unit on the North Downs Line approaches Dorking 04.jpg
| image_width                = 280px
| image_alt                       = 
| caption                         = A [[British Rail Class 165|Class 165]] unit approaching {{rws|Dorking West}} with the hills of the [[North Downs]] behind
| type                            = [[Heavy rail]]
| system                       = [[National Rail]]
| status                          = Operational
| locale                          = [[Berkshire]], [[Hampshire]], [[Surrey]]
| start                           = {{rws|Reading}}
| end                             = {{rws|Redhill}}
| stations                        = 
| routes                       = 
| daily_ridership         = 
| open                            = 1849
| close                           = 
| owner                           = [[Network Rail]]
| operator                       = [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]<br />[[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]] <br />[[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]]
| stock                           = [[British Rail Class 165|Class 165]], [[British Rail Class 166|Class 166]], [[British Rail Class 450|Class 450]], [[British Rail Class 458|Class 458]], [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377]]
| linelength                      = {{cvt|45|mi|40|ch}}
| tracklength                     = 
| tracks                          = 
| gauge                           = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
| electrification                 = {{750 V DC|conductor=third rail}} (Reading{{endash}}Wokingham; Aldershot South Junction{{endash}}Guildford; Reigate{{endash}}Redhill)
| speed   = {{convert|70|mph|abbr=on}} (maximum)
| elevation   = 
| website      = 
| map                             = {{switcher|[[File:NDLmap.png|300px]]|Show static map|{{maplink-road|from=North Downs Line.map}}|Show zoomable map|{{North Downs Line|inline=y}}|Show line diagram}}
| map_state                       = uncollapsed
}}
The '''North Downs Line''' is a railway line in [[South East England]]. It runs for {{convert|45|mi|40|ch}} from {{rws|Reading}} in [[Berkshire]] to {{rws|Redhill}} in [[Surrey]]. It is named after the [[North Downs]], a range of [[Chalk Group|chalk]] hills that runs parallel to the eastern part of the route. The name was introduced in 1989 by [[Network SouthEast]], the then operator. The North Downs Line serves the settlements in the [[Farnborough/Aldershot built-up area|Blackwater Valley]] as well as the towns of [[Guildford]], [[Dorking]] and [[Reigate]]. It acts as an orbital route around the south-west of London and has direct connections to the [[Great Western Main Line]] at Reading, the [[Waterloo–Reading line]] at {{rws|Wokingham}}, the [[Alton line]] at {{rws|Ash}}, the [[Portsmouth Direct line]] at {{rws|Guildford}} and the [[Brighton Main Line]] at Redhill.

Three different [[train operating company|operators]] run passenger services on the North Downs Line. [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] runs services along the entire length of the line from Reading to Redhill, the majority of which continue along the Brighton Main Line to {{rws|Gatwick Airport}}. [[Southern_(Govia_Thameslink_Railway)|Southern]] trains between {{rws|Reigate}} and {{rws|London Victoria}} use a {{cvt|1|mi|67|ch|adj=on}} section west of Redhill. [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]] services between the capital and Reading use the line west of Wokingham and the same company operates between Guildford and {{rws|Ash}} en route to {{rws|Aldershot}}.

The majority of the North Downs Line was constructed by the independent Reading, Reigate and Guildford Railway company (RG&RR), although the section between Guildford and Ash Junction was built by the [[London and South Western Railway]]. The line opened in 1849 and services were run from the outset by the [[South Eastern Railway (England)|South Eastern Railway]], which took over the RG&RR in 1852. Three sections of the line were electrified by the [[Southern Railway (UK)|Southern Railway]] in the 1930s although around {{convert|29|mi|km|adj=pre|route&nbsp;}} remain unelectrified. In the early 21st century, infrastructure works to increase the capacity of the line were undertaken, including the provision of new platforms at Reading and Redhill.

==Route==
===Overview===
The North Downs Line is a {{convert|45|mi|40|ch|adj=on}} railway line in [[South East England]]. It links [[Reading railway station]] on the [[Great Western Main Line]] in [[Berkshire]] to {{rws|Redhill}} on the [[Brighton Main Line]] in [[Surrey]].<ref name=Decarbonisation_2024>{{cite web |title= North Downs Line: Traction Decarbonisation Strategy |year= 2024 |publisher= Network Rail |url= https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/regional-long-term-planning/Southern%20region%20-%20planning%20documents/North%20Downs%20Line%20Traction%20Decarbonisation%20Strategy%20(2024).pdf |access-date= 28 December 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250426000045/https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/regional-long-term-planning/Southern%20region%20-%20planning%20documents/North%20Downs%20Line%20Traction%20Decarbonisation%20Strategy%20(2024).pdf |archive-date= 26 April 2025 |url-status= live}}</ref>{{sfn|Bridge|2017|pp=30-32}} It serves the settlements in the [[Farnborough/Aldershot built-up area|Blackwater Valley]] on the borders of [[Hampshire]], Surrey and Berkshire, as well as the Surrey towns of [[Guildford]], [[Dorking]] and [[Reigate]]. It acts as an orbital route bypassing the south-west of London and has direct connections to the [[Waterloo–Reading line]] at {{rws|Wokingham}}, the [[Alton line]] at {{rws|Ash}} and the [[Portsmouth Direct line]] at {{rws|Guildford}}.<ref name=Decarbonisation_2024/>{{sfn|"Surrey Rail Strategy"|2015|p=1}} The 2015 "Surrey Rail Strategy" noted that 56% of passengers on the route connect to services on other railway lines and that a quarter of journeys either start or end at Reading. Around 13% of passengers travel to or from {{rws|Gatwick Airport}}.{{sfn|"Surrey Rail Strategy"|2015|p=13}}

The name "North Downs Line" was first used in 1989 by [[Network SouthEast]], the then operator of the line.{{sfn|Brown|Jackson|1990|p=12}}{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=116}} Between Redhill and Ash, the line runs roughly parallel with the [[North Downs]], a range of [[Chalk Group|chalk]] hills that runs from [[Farnham]] to the [[White Cliffs of Dover]]. Between Ash and Reading, the line crosses the sands, gravels and clays of the [[London Basin]].{{sfn|Course|1987|p=xxxi}} The steepest gradients, 1 in 96, and the summit of the line are near {{rws|Gomshall}}, where the route crosses the [[drainage divide|watershed]] between the [[River Mole|Rivers Mole]] and [[River Wey|Wey]] in Surrey.{{sfn|Course|1987|p=li}}{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=48}} The distances along the line between Redhill (22 miles 40 chains) and Shalford Junction (41&nbsp;mi 60 ch), and between Ash Junction (48&nbsp;mi 34 ch) and Reading (68&nbsp;mi 68 ch) are measured from {{rws|Charing Cross}} station in London.{{sfn|Yonge|2008|loc= Maps 15A, 24B, 24A, 23, 24C, 25B, 27A}}

[[File:A Class 450 unit crosses the River Kennet to the east of Reading station 02.jpg|thumb|right|A [[British Rail Class 450|Class 450]] unit crosses the navigable [[River Kennet]] to the east of [[Reading railway station|Reading station]].]]
The North Downs Line is double track for the entirety of its {{cvt|45|mi|40|ch|adj=on}} length and has a maximum operational line speed of {{cvt|70|mph}} for passenger trains.{{sfn|"Surrey Rail Strategy"|2015|p=17}}{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=33-40}} Three sections of the line, Redhill{{endash}}Reigate, Guildford{{endash}}Aldershot South Junction and Wokingham{{endash}}Reading, are electrified using the 750 [[Volt|V]] [[direct current|DC]] third-rail system.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1989|loc=Fig. 101}}{{sfn|Brown|2010|pp=34-36}}{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988|loc=Fig. 80}} Two sections, Reigate{{endash}}Shalford Junction and Aldershot South Junction{{endash}}Wokingham, together totalling {{convert|29|mi|km|adj=pre|route&nbsp;}}, are unelectrified.<ref name=Decarbonisation_2024/>{{sfn|"Surrey Rail Strategy"|2015|p=17}} The line has a W6 [[Loading gauge#Great Britain|loading gauge]], and overnight engineering possessions of up to {{frac|4|1|2}}&nbsp;hours are available.<ref name=NR_SWML>{{cite web |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3102_Route%203%20South%20West%20Main%20Line.pdf |title=Business Plan 2006 - Route 3: South West Main Line |access-date=2010-11-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206211256/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3102_Route%203%20South%20West%20Main%20Line.pdf |archive-date=6 February 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In 2006, [[Network Rail]] classified the North Downs Line as "congested", but, following the construction of new infrastructure, this status was revoked in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last= Rowley |first= Chris |date= 7 September 2023 |title= Revocation of Declaration of Congested Infrastructure: North Downs Line (Reading to Gatwick via Redhill) |publisher= Network Rail |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/North-Downs-Line-Notice-of-Intention-to-Revoke-Declaration-of-Congested-Infrastructure-7-September-2023-.pdf |access-date= 19 March 2024 }}</ref>

===Reading to Guildford===
[[File:North Downs Line route diagram - December 2024.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1|Passenger services on the North Downs Line: The stopping pattern of GWR services varies according to the time of day, and no train calls at all stations.<ref name=GWR_timetable>{{cite web |title= T9 Train Times |date= 15 December 2024 |publisher= Great Western Railway |url= https://www.gwr.com/-/media/gwr-sc-website/files/plan-journey/timetables/2024/Train-times-15-December-to-17-May/T9-train-times-15-December-2024-to-17-May-2025.pdf |access-date= 28 December 2024 }}</ref>]]
The Reading to Guildford section of the North Downs Line is {{cvt|25|mi|41|ch}} in length and has 13 stations in total. Reading and Guildford stations are managed by Network Rail<ref>{{cite web |title=Reading: A major transport hub |publisher= Network Rail |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/reading-station/ |access-date= 20 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Guildford: Serving a busy commuter town with trains to the city |publisher= Network Rail |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/guildford/ |access-date= 20 March 2024}}</ref> and have 15 and 7 operational platforms respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reading: Station map |publisher= Network Rail |url= https://assets.nationalrail.co.uk/e8xgegruud3g/3Bk9DJ3OxJq9w0cQbLNw2J/1959ab3e6810ad230003f6d7d1e87149/CCS0723844574-001_Reading_Map_2023v4.pdf |access-date= 20 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Guildford: Station map |publisher= Network Rail |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Guildford-Station-Map.pdf |access-date= 20 March 2024}}</ref> The other 11 stations have two platforms each.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SW210}}{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SW265}} {{rws|Earley}}, {{rws|Winnersh Triangle}}, {{rws|Winnersh}}, Wokingham, Ash and {{rws|Wanborough}} stations are managed by [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]] (SWR). {{rws|Crowthorne}}, {{rws|Sandhurst}}, {{rws|Blackwater}}, {{rws|Farnborough North}} and {{rws|North Camp}} stations are managed by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] (GWR).<ref name=GWR_timetable/> The passenger train services that use this section of the North Downs Line are:
* Reading to Redhill and {{rws|Gatwick Airport}}, operated by GWR using {{brc|165}} and {{brc|166}} units<ref name=Decarbonisation_2024/><ref name=GWR_timetable/>
* Reading to {{rws|London Waterloo}}, operated by SWR using {{brc|458}} and {{brc|455}} units<ref name=Class_458>{{cite web |title= Class 458 "Coradia Juniper" |publisher= South Western Railway |url= https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/our-trains/class-458-juniper |access-date= 28 December 2024 }}</ref><ref name=Class_455>{{cite web |title= Class 455 "British Rail Second Generation" |publisher= South Western Railway |url= https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/our-trains/class-455 |access-date= 28 December 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= 2: Reading and Ascot to London Waterloo |date= 10 December 2023  |publisher= South Western Railway |url= https://www.southwesternrailway.com/-/media/files/plan-my-journey/timetables/december-2023/ptt02-december-2023.pdf |access-date= 20 March 2024}}</ref>
* {{rws|Farnham}} and {{rws|Aldershot}} to Guildford, operated by SWR using {{brc|450}} units<ref name=Class_450>{{cite web |title= Class 450 "Desiro"  |publisher= South Western Railway |url= https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/our-trains/class-450-desiro |access-date= 28 December 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= 12: Guildford to Farnham and Ascot via Aldershot |date= 10 December 2023  |publisher= South Western Railway |url= https://www.southwesternrailway.com/-/media/files/plan-my-journey/timetables/december-2023/ptt12-december-2023.pdf |access-date= 20 March 2024}}</ref>

West of Wokingham Junction and east of Aldershot South Junction, this part of the line is electrified using the 750 V DC third-rail system, leaving an {{cvt|11|mi|71|ch|adj=on}} unelectrified central section.{{sfn|Brown|2010|pp=34-36}}{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SW210}}{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SW265}} Most services on the North Downs Line use platforms 4, 5 and 6 at Reading station, but access to other platforms is possible. The Reading station area is controlled from Thames Valley [[rail operating centre]], the line from Earley to North Camp is controlled by Basingstoke rail operating centre, and the section from North Camp is controlled by Guildford signal box. The majority of this section has a line speed of {{cvt|70|mph}} with the exception of the approaches to Reading, Wokingham and Guildford stations, and a {{cvt|40|mph}} restriction at Ash Junction where the line curves sharply.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SW210}}{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SW265}} The steepest gradient, to the west of Guildford, is 1 in 100.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988|loc=Fig. 93}}

The [[Waterloo–Reading line]] diverges from this part of the North Downs Line at Wokingham Junction, and a spur to the [[Alton line]] joins at Aldershot South Junction.{{sfn|Kidner|1974|pp=8-9}} In addition, the line passes beneath the [[South Western Main Line]] at [[Farnborough, Hampshire|Farnborough]], but there is no longer a junction between the two.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=179}} This section passes over two navigable waterways, the [[River Kennet]] and the [[Basingstoke Canal]],{{sfn|Course|1987|p=xxxii}}{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=180}} as well as the unnavigable [[River Loddon]] and its tributary, the [[River Blackwater (River Loddon)|Blackwater]].{{sfn|Course|1987|p=xxxii}}
{{clear}}
{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible"
|+ class="nowrap"|Stations between Reading and Guildford {{nobold|(ordered from west to east)}}
|-
!scope="col"|Station
!scope="col"|Mileage{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SW210}}{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SW265}}
!scope="col"|Number of<br> platforms
!scope="col"|Managing<br> company
!scope="col"|Trains<br> operated by
!scope="col"|Opening date
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Original name
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref.
|- style="background:#F8F8FF"
|{{rws|Reading}}||{{cvt|68|mi|68|ch}}<br><small>from {{rws|Charing Cross}} via {{rws|Redhill}}</small>
||15||[[Network Rail]]|| [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|GWR]]<br>[[South Western Railway (train operating company)|SWR]]<br>[[CrossCountry]]<br>[[Elizabeth line]]||{{date table sorting|30 March 1840}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=384}}
|-
|{{rws|Earley}}||{{cvt|66|mi|1|ch}}<br><small>from Charing Cross via Redhill</small>
||2||SWR||SWR||{{date table sorting|1 November 1863}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=175}}
|-
|{{rws|Winnersh Triangle}}||{{cvt|64|mi|72|ch}}<br><small> from Charing Cross via Redhill </small>||2||SWR||SWR||{{date table sorting|12 May 1986}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=490}}
|-
|{{rws|Winnersh}}||{{cvt|64|mi|10|ch}}<br><small> from Charing Cross via Redhill </small>||2||SWR||SWR<br>GWR{{efn|name=peak|GWR serves {{rws|Winnersh}} and {{rws|Wanborough}} at peak times only.<ref name=GWR_timetable/>}}||{{date table sorting|1 January 1910}}||Sindlesham and Hurst||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=490}}
|-
|{{rws|Wokingham}}||{{cvt|62|mi|13|ch}}<br><small> from Charing Cross via Redhill </small>||2||SWR||SWR<br>GWR||{{date table sorting|4 July 1849}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=492}}
|-
|{{rws|Crowthorne}}||{{cvt|58|mi|66|ch}}<br><small> from Charing Cross via Redhill </small>||2||GWR||GWR||{{date table sorting|29 January 1859}}||Wellington College||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=151}}
|-
|{{rws|Sandhurst}}||{{cvt|57|mi|22|ch}}<br><small> from Charing Cross via Redhill</small>||2||GWR||GWR||{{date table sorting|4 May 1852}}{{efn|Originally opened on 4 May 1842, [[Sandhurst railway station|Sandhurst station]] closed in December the following year. It reopened permanently in 1909.{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=404}}{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988|loc=Fig.51}}}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=404}}
|-
|{{rws|Blackwater}}||{{cvt|55|mi|58|ch}}<br><small> from Charing Cross via Redhill </small>||2||GWR||GWR||{{date table sorting|4 July 1849}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=87}}
|-
|{{rws|Farnborough North}}||{{cvt|53|mi|16|ch}}<br><small> from Charing Cross via Redhill </small>||2||GWR||GWR||{{date table sorting|4 July 1849}}||Farnborough||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=190}}
|-
|{{rws|North Camp}}||{{cvt|51|mi|18|ch}}<br><small> from Charing Cross via Redhill </small>||2||GWR||GWR||{{date table sorting|August 1857}}{{efn|The first record of [[North Camp railway station|North Camp station]] is from August 1857, but the exact opening date is unclear.{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=341}}}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=341}}
|-
|{{rws|Ash}}||{{cvt|49|mi|18|ch}}<br><small> from Charing Cross via Redhill</small>||2||SWR||SWR<br>GWR||{{date table sorting|20 August 1849}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=56}}
|-
|{{rws|Wanborough}}||{{cvt|34|mi|29|ch}}<br><small>from {{rws|London Waterloo}} via {{rws|Woking}}</small>||2||SWR||SWR<br>GWR{{efn|name=peak }}||{{date table sorting|1 September 1891}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=469}}
|-
|{{rws|Guildford}}||{{cvt|30|mi|27|ch}}{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SW110}}<br><small>from London Waterloo via Woking</small>||7||Network Rail||SWR<br>GWR||{{date table sorting|5 May 1845}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=222}}
|}

===Shalford Junction to Redhill===
[[File:River Mole viaduct (south side), North Downs Line, Pixham, Dorking, Surrey.jpg|thumb|right|upright|The line crosses the [[River Mole]] to the east of {{rws|Dorking Deepdene}} on a five-arch, brick viaduct.]]
Between Guildford and Shalford Junction, GWR trains use the Portsmouth Direct line to travel between the two parts of the North Downs Line. The route passes through two tunnels, Guildford Chalk Tunnel and St Catherine's Tunnel.{{sfn|Course|1987|p=xxxii}} Reversible working is available on the down line on this section of track.<ref name=NR_SWML/>

The Shalford Junction to Redhill section of the North Downs Line is {{cvt|19|mi|79|ch}} long and has eight stations in total.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SW300}}{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO560}} Reigate and Redhill stations are managed by [[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]], but the remaining six stations ({{rws|Shalford}}, {{rws|Chilworth}}, Gomshall, {{rws|Dorking West}}, {{rws|Dorking Deepdene}} and {{rws|Betchworth}}) are managed by GWR.<ref name=GWR_timetable/> Redhill has four platforms, but the other seven stations have two each.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SW300}}{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO560}} The passenger train services that use this section of the North Downs Line are:
* Reading to Redhill and Gatwick Airport, operated by GWR<ref name=GWR_timetable/>{{efn|Owing to the junction layout between the North Downs and [[Brighton Main Line]]s, trains running between {{rws|Reading}} and {{rws|Gatwick Airport}} must reverse at {{rws|Redhill}}.{{sfn|Jackson|1988|p=26}}}}
* Reigate to {{rws|London Victoria}} via Redhill, operated by Southern<ref>{{cite web |title= O: Three Bridges, Gatwick Airport, Tonbridge, Reigate and Redhill to Croydon and London |date= 11 December 2023 |publisher= Govia |url= https://timetables.southernrailway.com/SN/#/timetables/2395/Table%20O |access-date= 20 March 2024 }}</ref>

Much of this part of the North Downs Line runs immediately to the south of the North Downs escarpment,{{sfn|Course|1987|p=xxxi}} although the route deviates to the south between Chilworth and Gomshall to avoid [[Albury Park]].{{sfn|Course|1987|p=li}} Only the {{cvt|1|mi|67|ch|adj=on}} section between Reigate and Redhill is electrified.{{sfn|Brown|2010|p=15}}{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|p=43}} Between Shalford Junction and Gomshall, the line is controlled from Guildford signal box and the majority of the route to the east is controlled by Reigate signal box.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SW300}}{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO560}} Redhill railway station and its approaches are controlled by Three Bridges rail operations centre.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO500}} The maximum speed on this part of the North Downs Line is {{cvt|70|mph}}.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SW300}}{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO560}}

The route crosses the [[Sutton & Mole Valley lines|Mole Valley Line]] immediately to the east of Dorking Deepdene, but there is no longer a junction between the two.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=167-168}} The navigable River Wey is crossed at Shalford via a steel [[truss bridge]], which replaced the original wooden bridge in 1902.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1989|loc=Fig. 23}} The North Downs Line crosses the River Mole on a five-arch, brick viaduct, built when the line was constructed in the late 1840s.{{sfn|Course|1987|pp=xlvii, xlix}} The [[A24 road (England)|A24]] dual carriageway at Dorking is crossed on a steel bridge, installed in 1964.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1989|loc=Fig. 70}}
{{clear}}
{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible"
|+ class="nowrap"|Stations between Shalford Junction and Redhill {{nobold|(ordered from west to east)}}
|-
!scope="col"|Station
!scope="col"|Mileage<br><small>from {{rws|Charing Cross}} via {{rws|Redhill}}</small>{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SW300}}{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|loc=SO560}}
!scope="col"|Number of<br> platforms
!scope="col"|Managing<br> company
!scope="col"|Trains<br> operated by
!scope="col"|Opening date
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Original name
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref.
|- style="background:#F8F8FF"
|{{rws|Shalford}}||{{cvt|41|mi|2|ch}}<br>||2||[[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|GWR]]||GWR||{{date table sorting|20 August 1849}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=411}}
|-
|{{rws|Chilworth}}||{{cvt|39|mi|15|ch}}||2||GWR||GWR||{{date table sorting|20 August 1849}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=131}}
|-
|{{rws|Gomshall}}||{{cvt|35|mi|21|ch}}||2||GWR||GWR ||{{date table sorting|20 August 1849}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=214}}
|-
|{{rws|Dorking West}}||{{cvt|30|mi|42|ch}} ||2||GWR||GWR||{{date table sorting|4 July 1849}}||Dorking||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=165}}
|-
|{{rws|Dorking Deepdene}}||{{cvt|29|mi|65|ch}}||2||GWR||GWR||{{date table sorting|February 1851}}{{efn|The first record of [[Dorking Deepdene railway station|Dorking Deepdene station]] is from February 1851, but the exact opening date is unclear.{{sfn|Jackson|1988|p=17}}}}||Box Hill and Leatherhead Road||{{sfn|Jackson|1988|p=17}}
|-
|{{rws|Betchworth}}||{{cvt|27|mi|17|ch}}||2||GWR||GWR||{{date table sorting|4 July 1849}}|| ||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=80}}
|-
|{{rws|Reigate}}||{{cvt|24|mi|27|ch}}||2||[[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]]||Southern<br>GWR||{{date table sorting|4 July 1849}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=386}}
|-
|{{rws|Redhill}}||{{cvt|22|mi|40|ch}}||4||Southern||Southern<br>[[Govia Thameslink Railway|Thameslink]]<br>GWR ||{{date table sorting|26 May 1842}}<br>(relocated 15 April 1844)||Reigate||{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|pp=44–45}}{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=385}}
|}

==History==
===Proposal and authorisation===
The [[Reading, Guildford and Reigate Railway]] company (RG&RR) was formed in August 1845.<ref>{{cite news |title= Devonport, Bristol and Dover Junction Railway |date= 15 August 1845 |work= Morning Chronicle |issue= 23651 |page= 2 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Reading, Guildford and Reigate Railway |date= 9 September 1845 |work= Morning Chronicle |issue= 23672 |page= 4 }}</ref> It was led initially by Frederick Mangles, a banker from Guildford,{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=177}} and most of the board members were businessmen from London and Surrey.{{sfn|Jackson|1988|p=7}} The company's stated objective was to build a line linking the three towns in its name to "secure through traffic passing between the West, North and Midlands and the Channel Ports avoiding the congestion of London and thus saving time, distance and expense."{{sfn|Jackson|1988|p=7}}

The engineer, [[Francis Giles]], was commissioned to survey the line. His route, presented to the board in January 1846, had an estimated cost of £710,000 (equivalent to £{{inflation|UK|0.710|1846|r=2}} million in {{Inflation/year|UK}}) and was to be double track throughout. It would run from the Great Western Main Line at Reading to the Brighton Main Line at Reigate Junction (later Redhill). Between Dorking and Gomshall, Giles's route required the use of the proposed [[London & Portsmouth Direct Atmospheric Railway]].{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=177}} The approaches to Guildford would use part of the [[London and South Western Railway]] (LSWR) lines to {{rws|Godalming}} and {{rws|Alton}}.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=178}}{{efn|In exchange for running powers over the lines built and owned by the [[London and South Western Railway|LSWR]], the RG&RR was required to pay 35% of the ticket receipts for passengers travelling over the relevant sections.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=48}}}}

Negotiations with other railway companies began at the start of 1846. By mid-January, the RG&RR had bought out the rival Reading and Reigate Company, promoted by [[David Mocatta]], which had proposed a line with similar aims. That March, it agreed terms to run over the LSWR tracks from Shalford Junction to Guildford. In the same month, the [[South Eastern Railway  (England)|South Eastern Railway]] (SER), which had wanted to build its own short branch from Reigate Junction to Dorking, offered to operate the line.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=178}}{{sfn|Course|1987|p=xxii}} A bill was prepared for Parliament and the RG&RR was authorised on 16 July 1846, the same day that the LSWR's [[Alton line|line from Guildford to Alton]] was approved.<ref>{{cite news |title= House of Lords {{!}} Thursday, July 16 |date= 18 July 1846 |work= Leeds Intelligencer |volume= XCXV |issue= 4813 |page= 4 }}</ref> The act gave the RG&RR the powers to construct the section of the line from Dorking to Gomshall, if it was not built in time by the London & Portsmouth Direct Atmospheric Railway Company.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=178}}

===Route alterations and construction===
[[File:Reading station 1865.jpg|thumb|right|A view of stations at Reading, {{circa|1865|1870}}, with the SER station (later known as {{rws|Reading Southern}}) on the left, and the GWR station at higher level on the right]]
Francis Giles died in March 1847 and his position as surveyor and engineer was taken, on a temporary basis, by [[Robert Stephenson]].{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=180}}<ref>{{cite ODNB |last= Chrimes |first= Mike |date= 10 February 2022 |title= Giles, Francis John William Thomas |doi= 10.1093/ref:odnb/10721 }}</ref> Stephenson began to make changes to Giles's scheme, primarily to reduce costs. Around £3000 was to be saved by simplifying the link to the South Western Main Line at Farnborough, eliminating the north–west curve, leaving only the north–east curve to be built. At Reading, Giles had proposed running alongside the Great Western Main Line on a widened embankment, but Stephenson argued that the RG&RR should build a separate station (later known as {{rws|Reading Southern}}) instead of sharing the [[Great Western Railway]] (GWR) facilities. Minor alterations were also made to the route in the Gomshall, [[Albury, Surrey|Albury]] and Ash areas. A deviations bill was submitted to Parliament and was given [[royal assent]] on 22 July 1847.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=179}} 

A formal ceremony to mark the start of construction took place near Betchworth on 20 August 1847.<ref name=MC_1847>{{cite news |title= Railway intelligence {{!}} Reading, Guildford and Reigate |date= 21 August 1847 |work= Morning Chronicle |issue= 24281 |page= 3 }}</ref>{{efn|The "first sod" was cut by [[David Salomons]], who had succeeded Frederick Mangles as chairman of the RG&RR in September 1845.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=177}}<ref name=MC_1847/>}} Contracts were awarded to George Wythes and William Jackson for the construction of the Reigate Junction-Dorking and Farnborough-Reading sections. In mid-1848, the plans for the London & Portsmouth Direct Atmospheric Railway were abandoned{{sfn|Course|1987|p=xxxvii}} and the contract to build the Dorking-Shalford Junction section of the RG&RR was awarded to Charles Henfrey that May.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=180}}{{sfn|Jackson|1988|p=7}} The SER was responsible for constructing the stations on the eastern half of the line, for which it was paid £25,000.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=181}}

[[File:Ash Railway Bridge, Basingstoke Canal - geograph.org.uk - 584325.jpg|thumb|right|Ash Railway Bridge carries the North Downs Line over the [[Basingstoke Canal]].]]
[[Peter W. Barlow|Peter Barlow]] was appointed engineer in late 1847, although the exact date is uncertain. He disagreed strongly with Stephenson's alterations to the station arrangement at Reading but was unable to persuade the RG&RR board to reinstate Giles's original scheme. Barlow made some minor alterations to reduce costs, including reducing the span of the bridge over the [[Basingstoke Canal]] from {{cvt|40|ft}} to {{cvt|24|ft}}. He also suggested building the Dorking to Farnborough section as single track, but the board decided to continue with Giles's plans for a fully double-tracked railway.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=180}} Following the conclusion of negotiations with the LSWR, a bill authorising the curve linking the RG&RR to the South West Main Line at Farnborough was granted royal assent on 26 June 1849.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=181}}

===Opening===
[[File:Betchworth Railway Station (July 2013) (5).JPG|thumb|right|[[Betchworth railway station|Betchworth station]] opened on 4 July 1849.{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=80}}]]
Two sections of the line, from Farnborough to Reading and from Reigate Junction to Dorking, opened on 4 July 1849.{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|p=39}}<ref>{{cite news |title= Reading, Guildford and Reigate |date= 4 July 1849 |work= Morning Post |issue= 23580 |page= 6 }}</ref>{{efn|Although the Reigate Junction-Dorking section was completed first, the terms of the authorising act prevented it from opening before the western part of the line.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=181}}{{sfn|White|1961|pp=128-129}} This requirement was made to allay fears that the RG&RR only intended to build the easternmost section and would not extend the line west of Dorking.{{sfn|White|1961|pp=128-129}}}} Locomotives and rolling stock were delivered to the western section via the single-track link to the South West Main Line.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=46}} From the outset, the line was worked by the SER. The initial timetable was four trains in each direction per day between Farnborough and Reading. There were seven trains from Dorking to London on weekdays and one fewer in the opposite direction.<ref>{{cite news |title= South Eastern Railway |date= 12 July 1849 |work= Morning Chronicle |issue= 24874 |page= 1 }}</ref>{{efn|The opening of the line had an immediate effect on travel between [[Dorking]] and the capital; an article in ''The Times'' on 10 October 1849 reported that 14 horses that had formerly hauled a [[stagecoach]] from the town to London were to be sold at auction. The owner blamed the sale on the opening of the new railway.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=50}}<ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= Fourteen Dorking coach horses |date= 10 October 1849 |issue= 20303 |page= 1 }}</ref>}}

The sections from Dorking to Shalford and from Guildford to Farnborough opened in August 1849. The collapse of St Catherine's Tunnel delayed the completion of the LSWR-constructed Shalford Junction to Guildford section, which finally opened on 15 October 1849.{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|p=39}}{{sfn|Williams|1968|p=141}}{{efn|Having opened on 15 October 1849, the line between Shalford Junction and [[Guildford railway station|Guildford station]] was closed again between 22 and 24 October 1849 to allow further work to take place on St Catherine's Tunnel.{{sfn|Williams|1968|p=141}}}} The initial daily full-line timetable included six trains from London to Reading, with five in the opposite direction, supplemented with an early morning departure from Guildford to the capital and an equivalent mid-evening return.<ref>{{cite news |title= Reading , Guildford and Reigate railway |date= 20 October 1849 |work= Daily News |issue= 1062 |page= 1 }}</ref>

During the construction of the line, the RG&RR was unsure how best to serve the villages of [[Shere]] and Gomshall. When passenger services on the section between Dorking and Shalford began in August 1849, two temporary stations opened – one for each village. The Shere Heath station was closed the following year, and a permanent station was built at Gomshall to replace the temporary platforms there.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=46}} In 1851, a platform was opened at the point where the line crosses the Dorking-London road. Initially called Box Hill and now known as Dorking Deepdene, the new station was intended to cater to passengers from the [[Leatherhead]] area.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=46}}

The first freight trains began running on the line in September 1850.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=48-49}} Goods sheds opened at Gomshall and Betchworth the following year, and a shed was provided at Ash from 1856. The yard at Dorking, equipped with an 8-ton crane and cattle pens, served both the town and the [[Denbies]] estate.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=48-49}}

===Purchase by the SER and late 19th century===
In October 1851, the SER applied to Parliament to take over the RG&RR.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=183}} The purchase took effect in March 1852, although the  authorising act was not given royal assent until 17 June 1852.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=46}}{{sfn|Course|1987|p=xxviii}} Over the first few years of SER ownership, the financial performance of the line was poor. In 1855, the company stated that the line was losing £15,377 per annum (equivalent to £{{inflation|UK|0.015377|1855|r=1}} million in {{Inflation/year|UK}}), but the following year, the ''Railway Times'' estimated that the annual loss was around £30,000.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=183}} Through trains from the GWR at Reading were introduced on 1 July 1863 with a daily [[Birkenhead]] to [[Dover]] return working, but disappointing passenger numbers resulted in the service being withdrawn in October 1868.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=50}}{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=190}} In January 1869, there were five daily return services between Charing Cross and Reading, ten between Dorking and the capital, and one from Guildford.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=288}} Passenger numbers from Dorking fell after the opening of the Leatherhead to Horsham line in 1867.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=50}}

In the mid-1850s, [[Aldershot Military Town]] was established for the [[British Army]] in north-east Hampshire.{{sfn|Cole|1980|p=29}}<ref>{{cite news |title= The Queen at Aldershot |date= 31 July 1856 |work= Morning Post |issue= 25765 |page= 4 }}</ref> In 1858, the SER opened North Camp station to serve the new camps.{{sfn|Kidner|1974|pp=6-7}} A goods yard was constructed at the station in 1859-60.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=156}}

[[File:Wokingham - Junction - fGWR 166221 Reigate service.JPG|thumb|right|Wokingham Junction was created in 1856, when the line from Ascot opened. A [[British Rail Class 166|Class 166]] heads towards {{rws|Guildford}} after departing from [[Wokingham railway station|Wokingham station]].]]
Several connections between the North Downs Line and other lines were created in the second half of the 19th century. The first was a {{cvt|300|m|yd|adj=on}} single-track link running into the GWR station at Reading, which opened on 30 August 1855.{{sfn|Gray|1990|pp=183-184}} The Staines, Wokingham and Woking Junction Railway (SW&WR), which had been granted running powers over the Wokingham-Reading section in 1853, opened its line from Ascot on 9 July 1856.{{sfn|Kidner|1974|pp=6-7}}{{sfn|Gray|1990|pp=183-184}} A second link at Reading, which passed under the Great Western Main Line and which was owned by the GWR and SW&WR, was opened to goods services on 1 December 1858 and to passenger trains on 17 January the following year.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=185}} At Dorking, a single-track west-to-south spur joining the Leatherhead-Horsham line, was opened on 1 May 1867 but closed around the end of the century.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=167-168}} The fourth link, a tight curve to the [[Alton line]] allowing SER trains from Ash to run into [[Aldershot railway station|Aldershot station]], was completed in 1879.{{sfn|White|1961|pp=128-129}}{{sfn|Kidner|1974|pp=8-9}}

{{Annotated image
| image = Map of Surrey Sheet 031, Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882.tiff
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| caption = The uncompleted triangular junction with the [[Portsmouth Direct line]] in 1871: The red circle indicates the position of [[Shalford railway station|Shalford station]].
}}
The construction of the railway line from Godalming to {{rws|Havant}} was completed in late 1858, although the first passenger services did not start running until January the following year.{{sfn|Janaway|1987|pp=62-63}} Since the line had been built on a speculative basis by the independent Portsmouth Railway (PR) company, it was unclear whether the LSWR would allow its trains to run over its line via Guildford and Woking to reach London. In July 1854, the PR gained authorisation to extend its line northwards from Godalming to Shalford, where it could join the North Downs Line.{{sfn|Williams|1968|pp=142-143}} New embankments and a wooden [[trestle bridge]] across the River Wey were constructed by the SER to create a [[wye (rail)|triangular junction]] at Shalford, providing an alternative route to the capital. However, before the link could be completed, the LSWR decided to allow PR trains to use its line, eliminating the immediate need for the connection.{{sfn|Kidner|1974|pp=8-9}} It is unclear whether track was ever laid over the spur, but the SER decided not to continue its work, fearing that completion would violate its long-standing agreement with the [[London, Brighton and South Coast Railway]] not to compete for traffic to Portsmouth.{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|p=40}}

===20th century===
[[File:Site of former Ash Junction - geograph.org.uk - 5632450.jpg|thumb|right|The former Ash Junction: The North Downs Line to {{rws|Ash}} curves to the right, but the former line to {{rws|Farnham}} via {{rws|Tongham}} continued straight ahead.]]
As a result of the [[Railways Act 1921]], the North Downs Line became part of the [[Southern Railway (UK)| Southern Railway]] in 1923.{{sfn|Kidner|1974|pp=24-25}} Three parts of the line were electrified in the 1930s using the third-rail system. The {{cvt|1.9|mi}} section between Redhill and Reigate was electrified under the Brighton Main Line electrification programme. Electric trains began running in public service on 17 July 1932, with trains to and from Reigate splitting and joining at Redhill with trains to and from {{rws|Three Bridges}}.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1989|loc=Fig. 101}}{{sfn|Brown|2010|p=15}} The electrification of the Wokingham–Reading and Guildford–Ash sections was completed on 1 January 1939.{{sfn|Brown|2010|pp=34-36}}{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988|loc=Fig. 80}}{{efn|The first electric trains ran over the Portsmouth Direct line between Guildford and Shalford Junction on 8 March 1937.{{sfn|Brown|2010|p=26}}}} One further development to take place in the 1930s was the withdrawal of the passenger service on the former LSWR line between Ash Junction and {{rws|Farnham}} via {{rws|Tongham}} on 4 July 1937. Freight services on this route continued until final closure in 1961.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988|loc=Fig. 90}}

During the Second World War, the North Downs Line was fortified with additional earthworks, tank traps and [[pillbox (military)|pillboxes]].{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=166}} A nine-road [[marshalling yard]] was built at Shalford and the link to the Dorking–Horsham line at Dorking was reinstated.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=167-168}}{{efn|The spur to the Dorking–Horsham line at Dorking, which had been removed {{circa|1900}} , was reinstated in Sept 1941 and was removed again in September 1950. The alignment was used for a housing development in 1970.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=167-168}}}} The North Downs Line played a major role in the transport of [[Dunkirk evacuation|troops evacuated from Dunkirk]] in May and June 1940.{{sfn|Kidner|1974|pp=24-25}}{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=166}}

The first [[Beeching cuts|Beeching report]], published in 1963, recommended shutting all stations between Shalford and Betchworth inclusive.{{sfn|Beeching|1963a|pp=107,110-113,119}}{{sfn|Beeching|1963b|loc=Map 9}}{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=95}} Instead of the proposed partial closure, steam-hauled passenger trains were replaced by [[diesel multiple unit]]s in January 1965, although steam-hauled freight continued until the end of the decade.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988|loc=Fig. 113}}{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=94-95}} The final through services between London and Reading via Redhill (one train in each direction per day) were withdrawn at the same time.{{sfn|Waters|1990|p=20}} On 4 January that year, [[British Rail Class 206|Class 206 units]], nicknamed Tadpoles and officially designated 3R, began operating an hourly stopping service between {{rws|Tonbridge}} and Reading, calling at all stations except Winnersh and Earley.<ref name=Grayer_2011>{{cite magazine |last= Grayer |first= Jeffery |date= July 2011 |title= Spawning the tadpoles |magazine= Southern Way  |issue= 15 |pages= 61–64 |publisher= Noodle Books |location= Corhampton |isbn= 978-1-90-641954-7 }}</ref> The second Beeching report, which was published in February 1965, recommended that the whole of the North Downs Line should be developed as a trunk route for freight services.{{sfn|Beeching|1965|pp=74-80}}

[[File:Reading Southern station, with steam train from Redhill geograph-2638092-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|right|{{rws|Reading Southern}} station in 1962: An [[electric multiple unit]] awaits its departure for {{rws|London Waterloo}} (left) and a [[SR U class|U class]] locomotive has just arrived from {{rws|Redhill}}.]]
Reading Southern station closed on 6 September 1965 and all North Downs Line services were diverted to platform 4a at the main Reading station thereafter. Platform 4b at Reading opened in May 1975.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988|loc=Figs 4, 12, 13}} In November 1967, full-time staff were removed from all stations on the line, with the exception of Redhill, Guildford and Reading. The change was made possible with the introduction of conductor-guards, with the ability to sell tickets, on all trains.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=94-95}} An express service between Gatwick Airport and Reading began in May 1980, calling at North Camp, Guildford and Redhill. These trains began stopping at Dorking Deepdene in May 1986.{{sfn|Course|1987|p=xxiii}}{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=102}}

From 1982, the North Downs Line came under the control of Network SouthEast, one of the five business sectors of [[British Rail]].{{sfn|Brown|Jackson|1990|p=7}}{{sfn|Brown|Jackson|1990|p=12}}{{efn| Originally known as the London and South East sector, the name [[Network SouthEast]] was used from 10 June 1986.{{sfn|Brown|Jackson|1990|p=8}}}} In 1989, groups of lines in the sector were given names and identities; the Reading–Tonbridge and Reading–Gatwick airport services were branded the "North Downs Line" and the crest of the former Tonbridge Urban District Council was applied to the trains.{{sfn|Brown|Jackson|1990|p=12}}{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=116}} In 1993, the Class 165 and 166 units were introduced. The reaction to the new trains was positive and, over the following 12 months, a 46% increase in passenger numbers was recorded for North Camp.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=102}} Tonbridge remained the easternmost terminus for the North Downs Line services until the electrification of the [[Redhill–Tonbridge line]] in 1994, when the stopping services were cut back to Redhill.{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=89}}<ref>{{cite news |title= Switched on |date= 31 March 1994 |work= Surrey Mirror |issue= 6130 |page= 15 }}</ref>

===21st century===
[[File:Reading_to_Gatwick_Airport_train_at_Crowthorne_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_483464.jpg|thumb|right|A [[British Rail Class 165|Class 165]] unit in [[Thames Trains]] livery at {{rws|Crowthorne}}]]
As the result of the [[privatisation of British Rail]], the North Downs Line was included in the [[Thames Trains]] franchise, won by the [[Go-Ahead Group]] in 1996.<ref>{{cite news |title= Rail service scrutiny |date= 21 March 1996 |work= Dorking Advertiser |page= 1 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Cave |first= Andrew |date= 10 September 1996 |title= Go Ahead to run Thames Trains |work= Daily Telegraph |issue= 43926|page= 22 }}</ref> The franchise was awarded to [[FirstGroup]] in 2003<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Go-Ahead loses Thames Trains as SRA hands franchise to First |magazine= [[Rail Magazine]] |issue=474 |date= 12 November 2003|page=26}}</ref> and trains were branded "First Great Western Link" for the next two years.{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=145}} In 2006, the former Thames Trains operations became part of the [[Greater Western franchise]], won by FirstGroup.{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=145}}<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= 13 March 2024 }}</ref>

[[File:Redhill Station (geograph 5737375).jpg|thumb|[[Redhill railway station|Redhill station]] from the north: the new Platform 0 is on the far right]]
In the 2010s, additional platforms were opened at Reading,<ref>{{cite news |last= Millward |first= David |date= 18 July 2013 |title= Your guide to the new Reading station |work= Berkshire Live |url= https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/your-guide-new-reading-station-5137402 |access-date= 13 March 2024 }}</ref> Redhill<ref>{{Cite news |last= Steed |first= Les |date= 2 January 2018 |title= Redhill Platform 0 finally open - here's what passengers thought |work= Surrey Live |url= http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/redhills-platform-0-finally-open-14103613 |access-date= 13 March 2024  }}</ref> and Gatwick Airport stations,<ref>{{cite magazine |date= 3 February 2014 |title= Extra platform opened at Gatwick Airport station |magazine= Railway Gazette |url= http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/infrastructure/single-view/view/extra-platform-opened-at-gatwick-airport-station.html |access-date= 13 March 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140209145413/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/infrastructure/single-view/view/extra-platform-opened-at-gatwick-airport-station.html |archive-date=9 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=138}} to increase capacity for trains using the North Downs Line and other passenger services. A major project to renew the signals in the Wokingham area and to transfer control of the north-western part of the line to the Basingstoke rail operations centre was completed in February 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last= Mon Hughes |first= Glyn |date= 17 January 2024 |title= Completion of £116M upgrade in Wokingham rail area hits rail and road users |work= Rail Advent |url= https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/01/completion-of-116m-upgrade-in-wokingham-area-hits-rail-and-road-users.html  |access-date= 13 March 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Resignalling completed on Feltham – Wokingham rail section |date= 19 February 2024 |work= Railway Pro |url= https://www.railwaypro.com/wp/resignalling-completed-on-feltham-wokingham-rail-section/ |access-date= 13 March 2024 }}</ref>

Several foot crossings were replaced by bridges in the early 21st century, including at Gomshall station in 2016,<ref>{{cite news |last= Younger |first= Rebecca |date= 4 December 2016 |title= Nazi Germany refugee honoured in naming of new rail station |work= Surrey Live |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/nazi-germany-refugee-honoured-naming-12246724 |access-date= 15 May 2025 }}</ref> Shere Heath in 2021<ref>{{cite news |last= Boyd |first= Alex |date= 3 April 2021 |title= Large 32-metre lorry load carrying footbridge escorted from M25 through Guildford to Gomshall railway station |work= Surrey Live |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/gallery/large-32-metre-lorry-load-20315275 |access-date= 15 May 2025 }}</ref> and Farnborough North station in 2025.<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Clifton |first= Paul |date= 14 May 2025 |title= NR highlights risk of mobile phone distraction at crossings |magazine= RAIL |issue= 1035 |pages= 16–17 }}</ref> Chester Bridge, which carries the A323 over the railway, opened in February 2025, allowing the level crossing to the south of Ash station to be closed to vehicles.<ref>{{cite news |last= Shipp |first= Victoria |date= 6 February 2025 |title= Date cars and buses will be able to use new Surrey bridge but more roadworks scheduled |work= Surrey Live |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/date-cars-buses-able-use-30943706 |access-date= 15 May 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Barlow |first= Patrick |date= 6 February 2025 |title= New road bridge to open to traffic after delays |work= BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7vd96mvl6no |access-date= 15 May 2025 }}</ref>

==Passenger services and rolling stock==
===Current===
The main services on the North Downs Line are provided by GWR using [[British Rail Class 165|Class 165]] and [[British Rail Class 166|Class 166]] Networker Turbo diesel multiple units. There is a half-hourly service between Reading and Gatwick Airport via Guildford, with alternate services running semi-fast either side of Guildford.<ref name=GWR_timetable/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.railinsider.co.uk/2020/09/14/three-trains-an-hour-on-north-downs-line/ |title=Three trains an hour on North Downs line |date=14 September 2020 |access-date=12 April 2021 |archive-date=12 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412133136/https://www.railinsider.co.uk/2020/09/14/three-trains-an-hour-on-north-downs-line/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.railstaff.co.uk/2020/09/15/gwr-increases-capacity-to-three-trains-an-hour-on-north-downs-line/ |title=GWR increases capacity to three trains an hour on North Downs line &#124; RailStaff |date=15 September 2020 |access-date=12 April 2021 |archive-date=12 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412133134/https://www.railstaff.co.uk/2020/09/15/gwr-increases-capacity-to-three-trains-an-hour-on-north-downs-line/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At Redhill, the Gatwick Airport services reverse to head south along the Brighton Main Line. A total of seven diesel multiple units is required to run the GWR Reading–Gatwick Airport service.<ref name=Decarbonisation_2024/>{{efn|Until 1994, the {{rws|Reading}}–{{rws|Redhill}} stopping services continued to {{rws|Tonbridge}}, but the line between Redhill and Tonbridge was electrified in 1993.{{sfn|Green|Vincent|2014|p=89}} Trains on this section are now operated by Southern.<ref name=NR_LaSE>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/system/galleries/download/print_maps/LondonAndSouthEast.pdf |title=London and South East Rail Services |website=www.nationalrail.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929121227/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/system/galleries/download/print_maps/LondonAndSouthEast.pdf |archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref>}}

Services on the North Downs Line are provided by South Western Railway between Reading and Wokingham (trains to/from {{rws|London Waterloo}}, operated by {{brc|458}} and {{brc|455}} units),<ref name=Class_458/><ref name=Class_455/><ref name=NR_LaSE/> and between Ash and Guildford (trains to/from Aldershot and Farnham operated by {{brc|450}} units).<ref name=Class_450/><ref name=NR_LaSE/> {{brc|701}} units are expected to start operating services between Waterloo and Reading in June 2025.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= SWR to roll out ten more 'Arterios' |date= January 2025 |magazine= Rail Express |issue= 344 |page= 11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Shipp |first= Victoria |date= 28 November 2024 |title= SWR's new £1 billion train fleet set to carry passengers around Surrey unveiled by England cricket legend |work= Surrey Live |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/gallery/swrs-new-1-billion-train-30479407 |access-date= 29 December 2024 }}</ref>

[[File:A Class 377 at Reigate station in 2019 01.jpg|thumb|right|A {{brc|377}} unit at [[Reigate railway station|Reigate station]] with a [[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]] service to {{rws|London Victoria}}]]
Southern operates frequent services using four-car electric multiple units between Reigate and {{rws|London Victoria}}. These trains use the North Downs Line between Reigate and Redhill, where they join the Brighton Main Line.<ref name=Decarbonisation_2024/> 

===Former===
The earliest locomotives to be used on the North Downs Line are thought to have been SER [[2-4-0]] engines, designed by [[James Cudworth (engineer)|James Cudworth]].{{sfn|Kidner|1974|p=57}} A [[Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company|Nasmyth and Gaskell]] [[0-6-0]] and a [[Rothwell, Hick and Rothwell|Hick]] 2-4-0 are known to have worked the line in the mid-1850s.{{sfn|Waters|1990|p=20}} E class 2-4-0 locomotives were introduced in the early 1860s and hauled passenger services until the end of the 19th century. [[James Stirling (engineer, born 1835)|James Stirling]], who was appointed [[chief mechanical engineer|locomotive superintendent]] at the SER in 1878, introduced [[SER F class|F class]] [[4-4-0]] engines to the line in 1897.{{sfn|Kidner|1974|p=57}} From 1902, [[SER Q class|Q class]] [[0-4-4T]] [[tank locomotive|tank engines]] were used and are known to have worked the Ash-Aldershot shuttle services.{{sfn|Kidner|1974|p=58}}

[[File:Gomshall_%26_Shere_geograph-2646374-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|right|upright|An [[SECR N class]] locomotive, designed by [[Richard Maunsell]], climbs towards {{rws|Gomshall}} in 1957.]]
Traffic increased during the First World War, with additional trains serving the army camps at Aldershot. GWR [[GWR 3300 Class|3300 class]] "Bulldogs" and [[GWR 3252 Class|3252 class]] "Dukes" were deployed to the line, supplemented by 15 [[Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)|Great Northern Railway]] 2-4-0 locomotives.{{sfn|Kidner|1974|p=58}}{{sfn|Jackson|1988|p=22}} In 1924, [[Richard Maunsell|Maunsell]] [[SECR N class|N class]] steam engines began hauling passenger trains, and [[SECR P class|P Class]] 0-6-0 tank engines took over the Ash-Aldershot shuttle at around the same time. In the 1930s, the majority of services were worked by [[SECR F1 class|F1]] and [[SECR_D_class|D class]] 4-4-0s, and [[SECR_H_class|H class]] 0-4-4Ts.{{sfn|Kidner|1974|p=58}}{{sfn|Jackson|1988|pp=23-24}} In 1938, ex-GWR [[2-6-0]] and [[4-6-0]] engines moved to the North Downs Line and continued to haul trains until the 1960s.{{sfn|Jackson|1988|pp=23-24}}

Traffic increased again during the Second World War. Between 27 May and 4 June 1940, troops evacuated from Dunkirk were transported via the line and civilian services were suspended to allow these trains to run.{{sfn|Jackson|1988|pp=23-24}}<ref name=Tatlow_2014>{{cite magazine |last= Tatlow |first= Peter |date= January 2014 |title= Beside the North Downs  |magazine= Southern Way |issue= 25 |pages= 41–47 |publisher= Noodle Books |location= Corhampton |isbn= 978-1-90-932817-4 }}</ref> In the same year a new cross-country service between {{rws|Newcastle}} and [[Ashford International railway station|Ashford, Kent]], primarily for military personnel, was introduced on the line. It ran until the end of 1944, when the southern terminus was changed to [[Southampton Terminus railway station|Southampton Docks]].{{sfn|Jackson|1988|pp=23-24}}

In the 1950s, the majority of passenger trains were hauled by Maunsell N and [[SR U class|U class]] locomotives, supplemented towards the end of the decade by [[BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0|Standard Class 4 tender]] and [[BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T|tank engines]]. From 1959 onwards, electrification schemes in Kent allowed [[LSWR N15 class]] "King Arthurs" and [[SR V class]] "Schools" steam engines to be transferred to the line.<ref name=Tatlow_2014/> [[British Rail Class 33|Class 33]] [[Diesel locomotive#Diesel–electric|diesel-electric]] locomotives began hauling trains in 1962.{{sfn|Kidner|1974|p=62}} The final, scheduled, steam-hauled passenger service on the North Downs Line departed Reading Southern for Guildford on the evening of 3 January 1965,{{sfn|Waters|1990|p=29}} although a few steam-hauled freight services continued until the end of steam operation on the Southern Region in July 1967.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988|loc=Fig. 113}}

[[File:Tadpole unit at guildford.jpg|right|thumb|[[British Rail Class 206|3R (Class 206)]] unit at {{rws|Guildford}} in 1979]]
A new timetable was introduced on 4 January 1965, with [[British Rail Class 206|3R (Class 206)]] diesel-electric multiple units operating an hourly, all-stations service between Reading and Tonbridge. The new trains consisted of two 6S ([[British Rail Class 201|Class 201]]) coaches from the [[Hastings Line]] coupled to an adapted [[British Rail Class 416|2-EPB]] [[control car|driving trailer]] coach. As a result of the visible difference in width between the narrow Hastings Line stock and the standard-width trailer, the units were nicknamed ''Tadpoles''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.semgonline.com/gallery/class206.html |title= 3R (Class 206) "Tadpole" DEMUs |publisher=Semgonline.com |access-date= 17 November 2010 |archive-date= 8 April 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080408035154/http://www.semgonline.com/gallery/class206.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last= Grayer |first= Jeffery |date= July 2011 |title= Spawning the tadpoles |magazine= Southern Way |issue= 15 |pages= 61–65 |publisher= Noodle Books |location= Corhampton |isbn= 978-1-90-641954-7 }}</ref> The Class 33 diesel locomotives, introduced to the line in 1962, continued to haul peak hour services until May 1977.{{sfn|Kidner|1974|p=62}}{{sfn|Jackson|1988|p=25}}

[[File:BR 101 L832 Sarah.jpg|thumb|right|A {{brc|101}} unit in [[Network SouthEast]] livery at {{rws|Reading}} with a service to {{rws|Guildford}} in 1991]]
Three-car {{brc|119}} units were introduced to the North Downs Line in April 1979 enabling the withdrawal of the Tadpoles in May 1981.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=95}} The express service from Reading to Gatwick Airport was launched on 12 May 1980. The Class 119 units were especially modified for this service, and the buffet counter in the centre coach was removed to create extra luggage space.{{sfn|Brown|Jackson|1990|p=58}} Initially the service called at North Camp, Guildford and Redhill, but it began stopping at Dorking Deepdene in May 1986.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=102}} Three-car {{brc|101}} units were later used on the route as well.{{sfn|Brown|Jackson|1990|p=55}} The Class 119 and 101 units were replaced by Class 165 and 166 units in 1993.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=102}}

{{brc|456}} units were introduced to the North Downs Line on 23 March 2014, when they began operating between Ascot and Guildford via Aldershot. They were withdrawn from passenger service by SWR on 15 January 2022.<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Waller |first= Peter |date= November 2023 |title= Class 456 Farewell |magazine= Southern Way |issue= 62 |pages= 21–31 |publisher= Crécy Publishing Ltd |location= Manchester |isbn= 978-1-80-035274-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last= Clifton |first= Paul |date= 26 January 2022 |title= SWR withdraws '456s' following service cuts |magazine= RAIL |issue= 949 |pages= 10–11 }}</ref> In 2018, GWR announced that it would lease [[British Rail Class 769|Class 769]] hybrid multiple units for use on the North Downs Line and on other services in the Thames Valley.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/gwr-to-lease-class-769-flex-trimode-trainsets.html |title=GWR to lease Class 769 Flex 'trimode' trainsets |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=20 April 2018 |website=Railway Gazette |access-date=20 April 2018 |archive-date=27 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727201324/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/gwr-to-lease-class-769-flex-trimode-trainsets.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2022, the company decided not to pursue plans to introduce the Class 769 fleet and stated that all units were to be returned to the lessor.<ref name=RG>{{cite magazine |date= 23 December 2022 |title= GWR fleet to shrink further as it abandons Class 769 introduction |magazine= Railway Gazette |language=en |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/gwr-fleet-to-shrink-further-as-it-abandons-class-769-introduction/63230.article |access-date= 23 December 2022 }}</ref>

==Freight services ==
[[File: Approaches to Reading South, 1952 - geograph.org.uk - 4825560.jpg|thumb|right|{{rws|Reading Southern}} goods yard in 1953 with [[St James's Church, Reading|St James's Church]] (top left)]]
The first goods trains began running on the North Downs Line in September 1850 and facilities for handling freight were provided at most stations. Goods sheds opened at Gomshall and Betchworth the following year, and a shed was provided at Ash from 1856.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=48-49}} The yard at Dorking, equipped with an 8-ton crane and cattle pens, served both the town and the [[Denbies]] estate.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=48-49}} The permanent goods yard at Reading Southern opened on 1 December 1858, replacing a temporary facility to the east that had opened with the line in 1849.{{sfn|Waters|1990|pp=22-23}} The yard was used for goods services in February 1970.{{sfn|Waters|1990|p=30}} Most of the station yards on the line closed in the 1960s.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988|loc=Figs 44, 68}}{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1989|loc=Figs 29, 34, 53}}

There were four major narrow-gauge railway systems linked to the line. The Chilworth gunpowder and cordite works, active until the end of the First World War, had an {{track gauge|800 mm}} railway.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1989|loc=Figs 30-33}} At Dorking West station, there was a British Timber Works narrow gauge railway, active between the 1910s and 1930s. Brockham Limeworks and Brickworks, to the east of Dorking, was connected to the North Downs Line by a standard-gauge siding but also had a small {{track gauge|2 ft}} system.{{sfn|Jackson|1988|pp=55-60}} Betchworth quarry and limeworks, which operated between 1865 and 1963, had an extensive system with four different track gauges.<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Waller |first= Peter |date= July 2023 |title= Dorking Greystone Lime Company |magazine= Southern Way |issue= 46 |pages= 89–93 |publisher= Crécy Publishing Ltd |location= Manchester |isbn= 978-1-80-035274-2 }}</ref>{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1989|loc=Fig. 86}}

[[File:66015 passes Ash 2nd April 2014.jpg|thumb|right|A [[British Rail Class 66|Class 66]] locomotive hauls a freight train through {{rws|Ash}} in 2014]]
The [[travelling post office]] train from [[Dover]] to {{rws|Manchester Piccadilly}} via Tonbridge, Redhill, Guildford and Reading was routed along the line from May 1988{{sfn|Jackson|1988|p=25}} until 1996, when a new road and rail postal hub opened at Willesden.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=50}} The Network Rail 2008 Strategic Business Plan recommended an enhancement project to enable freight traffic from the [[Channel Tunnel]] to use the line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Strategic Business Plan Update |date= April 2008 |publisher= Network Rail |page= 24 |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/Update/Strategic%20Business%20Plan%20April%20update.pdf  |access-date=2010-11-17  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607072041/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/Update/Strategic%20Business%20Plan%20April%20update.pdf |archive-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2023, there were no regular scheduled freight services on the North Downs Line.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Cross-country backwater |date= 27 January 2023 |magazine= Railways of Britain  
|series= Scenic Railways of Britain |issue= 9: The Home Counties |pages= 46–51 }}</ref>

==Future==
[[File:British Rail Class 165 110 & 455 718 at Reading's third rail electrified platforms.jpg|thumb|[[British Rail Class 165|Class 165]] and [[British Rail Class 455|455]] units at the third-rail electrified platforms at {{rws|Reading}}]]
Three sections of the North Downs Line were electrified by the Southern Railway in the 1930s,{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1989|loc=Fig. 101}}{{sfn|Brown|2010|pp=34-36}}{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1988|loc=Fig. 80}} but around {{cvt|29|mi}} remains unelectrified.<ref name=Decarbonisation_2024/>{{sfn|"Surrey Rail Strategy"|2015|p=17}} There have been several proposals to either extend the electrified sections or to completely electrify the remainder. A study for Surrey County Council, published in two parts in 1995 and 1996, recommended that the Dorking{{endash}}Reigate section be electrified and a north{{endash}}east link from the Mole Valley Line be built, to enable a loop service to operate via {{rws|Epsom}}, Redhill and {{rws|East Croydon}}.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=219-220}}{{efn|The necessary land for a north{{endash}}east link between the [[Sutton & Mole Valley lines|Mole Valley Line]] and North Downs Line at {{rws|Dorking}} was purchased by the [[South Eastern Railway (England)|SER]]. Parliamentary approval was obtained in 1924 and 1927, but the link was never built.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=219-220}}}}

The "Surrey Rail Strategy", published in 2015, noted that infill electrification of the remaining unelectrified sections using the DC third-rail system would reduce the journey time between Reading and Gatwick Airport by {{fraction|2|1|2}} minutes for fast services and by 7 minutes for stopping trains. Overhead electrification of the line would reduce the journey time by 5 minutes for fast services and by 11 minutes for stopping trains.{{sfn|"Surrey Rail Strategy"|2015|pp=30-31}} The following year, [[Surrey County Council]] suggested that electrification of the full length of the North Downs Line would create around 8,000 jobs and would stimulate £1.9 billion of economic growth, based on research by four [[local enterprise partnership]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Electrifying North Downs Line will boost economy by almost £2 billion |date=4 May 2016 |publisher= Surrey County Council |url=https://news.surreycc.gov.uk/2016/05/04/electrifying-north-downs-line-will-boost-economy-by-almost-2-billion/  |access-date=16 July 2017 |archive-date=4 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504220222/https://news.surreycc.gov.uk/2016/05/04/electrifying-north-downs-line-will-boost-economy-by-almost-2-billion/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36681121 |title=Bid to electrify 29-mile North Downs railway line |work=BBC News |date=July 2016 |access-date=22 June 2018 |archive-date=28 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028193005/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36681121 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The "North Downs Line Traction Decarbonisation Strategy", published by [[Network Rail]] in 2024, evaluated the costs and benefits of completely electrifying the route. It noted that third-rail infill offered poor value for money and proposed that battery-powered electric trains should be procured when the Class 165 and 166 units are withdrawn. Whilst introducing a third train per hour between Reading and Redhill would allow stops to be removed from Reading–Gatwick services, it would deliver only a marginal improvement in the financial performance of the line.<ref name=Decarbonisation_2024/>

The "Blackwater Valley Rail Survey", published in 1991, suggested replacing the station at Farnborough North with an interchange station where the South West Main Line crosses the North Downs Line. This option was dismissed in the 1995/6 Surrey County Council reports as it was thought that the stopping train frequencies on the two lines would be too low for suitable connections.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=219-220}} The 1995/6 reports also proposed a new station at Park Barn to serve the [[Royal Surrey County Hospital]] and the [[University of Surrey]]. A local newspaper report in 2019, suggested that the new station, in north-west Guildford, could open in the mid-2020s.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=219-220}}<ref>{{cite news |last= McKeon |first= Christopher |date= 19 July 2019 |title= New Park Barn station 'on track' to open in 2025 after council allocates another £500,000 |work= Surrey Live |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/new-park-barn-station-on-16616473 |access-date= 19 March 2024 }}</ref> The 1995/6 Surrey County Council reports also suggested that the line could form the core of a rail link between [[Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]] and Gatwick Airports.{{sfn|Jackson|1999|p=221}}

==Accidents and incidents==
[[File:Accident at Gomshall railway station on 20 February 1904.jpg|thumb|right|The wreckage of the accident at {{rws|Gomshall}} on 20 February 1904]]
* 19 June 1853: An SER passenger train from Reading to Reigate ran into the back of a Godalming-bound goods train in one of the tunnels south of Guildford.<ref>{{cite web |last= Dyer |first= Rupert |date= 24 May 2019 |title= Extract for the Accident at Guildford on 19th June 1853 |publisher= Railways Archive |url= https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=7543 |access-date= 18 March 2024 }}</ref>
* 12 September 1855: A [[light engine]], which had departed from Reading, was misrouted into the path of a train from Charing Cross via Guildford and collided with it head on. Three passengers and the [[train driver|driver]] of the light engine were killed.{{sfn|Waters|1990|p=20}}<ref>{{cite news |title= Further particulars |date= 15 September 1855 |work= Daily Telegraph |issue= 68 |page= 2}}</ref> One further passenger later died of their injuries.<ref>{{cite news |title= The late railway accident near Reading |date= 18 September 1855 |work= Daily Telegraph |issue= 70 |page= 2}}</ref>
* 17 January 1867: An LSWR passenger train from Alton ran into the back of an SER train from Reading about {{cvt|300|yd|m}} north-west of Guildford station. There were no fatalities.<ref>{{cite news |title= Serious railway accident |date= 19 January 1867 |work= Surrey Advertiser |volume= III |issue= 135 |page= 2 }}</ref>
* 18 January 1868: An SER train for Redhill derailed shortly after leaving Reigate, due to a [[landslide|landslip]]. The locomotive overturned, the first carriage was destroyed and the second carriage was slewed across the tracks. There were no fatalities.<ref>{{cite news |title= Accident on the South Eastern Railway |date= 26 January 1868 |work= Weekly Dispatch |issue= 3459 |page= 29 }}</ref>
* 8 September 1882: George White, a shunter employed by the SER, was struck and killed at Reigate by a non-stopping express train to London. He had been loading a horse into a horsebox attached to a Reading-bound train that had stopped at the station.<ref>{{cite news |title= Fatal accident at the station |date= 16 September 1882 |work= Surrey Times and County Express |page= 7 }}</ref>
* 29 February 1892: Henry Wicks, a guard employed by the SER, was killed on the line between Chilworth and Gomshall. A coupling between two trucks broke and the rear portion, in which he was working, rolled backwards downhill at speed. He was thrown out of the [[brake van|guard's van]] and onto the embankment.<ref name=Burgess_2017>{{cite magazine |last= Burgess |first= John |date= April 2017 |title= Two accidents on Gomshall Bank  |magazine= Southern Way |issue= 46 |pages= 12–18 |publisher= Crécy Publishing Ltd |location= Manchester |isbn= 978-1-90-932887-7 }}</ref> A [[Buxus sempervirens|box]] hedge [[topiary]], known as Jessie's Seat, has been cut in the shape of a pheasant as a memorial to Wicks.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/stories/people-and-the-railway-jessies-seat |title= People and the railway: Jessie's Seat |author= <!--Not stated--> |date= 28 February 2019 |website= Network Rail |access-date= 28 February 2020 |archive-date= 29 February 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200229143927/https://www.networkrail.co.uk/stories/people-and-the-railway-jessies-seat |url-status= live }}</ref>
* 9 November 1901: A [[fireman (steam engine)|fireman]] was run over and killed in thick fog by a non-stopping train at Blackwater, while attempting to extinguish a burning [[railroad tie|sleeper]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Burrell |first= Martin |date= October 2018 |title= Accident at Aldershot: 9 November 1901 |magazine= Southern Way |issue= 43 |pages= 87–88 |publisher= Crécy Publishing Ltd |location= Manchester |isbn= 978-1-90-932876-1 }}</ref>
* 20 February 1904: A locomotive hauling a train carrying around 150 members of the [[Royal Northumberland Fusiliers]], bound for service in Mauritius, derailed at Gomshall station. There were no fatalities, but three soldiers, the driver and fireman were severely injured. The accident occurred while the train was travelling at around {{cvt|35|mph}} and is thought to have been caused by a track defect.<ref name=Burgess_2017/><ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= Railway accident at Gomshall |date= 22 February 1904 |issue= 37323 |page= 7 }}</ref>
* 11 April 1944: Two goods trains, one of which consisted of tankers of aviation fuel en route to airfields in Kent, collided at Shalford. The resulting fire damaged the steel road bridge over the railway.{{sfn|Rose|2016|p=81}}

==Listed buildings==
There are three Grade II [[listed building|listed structures]] on the North Downs Line.   
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!scope="col"|Name
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Location
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Type
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Completed{{efn|The completion date given is the date used by [[Historic England]] as significant for the initial building of all or part of the structure}}
!scope="col"|Date listed
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Coordinates
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Image
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref.
|- style="background:#F8F8FF"
|Level Crossing cottage||[[Buckland, Surrey|Buckland]], Surrey||cottage||1848||{{dts|18 August 1996}}||{{coord|51.2505|-0.2546|display=inline}}||[[File:Gatekeeper's Cottage, Rectory Lane - geograph.org.uk - 1770698.jpg|180px]]||<ref>{{NHLE|num=1268301|desc=Level Crossing cottage|grade=II}}</ref>
|-
|Footbridge immediately south of Wokingham Station||[[Wokingham]], Berkshire||footbridge||late 19th century||{{dts|16 June 1996}}||{{coord|51.4109|-0.8425|display=inline}}||[[File:4-CIG 7339 at Wokingham in May 1981.jpg|180px]]|| <ref>{{NHLE|num=1268457|desc= Footbridge immediately south of Wokingham Station|grade=II}}</ref>
|-
|Railway overbridge at NGR SU 7770 7109, Arbor Lane||[[Winnersh]], Berkshire||rail bridge over road||1848||{{dts|28 April 1987}}||{{coord|51.4333|-0.8838|display=inline}}||[[File: Railway bridge RDG2_19-1388, Arbor Lane - geograph.org.uk - 4394496.jpg|180px]]||<ref>{{NHLE|num=1118141|desc=Railway overbridge at NGR SU 7770 7109, Arbor Lane|grade=II}}</ref>
|-
|}

==See also==
{{Commons category|North Downs Line}}
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
* [[Great Western Main Line]]
* [[Waterloo–Reading line]]
* [[Alton line]]
* [[Portsmouth Direct line]]
* [[Sutton & Mole Valley Line|Mole Valley line]]
* [[Brighton Main Line]]
* [[Redhill–Tonbridge line]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book |last=Beeching |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Beeching |title=The Reshaping of British Railways Part 1: Report |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docSummary.php?docID=13 |access-date=7 December 2009 |date=27 March 1963a  |publisher=[[Office of Public Sector Information|HMSO]] |location=London }}
*{{cite book |last=Beeching |first=Richard |title=The Reshaping of British Railways Part 2: Maps |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docSummary.php?docID=35 |access-date=7 December 2009 |date=27 March 1963b  |publisher=[[Office of Public Sector Information|HMSO]] |location=London }}
*{{cite book |last=Beeching |first=Richard |title=The Development of the Major Railway Trunk Routes |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docSummary.php?docID=14 |access-date=7 December 2009 |date=16 February 1965 |publisher=[[Office of Public Sector Information|HMSO]] |location=London }}
* {{cite book |editor-last= Bridge |editor-first= Mike |year= 2017 |title= TRACKatlas of Mainland Britain |edition= 3rd |publisher= Platform 5  |location= Sheffield |isbn= 978-1-90-943126-3 }}
* {{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= Cole |first= Howard N. |year= 1980 |title= The Story of Aldershot : A History of the Civil and Military Towns |publisher= Southern Books |isbn= 978-0-95-071470-7 }}
*{{cite book |editor-last= Course |editor-first= Edwin |year= 1987 |title= Minutes of the Board of Directors of the Reading, Guildford and Reigate Railway Company |publisher= Surrey Record Society |location= Guildford |isbn= 978-0-90-297808-9}}
* {{cite web |last1= Bussell |first1= Stephen |last2= Bennett |first2= Stephen |last3= Bransby |first3= Hal |date= 12 June 2015 |title= Surrey Rail Strategy : North Downs Line Assessment |publisher= Surrey County Council |url= https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/136555/North-Downs-Line-Assessment-Report-FINAL-120615.compressed.pdf |access-date= 19 March 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220120202134/https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/136555/North-Downs-Line-Assessment-Report-FINAL-120615.compressed.pdf |archive-date= 20 January 2022 |url-status= live |ref= {{harvid|"Surrey Rail Strategy"|2015}}}}
* {{cite book |last= Gray |first= Adrian |date= 1990 |title= South Eastern Railway |publisher= Middleton Press |location= Midhurst |isbn= 978-0-90-652085-7 }}
* {{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 |title= Dorking's Railways |last= Jackson |first=Alan A. |year= 1988 |publisher=Dorking Local History Group |location=Dorking |isbn= 978-1-87-091201-3 }}
* {{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 |last= Janaway |first= John |year= 1987 |title= Yesterday's Town : Godalming |publisher= Barracuda Books |location= Buckingham |isbn= 978-0-86-023291-9 }}
* {{cite book |last= Kidner |first= R.W. |year= 1974 |title= The Reading to Tonbridge Line |publisher= Oakwood Press |location= Headington |isbn= 978-0-85-361156-1 }}
* {{cite book |last1= Mitchell |first1= Vic |last2= Smith |first2= Keith |year= 1988 |title= Reading to Guildford |publisher= Middleton Press |location= Midhurst |isbn= 978-0-90-652047-5 }}
* {{cite book |last1= Mitchell |first1= Vic |last2= Smith |first2= Keith |year= 1989 |title= Guildford to Redhill |publisher= Middleton Press |location= Midhurst |isbn= 978-0-90-652063-5 }}
* {{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=Rose |first=David |year=2016 |title=Guildford Pubs |publisher=Amberley Publishing |location=Stroud |isbn=978-1-44-565719-6}}
* {{cite book |last= Waters |first= Laurence |year= 1990 |title= Rail Centres: Reading |publisher= Ian Allan Ltd |location= Shepperton |isbn= 978-0-71-101937-9 }}
* {{cite book |last= White |first= H.P. |year= 1961 |title= Southern England |series= A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain |volume= 2 |publisher= Phoenix House }}
* {{cite book |last=Williams |first=R. A. |year=1968 |title=The London & South Western Railway |volume= 1: The Formative Years |publisher= David & Charles |location= Newton Abbot |isbn=0-7153-4188-X }}
* {{cite book |last=Williams |first=R. A. |year=1973 |title=The London & South Western Railway |volume=  2: Growth and Consolidation |publisher= David & Charles |location= Newton Abbot |isbn=0-7153-5940-1 }}
* {{cite book |last=Yonge |first=John |editor-last=Jacobs |editor-first=Gerald |title=Railway Track Diagrams 5: Southern & TfL |edition=3rd |date=November 2008 |orig-year=1994 |publisher=Trackmaps |location=Bradford on Avon |isbn=978-0-9549866-4-3 }}
* {{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%20September%2024/Kent%20Sussex%20and%20Wessex%20Sectional%20Appendix%20September%202024.pdf |access-date= 19 November 2024 |ref= {{harvid|"Sectional Appendix"|2009}}}}
* {{cite web |title= Delivering a better railway for a better Britain {{!}} Route Specifications: Wessex |year= 2016 |publisher= Network Rail |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Route-Specification-2016-Wessex-1.pdf |access-date= 23 January 2024 |ref= {{harvid|"Route Specifications"|2016}}}}
{{refend}}

{{Transport in Surrey}}
{{Railway lines in South East England}}

[[Category:Rail transport in Berkshire]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Surrey]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1849]]
[[Category:Railway lines in South East England]]
[[Category:1849 establishments in England]]