View source for Shepperton branch line

{{short description|Railway line in southeast England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rail line
|name = Shepperton branch line
|image = Upper Halliford stn high westbound.JPG
|image_width = 300px
|caption = Looking southwestwards towards {{rws|Shepperton}} from {{rws|Upper Halliford}} station
|type = [[Heavy rail]]
|system = [[National Rail]]
|status = Operational
|locale = {{ubl|[[Greater London]]|[[South East England]]}}
|start = {{Stnlnk|London Waterloo}}
|end = {{stnlnk|Shepperton}}
|stations = 6
|open = 1 November 1864 
|close =
|owner = [[Network Rail]]
|operator = [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]]
|stock = {{ubl|[[British Rail Class 450|Class 450]]|[[British Rail Class 455|Class 455]]|[[British Rail Class 458|Class 458]]|[[British Rail Class 701|Class 701]]}}
|tracklength =
|tracks = 2
|gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}} 
|electrification = {{750 V DC|conductor=third rail}}
|speed = {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}
|map = {{switcher|[[File:Shepperton branch line.png|300px]]|Show static map|{{maplink-road|from=Shepperton branch line.map}}|Show zoomable map|{{Shepperton Branch Line|inline=y}}|Show line diagram}}
|map_state = uncollapsed
}}
The '''Shepperton branch line''' is a {{cvt|6|mile|51|ch|km|adj=on}} railway branch line in [[Surrey]] and [[Greater London]], England. It runs from its western terminus at {{rws|Shepperton}} to a [[wye (rail)|triangular junction]] with the [[Kingston loop line]] east of {{rws|Fulwell}}. There are intermediate stations at {{rws|Upper Halliford}}, [[Sunbury railway station (Surrey)|Sunbury]] and [[Hampton railway station (London)|Hampton]]. The branch also serves a [[Kempton Park railway station|dedicated station at Kempton Park racecourse]]. All six stations are managed by [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]], which operates all passenger trains. Most services run between Shepperton and {{rws|London Waterloo}} via [[Kingston_railway_station_(England)|Kingston]], but during peak periods some run via {{rws|Twickenham}}.

The line was constructed by the Thames Valley Railway company and opened in November 1864. It became part of the [[London and South Western Railway]] (LSWR) the following year. The LSWR was responsible for double tracking and [[railway electrification in Great Britain|electrifying]] the line using the 750 [[Volt|V]] [[direct current|DC]] third-rail system. The replacement of the [[railway signalling|signalling]] was completed in June 2019 and train movements have been controlled from Basingstoke [[rail operating centre]] since April 2021. The Shepperton branch line is proposed for incorporation into [[Crossrail 2]].

==Infrastructure and services==
[[File:DSCF0460 Train in the railway cutting at Fulwell approaching the station.jpg|thumb|A [[British Rail Class 455|Class 455]] unit emerging from Fulwell Tunnel and entering Fulwell station]]
The Shepperton branch line is a railway line in [[Surrey]] and [[Greater London]], England. It runs for {{cvt|6|mile|51|ch|km}} from its terminus at [[Shepperton railway station|Shepperton station]] to an [[grade separation|at-grade]] [[wye (rail)|triangular junction]] with the [[Kingston loop line]] around {{cvt|12.5|mi|km}} down the line from [[London Waterloo]].<!--NOTE: Distance from Waterloo is approximate and deliberately not given in miles and chains, because the junctions are at different mileages.--->{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|pp=167-169}} The maximum speed permitted on the branch is {{cvt|60|mph}}.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|pp=167-169}}{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=49-51}} The line is [[railway electrification in Great Britain|electrified]] using the 750 [[Volt|V]] [[direct current|DC]] third-rail system and, with the exception of Shepperton station, the line is double tracked throughout. Signalling is controlled by Basingstoke [[rail operating centre]] and [[track circuit|track circuit block]] is in operation.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|pp=167-169}}{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=49-51}} There is one level crossing on the line, immediately to the west of [[Hampton railway station (London)|Hampton station]], and a {{cvt|57|yd|adj=on}} tunnel, immediately to the west of [[Fulwell railway station|Fulwell station]].{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|pp=167-169}}{{efn|The [[cutting (transportation)|cutting]] and tunnel at Fulwell pass through water-bearing gravels and have a history of  flooding.<ref>{{cite news |last= Strudwick |first= Matt |date= 8 June 2016 |title= Fulwell flooding to be tackled with £6M railway line upgrade |work= Surrey Live |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/fulwell-flooding-tackled-6m-railway-11437266  |access-date= 1 February 2024 }}</ref>{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1990|loc=Fig. 39}} Fulwell Tunnel is thought to have been built using the cut-and-cover method.{{sfn|Heselton|1994|pp=18-19}}}} The artificial [[Longford River]] passes over the line in an [[aqueduct (bridge)|aqueduct]] at [[Hampton Hill]].<ref name=Stacy_2016>{{cite news |last= Stacy |first= Mungo |date= 27 October 2016 |title= Fulwell's blue lagoons |work= Rail Engineer |url= https://www.railengineer.co.uk/fulwells-blue-lagoons/ |access-date= 1 February 2024 }}</ref>

The six stations on the branch are managed by [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]], which operates all services.<ref name=timetable>{{cite web |title= Kingston Loop and Shepperton to London Waterloo |date= December 2023 |publisher= South Western Railway |url= https://www.southwesternrailway.com/-/media/files/plan-my-journey/timetables/december-2023/ptt01-december-2023.pdf
 |access-date= 22 January 2024 }}</ref> Shepperton has one operational [[railway platform|platform]], but the other five stations have two platforms each.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|pp=125-130}}{{efn|Platform 1 at [[Hampton railway station (London)|Hampton station]] is the shortest on the line with a length of {{cvt|204|m}}.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|pp=125-130}}}} The [[buffer stop]] at Shepperton is {{cvt|18|mile|73|ch|km}} down the line from London Waterloo, when measured via {{rws|Twickenham}}.{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|pp=167-169}} The off-peak service pattern is two trains per hour in each direction calling at all stations (except {{rws|Earlsfield}}) between Shepperton and London Waterloo via [[Kingston_railway_station_(England)|Kingston]]. In the peak periods, there are additional services to Waterloo via Twickenham that do not call at {{rws|Kempton Park}}.<ref name=timetable/> Off-peak trains from Shepperton typically reach {{rws|New Malden}} on the [[South West Main Line]]  in around 30 minutes{{sfn|"Route Specifications"|2016|pp=49-51}} and reach London Waterloo from Shepperton in around 55 minutes.<ref name=timetable/> Hampton and Fulwell stations are in Zone 6, but the other four stations on the branch are outside the [[London fare zones]].<ref>{{cite web |title= London's rail & tube services |date= December 2023 |publisher= Transport for London |location= London |url= https://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-rail-and-tube-services-map.pdf |access-date= 2 February 2024 }}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|+ class="nowrap"|Stations on the Shepperton branch line {{nobold|(ordered from east to west)}}
|-
!scope="col"|Station
!scope="col"|Distance from Waterloo<br> via Twickenham{{sfn|"Sectional Appendix"|2009|pp=167-169}}
!scope="col"|Number of<br> platforms
!scope="col"|Opening date 
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Original name
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Ref.
|- style="background:#F8F8FF"
|{{rws|Fulwell}}||{{cvt|12|mi|75|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|1 November 1864}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=200}}
|-
|[[Hampton railway station (London)|Hampton]]||{{cvt|14|mi|47|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|1 November 1864}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=227}}
|-
|{{rws|Kempton Park}}||{{cvt|16|mi|28|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|18 July 1878}}||Sunbury Racecourse||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=262}}
|-
|[[Sunbury railway station (Surrey)|Sunbury]]||{{cvt|16|mi|64|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|1 November 1864}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|pp=438-439}}
|-
|{{rws|Upper Halliford}}||{{cvt|17|mi|34|ch}}||2||{{date table sorting|1 May 1944}}||Upper Halliford Halt||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=462}}
|-
|{{rws|Shepperton}}||{{cvt|18|mi|73|ch}}||1||{{date table sorting|1 November 1864}}||||{{sfn|Quick|2023|p=413}}
|}

==History==
===Proposals and authorisation===
A railway line serving Shepperton and Sunbury was first proposed in 1861. At the time, the area was rural and the main industry was agriculture. The main motivation for the scheme was to provide a reliable route to London, avoiding [[Walton Bridge]], which had collapsed in 1859 and had not yet been repaired.{{sfn|Heselton|1994|p=1}}<ref>{{cite news |last= Hall |first= Mike |date= 30 September 1999 |title= River crossing proves to be a bridge too far |work= Surrey Herald |page= 8 }}</ref> The Metropolitan and Thames Valley Railway (M&TVR) company was formed and issued its first shares in December 1861. Among the provisional directors of the company were: [[William Schaw Lindsay]], the [[Member of Parliament (United_Kingdom)|MP]] for [[Sunderland (UK Parliament constituency)|Sunderland]]; [[Sir William Clay, 1st Baronet|Sir William Clay]]; [[Sir James Duke, 1st Baronet|Sir James Duke]]; [[Frederick Smith (British Army officer, born 1790)|Frederick Smith]], [[colonel commandant]] of the [[Royal Engineers]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Metropolitan and Thames Valley Railway |date= 16 December 1861 |work= Daily Telegraph |issue= 2021 |page= 1 }}</ref>

The initial proposal was for a {{cvt|14|mi|adj=on}} line linking Shepperton and Sunbury to the [[Great Western Main Line]] near [[Ealing]]. The western terminus would have been on the north side of the [[River Thames]] at [[Chertsey]] and the route would also have served [[Twickenham]], [[Richmond, London|Richmond]] and [[Isleworth]].{{sfn|Heselton|1994|pp=2-3}}{{sfn|Williams|1973|pp=39-40}} It would have run along part of the [[Brentford branch line]], which had opened in 1859,{{sfn|Heselton|1994|p=5}} and there would also have been spur to Walton Bridge.{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|p=171}}{{efn|The proposal to create a spur from the Shepperton branch line to [[Walton Bridge]] had been dropped by the start of 1862.{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|p=171}}}} The line was to have been worked by both the [[Great Western Railway]] (GWR) and the [[London and South Western Railway]] (LSWR), and was to be laid with [[dual gauge]], meaning that it could accommodate the two companies' trains.{{sfn|Heselton|1994|pp=2-3}}

The original intention of the promoters was to work with the GWR to raise capital to finance construction. Instead, the GWR offered to run trains on the line in exchange for half of the gross receipts and to provide assistance in obtaining parliamentary authorisation. The directors of the M&TVR rejected the GWR's offer in March 1862 and approached the LSWR instead.{{sfn|Williams|1973|pp=39-40}} The scope of the initial proposal was dramatically reduced, with the removal of the eastern half of the line. Instead, the easternmost point on the branch would be a junction with LSWR line to Kingston (later the Kingston loop line) around {{cvt|1.5|mi}} south of Twickenham.{{sfn|Heselton|1994|p=6}} The promoters dropped the word "Metropolitan" from the company name, which became the "Thames Valley Railway" (TVR).{{sfn|Heselton|1994|pp=9-10}} Additionally, the line was to be built to [[standard-gauge railway|standard gauge]] only.{{sfn|Heselton|1994|p=6}} Many supporters of the M&TVR were unhappy with the reduced scope of the line and refused to continue their association with the renamed company.{{sfn|Williams|1973|pp=40-43}}

A preliminary agreement was made with the LSWR on 1 May 1862.{{sfn|Williams|1973|pp=39-40}} The LSWR was to run train services on the line in exchange for paying the TVR 50% of its gross receipts in addition to a 4% return on the original capital, up to £110,000.{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|p=171}}{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|pp=104-105}} Two further alterations to the proposed line took place in mid-1862. Firstly, local opposition from residents forced a diversion to avoid the settlement of Sunbury.<ref>{{cite news |last= Hall |first= Mike |date= 23 November 1995 |title= Pub plan left high but not dry by rail change |work= Surrey Herald |page= 6 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Hall |first= Mike |date= 1 September 1994 |title= Villagers' triumph blocking the rails |work= Surrey Herald |page= 8 }}</ref> The diversion required gradients of up to 1 in 100 to enable it to climb away from the Thames.{{sfn|Heselton|1994|pp=9-10}} Secondly, the stretch of line from Shepperton to Chertsey was not included in the original act of parliament, although the stated intention of the TVR directors was to build this section at a later date.{{sfn|Heselton|1994|pp=7-8}} Construction of the Shepperton branch line was authorised on 17 July 1862.<ref>{{cite news |title= House of Lords, Thursday, July 17 |date= 18 July 1862 |work= Daily News |issue= 5051 |page= 2 }}</ref>

===Construction and opening===
[[File:Fulwell station, frontage - geograph.org.uk - 5121068.jpg|thumb|right|{{rws|Fulwell}} retains its original station building]]

The TVR appointed [[Joseph Quick (engineer)|Joseph Quick]] and Julian Horne Johne as engineers, and [[John Aird & Co.|John Aird]] as the contractor to build the railway.{{sfn|Heselton|1994|p=11}} Under the terms of the act of Parliament, only a single track was laid, but the formation was sufficiently wide to allow a second track to be added at a later date.{{sfn|Heselton|1994|p=20}} Four stations were constructed (Shepperton, Sunbury, Hampton and Fulwell) all of which except Fullwell were provided with small goods yards.{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|pp=104-105}}{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|p=172}} The station buildings were designed in the [[Italianate architecture|Italiante villa style]] using yellow [[London stock brick]]s.{{sfn|Jackson|1999b|p=59}} Trains were able to pass at Shepperton, Sunbury, Hampton and at the junction with the Kingston branch line.{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|p=172}} The single line sections were to be controlled by [[token (railway signalling)|train staff]].{{sfn|Williams|1973|p=41}}

Aird received £110,000 for constructing the line, the majority of which was paid in shares. He was also given some surplus land in the Sunbury area.{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|p=172}}{{sfn|Heselton|1994|p=11}} He offered to extend the line westwards from Shepperton,{{sfn|Heselton|1994|p=20}} which had been laid out as a through station with two platforms.<ref>{{cite news |last= Hall |first= Mike |date= 7 October 1999 |title= Station plan reaches the end of the line |work= Surrey Herald |page= 8 }}</ref> Although a parliamentary notice was drafted, opposition from the LSWR meant that the plans for the Shepperton-Chertsey section were dropped in December 1864.{{sfn|Jackson|1999b|p=59}}{{sfn|Heselton|1994|pp=23}}

The Shepperton branch line opened on 1 November 1864,<ref>{{cite news |title= The Thames Valley Railway |date= 2 November 1864 |work= Daily Telegraph |issue= 2923 |page= 5 }}</ref> with the first train leaving the western terminus at 7:40 am and arriving at London Waterloo around an hour later.{{sfn|Heselton|1994|pp=23}} The initial service was eight trains in each direction per day Monday-Saturday (at intervals of roughly two hours) and four trains per day on Sundays.{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|pp=104-105}}{{sfn|Heselton|1994|pp=25}} The opening of the branch stimulated housebuilding in the area. By mid-1865, the Hampton Hill Estate Company was starting to construct around 250 villas on the north side of the line<ref>{{cite news |title= Money market |date= 9 May 1865 |work= Daily News |issue= 5930 |page= 9 }}</ref> and, in 1872, the {{cvt|480|acre|adj=on}} Fulwell Estate was offered for development.<ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= Twickenham and Teddington, Middlesex |date= 27 April 1872 |issue= 27362 |page= 14 }}</ref> By 1887, there were 17 trains per day on weekdays, with a typical journey time from Shepperton to Waterloo of 55 minutes.{{sfn|Heselton|1994|pp=23}}

===Under LSWR ownership===
Amalgamation of the TVR and LSWR was proposed in November 1864<ref>{{cite news |title= London and South Western |date= 20 November 1864 |work= The Observer |issue= 3836 |page= 2 }}</ref> and the merger was authorised by act of parliament on 5 July the following year.{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|pp=104-105}} The owners of the TVR accepted a total of £100,910 in {{frac|4|1|2}} per cent preference stock.{{sfn|Williams|1973|pp=40-43}}{{sfn|Grant|2017|p=560}} The LSWR doubled the line between Thames Valley Junction (the junction with the Kingston branch line) and Fulwell station {{circa|1867}}.{{sfn|Williams|1973|pp=40-43}} Double track was extended westwards to Sunbury by July 1878{{sfn|Jackson|1999b|p=58}} and to Shepperton by the end of that year.{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|pp=104-105}} 

[[Kempton Park Racecourse]] opened on 18 July 1878.{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|p=173}} Although the LSWR was initially reluctant to serve the venue with a dedicated station, a private platform opened to the north of the course that year, funded by the Kempton Park Racing Club.{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|p=105}}{{sfn|Jackson|1999b|p=178}} A second platform opened in 1897 and a third in 1890.{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|p=173}} Initially, Kempton Park station was only available for use by members of the racing club and, until 1890, most racegoers used Sunbury station, around {{cvt|600|m|yd}} to the west.{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|p=173}} 

From 1894, special raceday trains to and from London were routed via Kingston.{{sfn|Jackson|1999b|p=178}} West of Sunbury, the Shepperton branch was [[single-line working|operated as a single-line]], allowing rolling stock for the specials to be stabled on the up line, whilst keeping the down line free for regular scheduled services.<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Faulkner |first= J.N. |date= April 1955 |title= Easter Monday at Kempton Park |magazine= Railway Magazine |issue= 648 |pages= 275–276 }}</ref> Special raceday trains ceased in the early 1960s and the third platform at Kempton Park station was closed in 1964.{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|p=178}}{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1990|loc=Fig. 52}}

[[File:Fulwell_railway_depot_from_Shacklegate_Lane_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2934226.jpg|thumb|right|Looking north towards Shacklegate Junction, which opened in 1894. The diverging line to the left is for {{rws|Shepperton}} via Fulwell Junction and the line curving to the right leads to {{rws|Twickenham}}. The [[British Rail Class 450|Class 450]] units are stabled at Strawberry Hill train maintenance depot, which opened in 1897.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1990|loc= Fig. 26}}]]
On 1 July 1894, the LSWR opened a new section of track, enabling trains from Fulwell to reach Twickenham without the need for reversal. The {{cvt|24|chain|m|adj=on}} curve created a triangular junction between the Shepperton branch and the [[Kingston loop line]], allowing access to the [[South Western Main Line]] via the existing junction at New Malden.{{sfn|Oppitz|1988|pp=104-105}} Initially, the new link was used primarily by goods trains, but raceday specials also used the line from 1894.{{sfn|Jackson|1999b|p=178}} Regular passenger services began running over the line on 1 June 1901. Strawberry Hill train maintenance depot, inside the triangle created by the new curve, opened in 1897.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1990|loc= Fig. 43}} 

[[File:Hampton 1912.jpg|thumb|right|[[Hampton railway station (London)|Hampton station]] in 1912, two years before the line was electrified. The wooden footbridge was replaced by a concrete structure in the 1930s.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1990|loc= Fig. 26}}]]
The Shepperton branch line was included in the first phase of the [[electrification of the London and South Western Railway|LSWR suburban electrification programme]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Electrification on the South-Western |date= 2 March 1914 |work= Surrey Advertiser |volume= LXXX |issue= 7006 |page= 2 }}</ref>{{sfn|Brown|2009|p=25}} Electric services began on 30 January 1916. At the same time, the timetable was rewritten to reroute most off-peak services to Waterloo via Kingston, running at 30-minute intervals. During peak hours, additional steam-hauled services ran via Twickenham. Stabling at Shepperton was improved in 1925 with the installation of an electrified siding and cleaning stage.{{sfn|Brown|2009|pp=28-29}}{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|p=176}} Electrification stimulated further development in the area served by the line, including the construction of new housing estates at Fulwell in the 1920s and 1930s.{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|p=177}}

Under the terms of the [[Railways Act 1921]], the LSWR became part of the [[Southern Railway (UK)|Southern Railway]] on 1 January 1923.<ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= London & South-Western Railway Company |date= 18 November 1922 |issue= 43192 |page= 18 }}</ref>

===Metropolitan Water Board Railway===
{{main|Metropolitan Water Board Railway}}
In 1852, three private companies established [[pumping station]]s at Hampton to extract water from the Thames.{{sfn|Robbins|2003|pp=67-68}} Coal for the works was delivered by horse-and-cart and by barge from the river.{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|p=177}} The companies were taken over by the [[Metropolitan Water Board]] in June 1904.{{sfn|Robbins|2003|pp=67-68}} The board decided to build a {{RailGauge|2ft|lk=on}} narrow gauge railway system with [[transshipment]] sidings alongside the Shepperton branch line between Kempton Park and Hampton stations.{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|p=177}} The {{convert|3+1/2|mi|km}} system opened in 1915 and was worked by three [[Kerr, Stuart and Company|Kerr, Stuart]] [[0-4-2T]] locomotives named Hampton, Kempton and Sunbury, supplemented by fourth, named Hurst, some years later. Eventually there were about 140 tipping, hopper and other wagons in use on the railway. With the declining use of coal at the pumping stations, the railway closed in 1947.{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|p=177}}{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1990|loc=Hampton Waterworks}}

===Second World War and afterwards===
During the Second World War, Kempton Park Racecourse was used as a reception camp for [[prisoners of war]].{{sfn|Thomas|2003|p=19}} The prisoners were transported to the racecourse station in [[corridor coach|corridor stock]], hauled by [[Southern Railway (UK)|Southern Railway]] [[4-6-0]] or [[WD Austerity 2-8-0|War Department Austerity 2-8-0]] locomotives.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1990|loc=Fig. 51}} The station buildings on the up platform at Sunbury were destroyed by bombing on 29 November 1940.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1990|loc=Fig. 57}} Upper Halliford station opened as a halt on 1 May 1944 for workers at the British Thermostat Company factory nearby. Since single-line working was in operation at the time, only one platform, on the down side, was provided. The second platform opened on 6 May 1946.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1990|loc= Fig. 59}}{{sfn|Jackson|1999b|p=168}}

The signal boxes at Sunbury, Hampton and Shepperton closed between March 1969 and November 1974. Control of the line transferred to Feltham Signalling Centre from September of that year.{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|1990|loc= Figs 45, 54, 66}}<ref>{{cite news |title= British Rail's new £6M signal box at Feltham |date= 6 September 1974 |work= Middlesex Chronicle |issue= 6032 |page= 21 }}</ref> A new [[CLASP (British Rail)|CLASP]] station building at Sunbury opened in 1967.{{sfn|Jackson|1999a|pp=178-179}}<ref>{{cite news |title= Sunbury station rebuilding plan announced |date= 11 February 1966 |work= Middlesex Chronicle |issue= 5585 |page= 1 }}</ref> 

[[File:Shepperton railway station - geograph.org.uk - 2884932.jpg|thumb|right|Shepperton station building dates from 1988]]
{{brc|508}} units were introduced to the Shepperton branch on 7 January 1980,{{sfn|Brown|2010|pp=227-228}}<ref>{{cite news |title= Arriving at Platform 1... |date= 11 January 1980 |work= Middlesex Chronicle |page= 1}}</ref> and {{brc|455}} units began running on the line on 28 March 1983.{{sfn|Brown|2010|pp=227-228}} As the Class 455 units began to enter squadron service, the Class 508s were progressively transferred to operate [[Merseyrail]] services in [[North West England]]. The final Class 508 units were relocated to the [[Liverpool]] area in December 1984.{{sfn|Marsden|2008|p=121}} Shepperton station was rebuilt in 1988, with the new building incorporating offices for the publishers, [[Ian Allan (publisher)|Ian Allan]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Smiles, plaudits for a new station |date= 17 November 1988 |work= Surrey Herald |page= 5 }}</ref>

In June 2019, a project to replace life-expired signalling equipment was completed.<ref>{{cite news |last= Darlington |first= Paul |date= 9 July 2019 |title= New main-line interlocking enters service |work= Rail Engineer |url= https://www.railengineer.co.uk/new-main-line-interlocking-enters-service/ |access-date= 2 February 2024 }}</ref> Since April 2021, train movements on the Shepperton branch line have been controlled from Basingstoke rail operating centre.<ref>{{cite news |last= Ashworth |first= James |date= 5 April 2021 |title= Basingstoke Rail Operating Centre takes control of new lines |work= Basingstoke Gazette |url= https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/19210578.basingstoke-rail-operating-centre-takes-control-new-lines/ |access-date= 2 February 2024 }}</ref> {{brc|701}} units began operating passenger services on the branch on 30 September 2024.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Last West Midlands Class 323s stopped |date= November 2024 |magazine= Rail Express |issue= 342 |pages= 22–25 }}</ref>

==Accidents and incidents==
* 22 June 1878: A [[conductor (rail)|guard]] was struck on the head and killed by a [[scaffolding]] pole near Fulwell, whilst working a passenger service to Twickenham.<ref>{{cite web |last= Yolland |first= W. |date= 5 August 1878 |title= London and South-Western Railway |publisher= Board of Trade |url= https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BoT_Fullwell1878.pdf |access-date= 4 January 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Negligence of railway contractors |date= 24 August 1878 |work= The Morning Post |issue=33122 |page= 3 }}</ref>
* 21 April 1982: A Class 508 unit ran through the [[buffer stop]] at Shepperton station. The accident took place at around 7:30&nbsp;am and only six passengers were on board at the time.<ref>{{cite news |last= Frett |first= Robin |date= 23 April 1982 |title= Train lands nearly in street |work= Middlesex Chronicle |page= 1 }}</ref>

==Proposals==
The Shepperton branch line is proposed for incorporation into [[Crossrail 2]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Crossrail 2 stations proposed by London business leaders |date= 5 February 2013 |work= BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21333361 |access-date= 24 January 2024 }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last= Brown |first= David |year= 2009 |title= Development of the London Suburban Network and Its Trains |series= Southern Electric |volume= 1 |publisher= Capital Transport Publishing |location= Crowthorne |isbn= 978-1-85-414330-3}}
* {{cite book |last= Brown |first= David |year= 2010 |title= Main Line Electrification, the War Years and British Railways |series= Southern Electric |volume= 2 |publisher= Capital Transport Publishing |location= Crowthorne |isbn= 978-1-85-414340-2}}
* {{cite book |last= Grant |first= Donald J. |year= 2017 |title= Directory of the Railway Companies of Great Britain |publisher= Matador |location= Kibworth Beauchamp |isbn= 978-1-78-589353-7 }}
* {{cite book |last= Heselton |first= K.Y. |year= 1994 |title= Sunbury, Shepperton and the Thames Valley Railway |publisher= Sunbury and Shepperton Local History Society }}
* {{cite book |last= Jackson |first= Alan A. |year= 1999a |orig-year= 1978 |title= London's Local Railways |edition= 2nd |publisher= Capital Transport |location= Harrow Weald |isbn= 978-0-71-537479-5 }}
* {{cite book |last= Jackson |first= Alan A. |year= 1999b |title= The Railway in Surrey |publisher= Atlantic Transport Publishers |location= Penryn |isbn= 978-0-90-689990-8 }}
* {{cite book |last= Marsden |first= Colin J. |year= 2008 |title= The DC Electrics |publisher= Ian Allan |location= Hersham |isbn= 978-0-86-093615-2 }} 
* {{cite book |last1= Mitchell |first1= Vic |last2= Smith |first2= Keith |year= 1990 |title= Kingston and Hounslow loops : Including the Shepperton branch |publisher= Middleton Press |location= Midhurst |isbn= 978-0-90-652083-3}}
* {{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= Robbins |first= Michael |year= 2003 |orig-year= 1953 |title=Middlesex |publisher=Phillimore |location=Chichester |isbn= 978-1-86-077269-6}}
* {{cite web |last= Thomas |first= Roger J.C. |year= 2003 |title= Prisoner of War Camps (1939 – 1948) |publisher= English Heritage |url= https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/prisoner-of-war-camps/prisoner-of-war-camps/ |access-date= 30 January 2024 }}
* {{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 web |title= Kent / Sussex / Wessex Routes Sectional Appendix |publisher= Network Rail |year= 2009 |url= https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/sectional-appendix/Sectional%20Appendix%20full%20PDFs%20December%2023/Kent%20Sussex%20and%20Wessex%20Sectional%20Appendix%20December%202023%20.pdf |access-date= 23 January 2024 |ref= {{harvid|"Sectional Appendix"|2009}}}}
* {{cite web |title= Delivering a better railway for a better Britain {{!}} Route Specifications: 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}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
{{commons category inline|Shepperton Branch Line|Shepperton branch line}}
{{Railway lines in South East England}}
{{Railway lines in London}}

[[Category:Railway lines in London]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1864]]
[[Category:Railway lines in South East England]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Surrey]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in England]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]