Ascot–Ash Vale line
The Ascot–Ash Vale line is an 11-mile-58-chain (18.9 km) railway line in Berkshire and Surrey, England. It runs from Ascot station, on the Waterloo–Reading line, to Ash Vale, on the Alton line. There are intermediate stations at Bagshot, Camberley and Frimley, all three of which are in the Borough of Surrey Heath.
| Ascot–Ash Vale line | |
|---|---|
A Class 450 calls at Frimley station | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Operational |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Locale | South East England |
| Termini | |
| Service | |
| Type | Heavy rail, Commuter Rail |
| System | National Rail |
| Operator(s) | South Western Railway |
| Technical | |
| Number of tracks | 1–2 |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Electrification | 750v DC 3rd rail |
All stations are managed by South Western Railway, which operates all services. Most trains on the line run between Aldershot and Ascot; for much of the day, passengers for London must change trains to continue their journeys. Many residents of Surrey Heath prefer to drive to stations outside of the borough for faster, direct rail services to the capital, in preference to using their local line.
Construction of the Ascot–Ash Vale line began in 1864 and was completed by the London and South Western Railway in 1878. The line was electrified using the 750 V DC third-rail system by the Southern Railway in 1939.