Suburban Electric Railway Association      
Located at the COVENTRY ELECTRIC RAILWAY CENTRE, Rowley Road, Baginton, Warwickshire           

Established
1996

The History Zone

A Brief History Of The

Southern Suburban Electric Network

Outside of central London the largest volume of electrified commuter lines are those of the former Southern Railway. The third rail 750v DC system that carries millions into and out of the termini of Waterloo, Victoria, Cannon Street, Charing Cross and London Bridge each day is the product of an electrification policy that started in the first two decades of the 20th century.

These pages will tell that story, use the links to go to each section, or alternatively start at the beginning and links at the bottom of each page take you through this section in historical order.

1. A Tale Of Two Systems
2. The Southern Railway Takes Over
3. The Spread Of The Third Rail
4. Southern Railway Suburban EMUs
5. Post War British Railways EMUs
6. Modernisation & Privatisation