page_title: Merstham tunnels
hierarchical_section_title: Merstham tunnels
caption_attribution_description: Purley, Redhill &amp; Stoats Nest Junction
context_page_description: The Merstham and Quarry tunnels are two neighbouring railway tunnels on the Brighton main line between Merstham and Coulsdon in Surrey, Great Britain.
  The Merstham Tunnel was the first to be built, with construction commencing in 1838 and being opened on 12 July 1841. Built by the London and Brighton Railway, it formed a key element of the original route between London and Brighton. Nearly sixty years after the Merstham Tunnel's completion, the Quarry Tunnel was built amid tensions between the South Eastern Railway and the London Brighton and South Coast Railway. The Quarry Tunnel bypasses the SER stations of Coulsdon South, Merstham and Redhill, and thus has been mostly used by fast trains, while the Merstham Tunnel is used by stopping services instead.
  On 24 September 1905, the Merstham Tunnel was the location of the first murder on Britain's railways, that being of Mary Sophia Money. Both tunnels were electrified via the installation of a third rail system by the Southern Railway during 1932, after which the route has been largely used by electric traction. Both tunnels have continued to be used through to the present day.
context_section_description: The Merstham and Quarry tunnels are two neighbouring railway tunnels on the Brighton main line between Merstham and Coulsdon (formerly Stoats Nest) in Surrey, Great Britain.
  The Merstham Tunnel was the first to be built, with construction commencing in 1838 and being opened on 12 July 1841. Built by the London and Brighton Railway (L&BR), it formed a key element of the original route between London and Brighton. Nearly sixty years after the Merstham Tunnel's completion, the Quarry Tunnel was built amid tensions between the South Eastern Railway (SER) and the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR). The Quarry Tunnel bypasses the SER stations of Coulsdon South, Merstham and Redhill, and thus has been mostly used by fast trains, while the Merstham Tunnel is used by stopping services instead.
  On 24 September 1905, the Merstham Tunnel was the location of the first murder on Britain's railways, that being of Mary Sophia Money. Both tunnels were electrified via the installation of a third rail system by the Southern Railway during 1932, after which the route has been largely used by electric traction. Both tunnels have continued to be used through to the present day.
caption: The relative position of the two Merstham tunnels
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