up or down line?

[AntonyVW]

OK a question for those who understand the UK rail system. How do we determine which is the up line and which is the down line?
When I look at my local station the down line heads north and the up line heads south. To me the opposite would seem more logical.

 

[pfx]

It's more to do with railway company pride than geographical correctness.

The up line tended, historically to be travelling towards London in England, Edinburgh in Scotland or the headquarters of the railway company prior to nationalisation.

I'm no doubt going to be proved wrong by a superior rail authority...

 

[robd]

UP - travel towards London, DOWN - travel away from London. As far as I know, no matter where in mainland UK, it's as simple as that.

Rob.

 

[AntonyVW]

Thanks guys - I half guessed it was something to do with London.

 

[pware]

I believe that the terms "Up train" and "Down train" originated in the way that train timetables were printed. Trains travelling in both directions were printed on the same sheet with the name of the major centre (e.g. London for the mainline) or a regional city (for a branch line) printed at the top of both the forward and return journey columns. Trains travelling in the forward direction (away from the major city) had their stopping times read DOWN the column. Trains making the return trip (towards the major city) had their stopping times read UP the column.

 

[ray_whiley]

I believe that on the good old M&GN (cross-country) UP was towards Melton Constable, the line's headquarters (a miniature Crewe in the Norfolk countryside.)

Ray