Hertford loop line

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Hertford loop line
Great Northern Class 717 Desiro City at Gordon Hill June 2019.jpg
Overview
StatusOperational
Owner Network Rail
Locale Greater London
East of England
Termini
Stations11
Service
Type Heavy rail
System National Rail
Services1
Operator(s) Great Northern
Depot(s) Hornsey EMUD
Rolling stock Class 717 "Desiro City"
History
Opened18711924
Technical
Line length24 mi (39 km)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Loading gauge W9
Route availability RA 7-9
Electrification 25 kV AC OHLE
Operating speedMaximum 75 mph (121 km/h)
Route map
Hertford loop line.png
(Click to expand)

The Hertford loop line [1] [2] (also known colloquially as the Hertford Loop) is a branch of the East Coast Main Line, part of the Northern City Line commuter route to London for Hertford and other Hertfordshire towns and an occasional diversion route for the main line. The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 8, SRS 08.03 and is classified as a London and South East Commuter line. [3]

Contents

History

The line was opened in three stages between 1871 and 1924. The first section called the Enfield Branch Railway was developed by the London and York Railway and went from Wood Green to Enfield. [4] In 1898, a plan was approved to extend the line north to Hertford and Stevenage, in order to relieve congestion on the main line without having to widen the Welwyn Viaduct. Work started in 1905 and Cuffley was reached on 4 April 1910. The construction of two major viaducts and the Ponsbourne Tunnel (at 2,684 yards or 2,454 metres, the longest in the eastern counties of England and the last to be built by traditional methods), combined with World War I shortages of men and materials, delayed the opening of the route to Stevenage until 4 March 1918. Then it was single track and for goods services only. The line finally opened to passengers on 2 June 1924 when a new station at Hertford North was opened. [5] The line was electrified in 1977. [6]

The line was also used frequently during the Second World War as the Welwyn/Digswell Viaduct was at high risk from bombs.

Route and settlements served

The Hertford Line leaves the East Coast Main Line at Langley Junction, [1] just south of Stevenage.

It rejoins the East Coast Main Line at Wood Green South Junction, [7] north of Alexandra Palace.

Operations

Great Northern operates suburban services along the Hertford Line between London King's Cross or Moorgate, and Stevenage, Watton-at-Stone or Hertford North. Occasionally, London North Eastern Railway, Hull Trains, Grand Central, Lumo, Thameslink and other faster Great Northern services operate non-stop along the route when diverted off the main section of the East Coast Main Line, due to incidents or planned engineering work. There is a reversing siding to the north of Bowes Park which is occasionally used to reverse London North Eastern Railway trains heading for Bounds Green Depot. There are also bay platforms at Hertford North, Stevenage, and Gordon Hill, the latter acting as a terminus during peak hours and night only.

Infrastructure

The line is about 24 miles (39 km) long, is double track throughout and is electrified at 25 kV AC using overhead line equipment. It has a loading gauge of W9 and a maximum line speed of 75 mph (121 km/h). [3]

Grade-separated junctions connect each end of the northbound track with the main line. All stations are long enough to accept two three-car (20m) EMUs. Not all stations are long enough for newly introduced 6-car EMUs, but their walk-through design allows for access.

Tunnels and viaducts

Major civil engineering structures on the Hertford Line include the following. [8]

Tunnels and viaducts on the Hertford Line
Railway StructureLengthDistance from London King's Cross Location
Molewood Tunnel364 yards (333 metres)20 miles 31 chains – 20 miles 14 chainsNorth of Hertford North station
Hertford Viaduct14 chains 19 miles 15 chains – 19 miles 01 chainsBetween Hertford North and Bayford stations
Hornsmill Viaduct (River Lea)6 chains18 miles 58 chains – 18 miles 52 chains
Ponsbourne Tunnel1 mile 924 yards (2454 metres)16 miles 21 chains – 14 miles 59 chainsBetween Bayford and Cuffley stations
Sopers Farm Viaduct6 chains12 miles 43 chains – 12 miles 37 chainsBetween Cuffley and Crews Hill stations
Rendlesham Viaduct7 chains10 miles 40 chains – 10 miles 33 chainsBetween Crews Hill and Gordon Hill stations
Down Enfield Viaduct (Down line)5 miles 22 chainsNorth of Alexandra Palace station

ERTMS trials on the Hertford loop line

Network Rail used Beacon Rail owned Class 313 unit 313121 as a test vehicle for ERTMS on the Hertford Line. [9] The plan involved resignalling a 5+12-mile (8.9 km) section of the double track route to allow existing passenger and freight services to work bi-directionally over the up Hertford loop line, freeing the down line for ERTMS tests and evaluation. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hertfordshire</span> County of England

Hertfordshire is a ceremonial county in the East of England and one of the home counties. It borders Bedfordshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Essex to the east, Greater London to the south and Buckinghamshire to the west. The largest settlement is Watford, and the county town is Hertford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thameslink</span> Mainline route in the British railway system

Thameslink is a mainline route on the British railway network, running from Bedford, Luton, St Albans City, Peterborough, Welwyn Garden City, London Blackfriars and Cambridge via central London to Sutton, Orpington, Sevenoaks, Rainham, Horsham, Three Bridges, Brighton and East Grinstead. The network opened as a through service in 1988, with severe overcrowding by 1998, carrying more than 28,000 passengers in the morning peak. All the services are currently operated by Govia Thameslink Railway. Parts of the network, from Bedford to Three Bridges, run 24 hours a day, except on early Sunday mornings and during maintenance periods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Borough of Enfield</span> London borough in United Kingdom

The London Borough of Enfield is a London borough in North London. It borders the London boroughs of Barnet to the west, Haringey to the south, and Waltham Forest to the southeast. To the north are the districts of Hertsmere, Welwyn Hatfield and Broxbourne, and to the east is Epping Forest District in Essex. The local authority is Enfield London Borough Council. Enfield's population is estimated to be 333,794; the main towns in the borough are Edmonton, Enfield, Southgate and Palmers Green. Enfield is the northernmost London borough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enfield, London</span> Suburb of London

Enfield is a large town in north London, England, 10.1 miles (16.3 km) north of Charing Cross. It had a population of 156,858 in 2018. It includes the areas of Botany Bay, Brimsdown, Bulls Cross, Bullsmoor, Bush Hill Park, Clay Hill, Crews Hill, Enfield Highway, Enfield Lock, Enfield Town, Enfield Wash, Forty Hill, Freezywater, Gordon Hill, Grange Park, Hadley Wood, Ponders End, and World's End.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hertford</span> County town in England

Hertford is the county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is also a civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of the county. The parish had a population of 26,783 at the 2011 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Coast Main Line</span> Railway link between London and Edinburgh and London and Leeds

The East Coast Main Line (ECML) is a 393-mile long (632 km) electrified railway between its southern terminus at London King's Cross station and Edinburgh Waverley via Peterborough, Doncaster, York, Darlington, Durham and Newcastle. The line is a key transport artery on the eastern side of Great Britain running broadly parallel to the A1 road. The main line acts as a 'spine' for several diverging branches, serving destinations such as Cambridge, Leeds, Hull, Sunderland and Lincoln, all with direct services to London. In addition, a few ECML services extend beyond Edinburgh to serve Glasgow Central, although the principal London-Glasgow route is the West Coast Main Line (WCML).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enfield Chase railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

Enfield Chase railway station is located in Windmill Hill, Enfield, in the London Borough of Enfield, north London, 9 miles 9 chains from London King's Cross on the Hertford Loop Line. It is in Travelcard Zone 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palmers Green railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

Palmers Green railway station, in Aldermans Hill, is in the London Borough of Enfield in north London, located within Travelcard Zone 4. It is 6 miles 50 chains on the line from London King's Cross. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Great Northern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winchmore Hill railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

Winchmore Hill railway station is on Station Road, Winchmore Hill in the London Borough of Enfield in North London, England, in Travelcard Zone 4. It is 7 miles 63 chains down the line from London King's Cross on the Hertford Loop Line. The station, and all trains serving it are operated by Great Northern. Originally, upon opening in 1871, the station building was almost identical to that at neighbouring Palmers Green. However, in 1965 the northbound side of the building was demolished due to subsidence. In the 1970s the station boasted, on its southbound platform, a small newsagent and sweet shop, just beyond the base of the stairs down to the platform, but by 1980 this shop had been dismantled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grange Park railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

Grange Park railway station is situated just off The Grangeway, Grange Park in the London Borough of Enfield, north London, in Travelcard Zone 5. It is 8 miles 35 chains down the line from London King's Cross on the Hertford Loop Line. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Great Northern. Although located on the original 1871 route between Wood Green and Enfield, this station opened in 1910 at the same time as the line was extended northwards from Enfield to Cuffley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Hill railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

Gordon Hill railway station serves Gordon Hill in the London Borough of Enfield, north London. It is 9 miles 69 chains down the line from London King's Cross on the Hertford Loop Line, in Travelcard Zone 5. It was opened on 4 April 1910. The station and the trains serving it are currently operated by Great Northern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuffley railway station</span> Station in Hertfordshire, England

Cuffley railway station serves the village of Cuffley in the Welwyn Hatfield district of Hertfordshire. It also serves other nearby settlements, namely Goffs Oak, Northaw and the west of Cheshunt. It is 13 miles 17 chains down the line from London King's Cross on the Hertford Loop Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lea Valley lines</span> Commuter railway lines in London, England

The Lea Valley lines are two commuter lines and two branches in north-east London, so named because they run along the Lower Lea Valley of the River Lea. They were part of the Great Eastern Railway, now part of the Anglia Route of Network Rail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuffley</span> Human settlement in England

Cuffley is a village in the civil parish of Northaw and Cuffley, in the Welwyn Hatfield district of south-east Hertfordshire located between Cheshunt and Potters Bar. It has a population of just over 4,000 people. and is part of Broxbourne parliamentary constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevenage railway station</span> Railway station in Hertfordshire, England

Stevenage railway station serves the town of Stevenage in Hertfordshire, England. The station is around 44.4 kilometres north of London King's Cross on the East Coast Main Line. Stevenage is served and managed by Great Northern, who operate Thameslink stopping services southbound to King’s Cross via stations such as Welwyn Garden City and Potters Bar, to Brighton and Horsham via central London and Gatwick Airport and to Moorgate via Watton-at-Stone, Hertford North and Enfield Chase and services northbound to Cambridge and Peterborough. It is also frequently served by London North Eastern Railway, who operate fast non-stopping services southbound towards London and northbound towards cities including York, Leeds and Edinburgh. Hull Trains and Lumo operate very limited services from the station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hertford North railway station</span> Network Rail station in Hertfordshire, England

Hertford North railway station is one of two stations serving the town of Hertford in Hertfordshire, England, the other being Hertford East railway station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watton-at-Stone railway station</span> Railway station in Hertfordshire, England

Watton-at-Stone railway station serves the village of Watton-at-Stone in Hertfordshire, England. It is 23 miles 72 chains down the line from London King's Cross on the Hertford Loop Line between Hertford North and Stevenage and is served by trains operated by Great Northern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bayford railway station</span> Railway Station in Hertfordshire, England

Bayford railway station serves the villages of Bayford and Brickendon in Hertfordshire, England. The station is on the Hertford Loop Line, 16 miles 56 chains down the line from London King's Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Northern route</span> Suburban rail service in Great Britain

The Great Northern route, formerly known as Great Northern Electrics, is the name given to suburban rail services run on the southern end of Britain's East Coast Main Line and its associated branches. Services operate to or from London King's Cross and London Moorgate. Destinations include Hertford North, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, and Cambridge, and in peak hours, additional services run to Peterborough and King's Lynn. Services run through parts of Greater London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuffley Brook</span> River in Hertfordshire, England

Cuffley Brook is a tributary of Turkey Brook. It runs through parts of Hertfordshire and the London Borough of Enfield, England. After the confluence of the two streams in Whitewebbs Park, the watercourse continues eastwards as Turkey Brook to join the River Lea near Enfield Lock.

References

  1. 1 2 Network Rail (2 December 2006). London North East Route Sectional Appendix. Vol. Module LNE1. p. 46. NR30018/01a.
  2. Quail Map 2 - England: East [page 24] Feb 1998 (Retrieved 2014-04-12)
  3. 1 2 "Route 8 - East Coast Main Line" (PDF). Network Rail. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  4. A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain (Vol. 3 Greater London), H P White, David & Charles Ltd 1971 (Pages 166-7)
  5. A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain (Vol. 5 The Eastern Counties), D I Gordon, David & Charles Ltd 1977 ISBN   0-7153-4321-1 (Pages 123-4)
  6. "English Heritage Pastscape: Hertford Loop Line". Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  7. Network Rail (2 December 2006). London North East Route Sectional Appendix. Vol. Module LNE1. p. 44. NR30018/01a.
  8. Brailsford, Martyn (2016). Railway Track Diagrams Book 2: Eastern. Frome: Trackmaps. pp. 14, 24. ISBN   978-0-9549866-8-1.
  9. "Railway Industry Association: Update #52 page 6" (PDF). Retrieved 4 March 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. "The signal for change". Rail Magazine . Vol. 664. 22 February – 8 March 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2015.

Hornby, Frank (1995) London Commuter Lines. Volume 1: Main lines north of the Thames. Kettering: Silver Link Publishing Ltd.