Catford loop line

{{Short description|Railway line in southeast London}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}

{{Infobox rail line

| name = Catford loop line

| color =

| image = Peckham Rye railway station MMB 04 465011.jpg

| image_width = 260px

| caption = Southeastern {{brc|465}} at {{stnlink|Peckham Rye}} in 2014

| type = Suburban rail, Heavy rail

| system = National Rail

| status = Operational

| locale = Greater London

| start = {{rws|Nunhead}}

| end = {{rws|Ravensbourne}}

| stations = 8

| routes = 1

| daily_ridership =

| open = 1 July 1892

| close =

| owner = Network Rail

| operator = {{ubl|Southeastern|Thameslink}}

| character =

| depot = Grove Park

| stock = Class 700
Class 375 "Electrostar"
Class 465 "Networker"
Class 466 "Networker"

| linelength =

| tracklength =

| tracks = 2

| gauge = {{track gauge|uksg|allk=on}}

| minradius =

| routenumber =

| electrification = 750 V DC third rail

| speed = Maximum {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}

| elevation =

| website =

| map = 300px
(Click to expand)

| map_state = uncollapsed

}}

{{Catford Loop Line RDT|collapse=y}}

File:Streatham & Tulse Hill Hastings & St Leonards RJD 100.jpg map of the western end of the Catford loop line, showing how it connects with the South London line to rejoin the Chatham Main Line, thus creating the loop. Also note Loughboro Jct to access the City extension (now Thameslink).]]

The Catford loop line is a railway line in southeast London. It carries a suburban stopping passenger service from central London to Sevenoaks, and is also a relief route for the Chatham Main Line carrying passenger trains from London Victoria to the Kent coast. There is also much freight activity as this is the main route to Willesden and the north via Latchmere Junction. Freight traffic includes aggregates trains to and from locations along the Thames estuary, and Kent, aviation fuel running between Colnbrook (for Heathrow) and the Isle of Grain, and a small number of international workings from the Channel Tunnel via the yard at Dollands Moor. Until around 2013, a significant quantity of intermodal traffic from Thamesport used the line - however, the opening of London Gateway meant that the larger container ships stopped serving Thamesport and this traffic then ceased.

The line begins at Brixton Junction,Quail Map 5 - England South [page 3] September 2002{{cite book |author=Network Rail |author-link=Network Rail |title=South Zone Sectional Appendix |volume=Module SO |date=April 2001 |id=SO/SA/001A |page=SO110 1/4}} where it diverges from the Chatham Main Line, and ends when it rejoins the Chatham Main Line (now extended to pairs of fast and slow lines) at Shortlands Junction,Quail Map 5 - England South [page 4] September 2002{{cite book |author=Network Rail |title=South Zone Sectional Appendix|volume=Module SO |date=April 2001 |id=SO/SA/001A |page=SO110 1/9}} west of {{rws|Shortlands}} station.