Braintree Branch Line
Encyclopedia
The Braintree Branch Line is a branch line
from Witham
to Braintree
in Essex
, England
.
The line diverges from the Great Eastern Main Line
at Witham. Passenger services are currently operated by National Express East Anglia. The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 7
, SRS 07.06 and is classified as a London and south East commuter line.
and the line opened in 1848.
The section from Maldon to Witham was constructed as dual track however one track was lifted during the period of the Crimean War
(1854-6) and sold to the War Office
.
The Bishop's Stortford-Braintree Branch Line
, also built by the Great Eastern Railway, was opened in 1869 creating a route from Maldon through to the West Anglia Main Line
.
The line was extended from Maldon to South Woodham Ferrers
in 1889.
In 1923, both lines became part of the London and North Eastern Railway
.
During the Second World war the passenger services on the section between Maldon West railway station
and Woodham Ferrers line were withdrawn, were never reinstated and the section of line was closed in 1953.
The Bishop's Stortford-Braintree Branch Line
closed for passenger traffic in 1952 and then to freight traffic in 1971. The Maldon East
to Witham section was closed for passenger traffic with in the Beeching axe
in 1964 although goods service on that section continued until 1966.
National Express East Anglia replaced the previous operator, First Great Eastern
, on 1 April 2004, when all the operators in East Anglia were merged into one new franchise.
at 25 kV AC
. It has a loading gauge of W6 and a line speed of 50 mph.
Services are formed using Class 321
, Class 360
, and occasionally Class 315
Electric Multiple Unit
s.
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
from Witham
Witham
Witham is a town in the county of Essex, in the south east of England with a population of 22,500. It is part of the District of Braintree and is twinned with the town of Waldbröl, Germany. Witham stands between the larger towns of Chelmsford and Colchester...
to Braintree
Braintree, Essex
Braintree is a town of about 42,000 people and the principal settlement of the Braintree district of Essex in the East of England. It is northeast of Chelmsford and west of Colchester on the River Blackwater, A120 road and a branch of the Great Eastern Main Line.Braintree has grown contiguous...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The line diverges from the Great Eastern Main Line
Great Eastern Main Line
The Great Eastern Main Line is a 212 Kilometre major railway line of the British railway system, which connects Liverpool Street in the City of London with destinations in east London and the East of England, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich and several coastal resorts such as...
at Witham. Passenger services are currently operated by National Express East Anglia. The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 7
Network Rail Route 7 (Great Eastern)
Strategic Route 7 - Great Eastern is the designation given by Network Rail to a grouping of railway lines in the East of England that encompasses the Great Eastern Main Line and its various branch lines...
, SRS 07.06 and is classified as a London and south East commuter line.
History
Originally constructed from Maldon to Braintree via Witham, only the line from Witham to Braintree remains open. The line was proposed by the Maldon, Witham & Braintree Railway Co and given Royal Assent in June 1846. The company was purchased by Eastern Counties RailwayEastern Counties Railway
The Eastern Counties Railway was an early English railway company incorporated in 1836. It was intended to link London with Ipswich via Colchester, and then on to Norwich and Yarmouth. Construction began in late March 1837 on the first nine miles, at the London end of the line.Construction was...
and the line opened in 1848.
The section from Maldon to Witham was constructed as dual track however one track was lifted during the period of the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
(1854-6) and sold to the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
.
The Bishop's Stortford-Braintree Branch Line
Bishop's Stortford-Braintree Branch Line
The Bishop's Stortford-Braintree Branch Line was a long line connecting the towns of Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree.-History:Originally proposed to Eastern Counties Railway in 1859, the line from Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree was eventually built by Great Eastern Railway who...
, also built by the Great Eastern Railway, was opened in 1869 creating a route from Maldon through to the West Anglia Main Line
West Anglia Main Line
The West Anglia Main Line is one of the two main lines which run from London Liverpool Street, the other being the Great Eastern Main Line. It runs generally north from London, through the towns of Cheshunt, Broxbourne, Harlow, Bishop's Stortford and Audley End station before reaching Cambridge,...
.
The line was extended from Maldon to South Woodham Ferrers
South Woodham Ferrers
South Woodham Ferrers is a town and civil parish in the borough of Chelmsford, Essex, England. It is approximately from London and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 16,629. The town is located east of Fenn Creek, and near where it meets the River Crouch...
in 1889.
In 1923, both lines became part of the London and North Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
.
During the Second World war the passenger services on the section between Maldon West railway station
Maldon West railway station
Maldon West railway station was a station in Maldon, Essex. It closed to passengers in 1939 but the line to Maldon East was used for freight trains until 1959.Former Services-External links:* * * *...
and Woodham Ferrers line were withdrawn, were never reinstated and the section of line was closed in 1953.
The Bishop's Stortford-Braintree Branch Line
Bishop's Stortford-Braintree Branch Line
The Bishop's Stortford-Braintree Branch Line was a long line connecting the towns of Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree.-History:Originally proposed to Eastern Counties Railway in 1859, the line from Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree was eventually built by Great Eastern Railway who...
closed for passenger traffic in 1952 and then to freight traffic in 1971. The Maldon East
Maldon East and Heybridge railway station
Maldon East and Heybridge railway station was a station in Maldon, Essex, England. It closed in 1964.Former Services-External links:*...
to Witham section was closed for passenger traffic with in the Beeching axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
in 1964 although goods service on that section continued until 1966.
National Express East Anglia replaced the previous operator, First Great Eastern
First Great Eastern
First Great Eastern was an award-winning train operating company that operated suburban, local and medium distance train services from London Liverpool Street via Romford to Essex and Ipswich in the United Kingdom on the Great Eastern Main Line railway.First Group gained the Great Eastern...
, on 1 April 2004, when all the operators in East Anglia were merged into one new franchise.
Infrastructure
The line is single track throughout and the route is electrifiedRailway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
at 25 kV AC
25 kV AC
The 25 kV Alternating current railway electrification system is commonly used in railways worldwide, especially for high-speed rail.-Overview:This electrification system is ideal for railways that cover long distances and/or carry heavy traffic...
. It has a loading gauge of W6 and a line speed of 50 mph.
Services are formed using Class 321
British Rail Class 321
The British Rail Class 321 alternating current electric multiple units were built by BREL York in three batches from 1988-91. The design was successful and led to the development of the similar Class 320 and Class 322 units for use by Strathclyde PTE and Stansted Express respectively...
, Class 360
British Rail Class 360
The British Rail Class 360 electric multiple units were built by Siemens in two sub-types from 2002-2003 and 2004-2005. These units are part of the Siemens Desiro family.The Siemens "Desiro UK" family also includes units of Classes 185, 350, 380, 444 and 450....
, and occasionally Class 315
British Rail Class 315
British Rail Class 315 alternating current electric multiple units were built by BREL at York works from 1980 to 1981. They were the fifth and final variety of British Rail's then-standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs, which eventually encompassed 755 vehicles and five Classes...
Electric Multiple Unit
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s.