Hemel Hempstead railway station
Encyclopedia
Hemel Hempstead railway station is on the West Coast Main Line
, on the western edge of the town of Hemel Hempstead
, Hertfordshire
, England. The station is 39 km (24½ miles) north-west of London Euston on the West Coast Main Line
. Hemel Hempstead is managed by London Midland
and train services are operated by London Midland and Southern
.
The railway station is in an area called Boxmoor
. Bus services run from there to the town centre
. Also in the vicinity of the station are two pubs
and the Grand Union Canal
, about 100m/110yds away.
There are four full-length (12 car) through platforms and one disused south-facing bay (on the slow lines).
For many years, Hemel Hempstead station was almost a junction - a railway embankment on the south (down) side of the station led to the end of the "Nicky Line
", a branch line through the town centre to Harpenden
. However, due to arguments between the Midland Railway
and the London & North Western Railway, no direct connection was made between the two lines. Nicky Line trains terminated in the town centre, at Heath Park Halt
, with only occasional freight trains running down to Boxmoor. Only in the last months of the Nicky Line's operations did regular (goods) trains run along the connection. No passenger service was ever provided.
The nearby crossover at Bourne End was the site of a serious accident
on 30 September 1945, when a Scottish express derailed after passing over the junction at excessive speed. The coaches rolled down a high embankment, and forty-three lives were lost.
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
, on the western edge of the town of Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead is a town in Hertfordshire in the East of England, to the north west of London and part of the Greater London Urban Area. The population at the 2001 Census was 81,143 ....
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England. The station is 39 km (24½ miles) north-west of London Euston on the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
. Hemel Hempstead is managed by London Midland
London Midland
London Midland is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Legally named London and Birmingham Railway Ltd, it is a subsidiary of Govia, and has operated the West Midlands franchise since 11 November 2007....
and train services are operated by London Midland and Southern
Southern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
.
The railway station is in an area called Boxmoor
Boxmoor
Boxmoor, or Boxmoor Village, is a district of Dacorum in Hertfordshire, England. It is now part of Hemel Hempstead. It is a district of mainly nineteenth century housing and meadowland, repeatedly cut through by transport links from London to the The Midlands....
. Bus services run from there to the town centre
Town centre
The town centre is the term used to refer to the commercial or geographical centre or core area of a town.Town centres are traditionally associated with shopping or retail. They are also the centre of communications with major public transport hubs such as train or bus stations...
. Also in the vicinity of the station are two pubs
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
and the Grand Union Canal
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks...
, about 100m/110yds away.
There are four full-length (12 car) through platforms and one disused south-facing bay (on the slow lines).
History
Hemel Hempstead station opened with the line as "Boxmoor". It has also been called "Boxmoor and Hemel Hempstead" (1912–1930) and "Hemel Hempstead and Boxmoor" (1930–1963).For many years, Hemel Hempstead station was almost a junction - a railway embankment on the south (down) side of the station led to the end of the "Nicky Line
Nicky Line
The Nicky Line is the local nickname for the railway that once linked the English towns of Hemel Hempstead and Harpenden via Redbourn. It was officially known as the Harpenden and Hemel Hempstead Railway...
", a branch line through the town centre to Harpenden
Harpenden railway station
Harpenden railway station serves the town of Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England. It is situated on the Midland Main Line. The station is managed by First Capital Connect and is served by its Thameslink route service....
. However, due to arguments between the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
and the London & North Western Railway, no direct connection was made between the two lines. Nicky Line trains terminated in the town centre, at Heath Park Halt
Heath Park railway station
Heath Park Halt, in Hemel Hempstead was the terminus for passenger services on the Nicky Line, which ran from here to Harpenden. Passenger services were withdrawn in 1947, and the station closed with the line in 1960....
, with only occasional freight trains running down to Boxmoor. Only in the last months of the Nicky Line's operations did regular (goods) trains run along the connection. No passenger service was ever provided.
The nearby crossover at Bourne End was the site of a serious accident
Bourne End rail crash
The Bourne End rail crash occurred on 30 September 1945 when an overnight sleeping-car express train from Scotland to London Euston derailed due to a driver's error...
on 30 September 1945, when a Scottish express derailed after passing over the junction at excessive speed. The coaches rolled down a high embankment, and forty-three lives were lost.
Services
Weekdays and Saturdays
A typical off-peak weekday or Saturday consists of the following services, in trains per hour (tph):- 2tph to London Euston, calling at ApsleyApsley railway stationApsley railway station is in Apsley, on the southern outskirts of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England.The station is north west of London Euston on the West Coast Main Line...
, Kings LangleyKings Langley railway stationKings Langley railway station is just under the M25 motorway at Junction 20. It serves the village of Kings Langley, and the nearby villages of Abbots Langley and Hunton Bridge. The station is 34 km north west of London Euston on the West Coast Main Line...
, Watford JunctionWatford Junction railway stationOn 23 January 1975, an express train from Manchester to Euston derailed just south of Watford Junction after striking some stillages that had fallen on to the track. It then collided with a sleeper service from Euston to Glasgow. The driver of the Manchester train was killed, and eight passengers...
, BusheyBushey railway stationBushey railway station serves the towns of Bushey and Oxhey and is situated on the Watford DC Line, north of Harrow & Wealdstone. The station was renamed from "Bushey & Oxhey" to "Bushey" on 6 May 1974, even though it is actually sited in the neighbouring town of Oxhey, and the nearest part of...
, Harrow & Wealdstone and London Euston, operated by London Midland - 2tph to London Euston, calling at Watford JunctionWatford Junction railway stationOn 23 January 1975, an express train from Manchester to Euston derailed just south of Watford Junction after striking some stillages that had fallen on to the track. It then collided with a sleeper service from Euston to Glasgow. The driver of the Manchester train was killed, and eight passengers...
and London Euston only, operated by London Midland - 1tph to East CroydonSouth Croydon railway stationSouth Croydon railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London, in Travelcard Zone 5. It is on the Brighton Line at its junction with the Oxted Line. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern.-History:...
, calling at Watford Junction, Harrow & Wealdstone, Wembley Central, Shepherd's BushShepherd's Bush railway stationShepherd's Bush station is a railway station located in the district of Shepherd's Bush in west London, England, UK. It opened in 2008 on the West London Line and is served by London Overground and Southern rail services...
, then all stations to South Croydon, operated by SouthernSouthern (train operating company)Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
Sundays
On Sundays, the service is reduced to the following:- 1tph to London Euston, calling at ApsleyApsley railway stationApsley railway station is in Apsley, on the southern outskirts of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England.The station is north west of London Euston on the West Coast Main Line...
, Kings LangleyKings Langley railway stationKings Langley railway station is just under the M25 motorway at Junction 20. It serves the village of Kings Langley, and the nearby villages of Abbots Langley and Hunton Bridge. The station is 34 km north west of London Euston on the West Coast Main Line...
, Watford JunctionWatford Junction railway stationOn 23 January 1975, an express train from Manchester to Euston derailed just south of Watford Junction after striking some stillages that had fallen on to the track. It then collided with a sleeper service from Euston to Glasgow. The driver of the Manchester train was killed, and eight passengers...
, BusheyBushey railway stationBushey railway station serves the towns of Bushey and Oxhey and is situated on the Watford DC Line, north of Harrow & Wealdstone. The station was renamed from "Bushey & Oxhey" to "Bushey" on 6 May 1974, even though it is actually sited in the neighbouring town of Oxhey, and the nearest part of...
, Harrow & Wealdstone and London Euston, operated by London Midland - 2tph to London Euston, calling at Watford JunctionWatford Junction railway stationOn 23 January 1975, an express train from Manchester to Euston derailed just south of Watford Junction after striking some stillages that had fallen on to the track. It then collided with a sleeper service from Euston to Glasgow. The driver of the Manchester train was killed, and eight passengers...
, Harrow & Wealdstone and London Euston only, operated by London Midland
Weekdays and Saturdays
A typical off-peak weekday and Saturday consists of the following services, in trains per hour (tph):- 2tph to TringTring railway stationTring railway station is 1.5 miles outside the small town of Tring, close to the Grand Union Canal and actually nearer the village of Aldbury in Hertfordshire, England. The former Royal Station Hotel and Restaurant has been converted into residential accommodation and beyond that is a small...
, calling at BerkhamstedBerkhamsted railway stationBerkhamsted railway station is in the town of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, in the United Kingdom. It is located just beside Berkhamsted Castle, overlooking the Grand Junction Canal. The station is north west of London Euston on the West Coast Main Line...
and Tring only, operated by London Midland - 1tph to Milton Keynes CentralMilton Keynes Central railway stationMilton Keynes Central railway station serves Central Milton Keynes and the surrounding area of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The station is located on the West Coast Main Line between the stations of Bletchley and Wolverton, both of which are also within Milton Keynes. The station is served by...
, calling at all stations, operated by London Midland - 1tph to Milton Keynes Central, calling at all stations except CheddingtonCheddington railway stationCheddington railway station serves the village of Cheddington, near Mentmore in Buckinghamshire, England. It also serves a number of surrounding villages, most notably Ivinghoe. The station is 58 km/36 miles north west of London Euston on the West Coast Main Line. It is operated by London Midland,...
, operated by SouthernSouthern (train operating company)Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service... - 1tph to Birmingham New Street, calling at Berkhamsted, Leighton BuzzardLeighton Buzzard railway stationLeighton Buzzard railway station serves the Leighton Buzzard and Linslade area of Bedfordshire and nearby parts of Buckinghamshire. Actually situated in Linslade, the station is north west of London Euston and is served by London Midland local services from Northampton to London on the West Coast...
, then all stations to CoventryCoventry railway stationCoventry railway station is situated about 250 yards to the south of junction 6 of the inner ring road in the city of Coventry, West Midlands, England...
, then Tile HillTile Hill railway stationTile Hill railway station is situated in the west of Tile Hill, Coventry, in the West Midlands of England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by London Midland.-History:...
, Hampton-in-ArdenHampton-in-Arden railway stationHampton-in-Arden railway station serves the village of Hampton-in-Arden in the West Midlands of England. It is situated on the West Coast Main Line between Coventry and Birmingham. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by London Midland....
, Birmingham InternationalBirmingham International railway stationBirmingham International railway station is located in the borough of Solihull, just east of the city of Birmingham in England.The station is on the Rugby-Birmingham-Stafford Line 14 km east of Birmingham New Street and serves both Birmingham International Airport and the National Exhibition...
, Marston GreenMarston Green railway stationMarston Green railway station is located in the suburb of Marston Green, in the borough of Solihull, West Midlands, England. It is the nearest station to Chelmsley Wood. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by London Midland.-History:...
and Birmingham New Street, operated by London Midland
Sundays
On Sundays, the service is reduced to the following:- 1tph to NorthamptonNorthampton railway stationNorthampton railway station is a railway station serving the large town of Northampton and other parts of Northamptonshire in England. Other parts of South Northamptonshire are better served by Kings Sutton, Banbury and Milton Keynes Central stations....
, calling at BerkhamstedBerkhamsted railway stationBerkhamsted railway station is in the town of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, in the United Kingdom. It is located just beside Berkhamsted Castle, overlooking the Grand Junction Canal. The station is north west of London Euston on the West Coast Main Line...
, Leighton BuzzardLeighton Buzzard railway stationLeighton Buzzard railway station serves the Leighton Buzzard and Linslade area of Bedfordshire and nearby parts of Buckinghamshire. Actually situated in Linslade, the station is north west of London Euston and is served by London Midland local services from Northampton to London on the West Coast...
, then all stations to Northampton, operated by London Midland - 1tph to Milton Keynes CentralMilton Keynes Central railway stationMilton Keynes Central railway station serves Central Milton Keynes and the surrounding area of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The station is located on the West Coast Main Line between the stations of Bletchley and Wolverton, both of which are also within Milton Keynes. The station is served by...
, calling at all stations, operated by London Midland - 1tph to TringTring railway stationTring railway station is 1.5 miles outside the small town of Tring, close to the Grand Union Canal and actually nearer the village of Aldbury in Hertfordshire, England. The former Royal Station Hotel and Restaurant has been converted into residential accommodation and beyond that is a small...
, calling at Berkhamsted and Tring only, operated by London Midland