Hertford East Branch Line
Encyclopedia
The Hertford East Branch Line is a railway line in Hertfordshire
in the United Kingdom
. It runs between and . The line follows the route of the Lea Valley
; serving many towns and villages along the way. It branches off the West Anglia Main Line
north of , and could be seen as part of the Lea Valley Lines
--a collection of commuter routes into London.
. The original Hertford station originally was opened in 1843 to avoid two nearby schools but later this was closed and a station further west in 1888 opened, Hertford East
, to be closer to the town centre. Another station existed in 1858 which was opened on the line from Hatfield
but this closed as soon as Hertford North opened in 1924.
Part of the route was used for the Buntingford Branch Railway, or "The Bunt", a railway which ran from Buntingford
to London
from 1863 to 1964. The Buntingford Railway split off this line just to the North of St Margarets station.
on its left and the River Lea and Lee Navigation on its right when looking at it from east to west.
Towns and villages served are:
The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 5
, SRS 05.03 and is classified as a London and South East Commuter line.
There are currently two trains an hour on this line serving all stations. Future plans for this line see the lengthening of platforms to facilitate longer trains and create extra capacity on the line. Also, British Rail Class 317
trains may be replaced by British Rail Class 315
trains to further increase this. Services on this line are currently operated by National Express East Anglia (formerly branded 'one').
throughout except for a small section through where it is single track. It is electrified
at 25 kV AC
using overhead line equipment, and has a loading gauge of W6
and Hertford North railway station
. Options also propose building a chord near Rye House railway station
to allow rail traffic to head north on the West Anglia Main Line
.
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...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It runs between and . The line follows the route of the Lea Valley
Lea Valley
The Lea Valley, the valley of the River Lea, has been used as a transport corridor, a source of sand and gravel, an industrial area, a water supply for London, and a recreational area...
; serving many towns and villages along the way. It branches off 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,...
north of , and could be seen as part of the Lea Valley Lines
Lea Valley Lines
The Lea Valley Lines are three commuter lines and two branches in North East London, so named because they run along the valley of the River Lea...
--a collection of commuter routes into London.
History
All stations on the line were opened in 1843. The line formed part of the 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...
. The original Hertford station originally was opened in 1843 to avoid two nearby schools but later this was closed and a station further west in 1888 opened, Hertford East
Hertford East railway station
Hertford East railway station is one of two stations in Hertford in Hertfordshire, England. The station is 39 km north of London Liverpool Street. It is fifteen minutes' walk from Hertford North station....
, to be closer to the town centre. Another station existed in 1858 which was opened on the line from Hatfield
Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Hatfield is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England in the borough of Welwyn Hatfield. It has a population of 29,616, and is of Saxon origin. Hatfield House, the home of the Marquess of Salisbury, is the nucleus of the old town...
but this closed as soon as Hertford North opened in 1924.
Part of the route was used for the Buntingford Branch Railway, or "The Bunt", a railway which ran from Buntingford
Buntingford
Buntingford is a small market town and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire and county of Hertfordshire in England. It lies on the River Rib and on the Roman road Ermine Street. As a result of its location, it grew mainly as a staging post with many coaching inns and has an 18th...
to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from 1863 to 1964. The Buntingford Railway split off this line just to the North of St Margarets station.
Route and services
The line curves away from Broxbourne to the left and heads towards Hertford. For most of its length, it is bounded by the New RiverNew River (England)
The New River is an artificial waterway in England, opened in 1613 to supply London with fresh drinking water taken from the River Lea and from Amwell Springs , and other springs and wells along its course....
on its left and the River Lea and Lee Navigation on its right when looking at it from east to west.
Towns and villages served are:
- BroxbourneBroxbourneBroxbourne is a commuter town in the Broxbourne borough of Hertfordshire in the East of England with a population of 13,298 in 2001.It is located 17.1 miles north north-east of Charing Cross in London and about a mile north of Wormley and south of Hoddesdon...
- Rye HouseRye HouseRye House may refer to:*Rye House , a Registered Historic Place in Litchfield, Connecticut*Rye House Cobras, a speedway team*Rye House Kart Circuit, karting circuit in Rye House, Hertfordshire, England...
on the outskirts of HoddesdonHoddesdonHoddesdon is a town in the English county of Hertfordshire, situated in the Lea Valley. The town grew up as a coaching stop on the route between Cambridge and London. It is located southeast of Hertford, north of Waltham Cross and southwest of Bishop's Stortford. At its height during the 18th... - St Margarets and neighbouring Stanstead AbbottsStanstead AbbottsStanstead Abbotts is a village and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, England. At the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,983...
- Ware
- HertfordHertfordHertford is the county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is also a civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of the county. Forming a civil parish, the 2001 census put the population of Hertford at about 24,180. Recent estimates are that it is now around 28,000...
.
The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 5
Network Rail Route 5 (West Anglia)
Strategic Route 5 - West Anglia is the designation given by Network Rail to a grouping of railway lines in the East of England that encompasses the West Anglia Main Line and its various branch lines...
, SRS 05.03 and is classified as a London and South East Commuter line.
There are currently two trains an hour on this line serving all stations. Future plans for this line see the lengthening of platforms to facilitate longer trains and create extra capacity on the line. Also, British Rail Class 317
British Rail Class 317
The British Rail Class 317 alternating current electric multiple units were built by BREL York in two batches, from 1981-82 and 1985-87. They were the first of several classes of British Rail EMU to be based on the all-steel Mark 3 bodyshell, departing from the "PEP"-aluminium design which had...
trains may be replaced by British Rail 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...
trains to further increase this. Services on this line are currently operated by National Express East Anglia (formerly branded 'one').
Infrastructure
The line is double trackDouble track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
throughout except for a small section through where it is single track. It is electrified
Railway 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...
using overhead line equipment, and has a loading gauge of W6
Proposed developments
Some options of the proposed East West Rail Link involve reopening a route between Hertford East railway stationHertford East railway station
Hertford East railway station is one of two stations in Hertford in Hertfordshire, England. The station is 39 km north of London Liverpool Street. It is fifteen minutes' walk from Hertford North station....
and Hertford North railway station
Hertford North railway station
Hertford North railway station is one of two stations serving the town of Hertford in Hertfordshire, England with the other being Hertford East railway station....
. Options also propose building a chord near Rye House railway station
Rye House railway station
Rye House railway station is in the Rye House area of Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire, England. It is on the Hertford East branch of the West Anglia Main Line, and train services are provided by National Express East Anglia.-Services:...
to allow rail traffic to head north on 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,...
.