Cambridge line

The Cambridge line[1][2] runs from Cambridge junction[2] on the East Coast Main Line to Shepreth Branch Junction[2] on the West Anglia Main Line and forms part of the route between London King's Cross and East Anglia. The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 5, SRS 05.05 and is classified as a London and South East Commuter line.[3]

Cambridge line
A Thameslink Class 700 at Meldreth in 2018
Overview
Type	Heavy rail
System	National Rail
Status	Operational
Locale	East of England
Termini	London King's Cross Cambridge
Stations	7
Operation
Opened	1851
Owner	Network Rail
Operator(s)	Great Northern
Rolling stock	Class 365 "Networker" Class 387 "Electrostar" Class 700 "Desiro City" Class 717 "Desiro City"
Technical
Number of tracks	Double track throughout
Track gauge	4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Loading gauge	W8
Route availability	RA 7-9
Electrification	25 kV AC OHLE
Operating speed	90 mph (140 km/h) maximum
Route map (Click to expand)

Cambridge line
Fen Line to King's Lynn Cambridge 55 mi 52 ch 89.56 km Cambridge South (open 2025) West Anglia Main Line Mileage change ^55 mi 26 ch89.04 km/ 53 mi 3 ch 85.36 km M11 Harston Foxton 50 mi 77 ch 82.02 km A10 Foxton Level Crossing MCB Barrington cement works Shepreth 49 mi 67 ch 80.21 km Meldreth 47 mi 75 ch 77.15 km A505 Royston 44 mi 72 ch 72.26 km A505 Ashwell and Morden 41 mi 0 ch 65.98 km Baldock 36 mi 47 ch 58.88 km A1(M) Letchworth sidings Letchworth Garden City 34 mi 50 ch 55.72 km Hitchin 31 mi 74 ch 51.38 km East Coast Main Line to Peterborough & London King's Cross
Main mileage from London King's Cross

History

Main article: Great Northern Route

Plans for a line between Hitchin and Royston were placed before Parliament in 1846 by the Royston and Hitchin Railway company.[4] The line was initially planned to be a single track spur from Hitchin, but during debate in the Lords it was recommended that the line be two track in the view of its possible later use as part of a route from Cambridge to Bedford although this was later superseded by the Varsity line via Sandy. [5] The line was opened in 1851 then extended to Cambridge although this was resisted by the company already operating a service from Liverpool Street via the West Anglia Main Line.[5] The line was then leased by the Great Northern[6] in 1850 and subsequently purchased in 1898[7] and through services run from London King's Cross to Cambridge. In 2002, a train travelling from King's Cross to King's Lynn, via Cambridge, crashed at Potter's Bar, shortly before set to join the Cambridge line, killing seven.

As part of the Great Northern Route electrification by British Rail in the mid 1970s, the through service was severed by the need to change from the electrified service at Royston to a diesel train stopping at all stations to Cambridge. The extension of electrification through to Cambridge was completed in 1988[8] under Network SouthEast and the track improved to increase speed. Occasional services are run by 12-car trains [9] allowing them to stop only at Royston & Letchworth Garden City where the platform is long enough to accommodate them. The platform extension at Letchworth Garden City was completed in December 2011. The Down platforms at Shepreth and Foxton were extended in 2017 to allow 8-car trains to stop without blocking the level crossings.[10]

The flat junction at Hitchin has always been an issue with conflicting train movements, but the Hitchin flyover to the north of the existing junction was opened in 2013 to carry north-bound services over the East Coast Main Line.[11]

Services

Services on the line are run by both Thameslink and Great Northern as part of their Great Northern Route.[9] A mix of Express, Fast and Stopping services are provided on the line including services through Central London to and from Brighton.

An alternative route via the West Anglia Main Line links Liverpool Street to Cambridge now provides mainly stopping services though some peak hour trains stop only at Tottenham Hale and Audley End.

Infrastructure

The line is double track throughout. Traction current is supplied at 25 kV AC using overhead line equipment overseen by York Electrical Control Room,[2] with Neutral Sections at Cambridge junction,[2] Litlington[2] and Shepreth Branch Junction.[2] It has a loading gauge of W8[3] and a maximum line speed of 90 mph.[3]

Route boundary and signalling

Just under a mile to the east of Royston station lies the boundary between the Network Rail London North Eastern Route[2] and Anglia Route.[2] All signals between King's Cross and this point are controlled by Kings Cross Power Signal Box,[2] whilst those from here to Cambridge are controlled by Cambridge Signal Box.[2] The signalling system for the whole Cambridge line is Track Circuit block,[2] with all main signals being multiple-aspect colour light signals.

Stations

In order from southwest to north.[12]

• Letchworth Garden City
• Baldock
• Ashwell and Morden
• Royston
• Meldreth
• Shepreth
• Foxton

Passenger volume

These are the passenger usage statistics on the National Rail network from the year beginning April 2002 to the year beginning April 2010. Comparing both years, Cambridge has increased by nearly 51%, Foxton by 57%, Shepreth by 99%, Meldreth by 41% although it has declined in recent years until this point, Royston increased by 28%, Ashwell and Morden by 30%, Baldock by 50%, Letchworth Garden City by 33% and Hitchin by 44%.[13]

Station usage
Station name	2002–03	2004–05	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08	2008–09	2009–10	2010–11	2011–12	2012–13	2013–14	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19
Cambridge	5,478,112	6,060,475	6,137,423	6,522,309	6,997,887	7,571,838	7,661,146	8,245,416
Foxton	48,874	53,538	54,088	64,685	63,418	76,898	72,072	76,860
Shepreth	41,996	48,622	56,747	76,382	75,052	75,704	79,104	83,524
Meldreth	140,494	157,409	167,751	195,567	213,562	216,990	205,836	198,626
Royston	935,438	1,026,983	1,060,800	1,079,220	1,147,905	1,155,024	1,112,974	1,193,950
Ashwell and Morden	89,061	98,481	96,452	108,013	104,417	116,908	112,350	115,720
Baldock	331,732	377,278	386,350	427,635	419,784	473,396	455,724	496,896
Letchworth Garden City	1,091,229	1,144,661	1,186,565	1,309,067	1,364,936	1,445,886	1,366,714	1,447,418
Hitchin	1,806,889	1,948,003	2,049,217	2,368,121	2,543,526	2,569,494	2,478,832	2,594,012
The annual passenger usage is based on sales of tickets in stated financial years from Office of Rail Regulation statistics. The statistics are for passengers arriving and departing from each station and cover twelve month periods that start in April. Methodology may vary year on year. Barking and Blackhorse Road are affected by usage of the ticket gates for the underground and that Gospel Oak connects to the North London Line section of the London Overground and is similarly affected. Barking is further affected by the ticket gates used to access C2C services.

References

1. Quail Maps. Map#2 - England: East. [page 24] Feb 1998 (Retrieved 2014-04-12).
2. "London North Eastern Route Sectional Appendix; LOR LN125 Seq 001 to 005" (PDF). Network Rail. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2013-12-05. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
3. "Route 5 – West Anglia" (PDF). Network Rail. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
4. "Projected Railways". The Times (19414). London. 8 Dec 1846. col A, p. 7.
5. "Cambridgeshire Railways". Retrieved 2010-04-25.
6. "Money-Market And City Intelligence". The Times (20577). London. 26 Aug 1850. col A, p. 3.
7. "Railway And Other Companies". The Times (35438). London. 12 Feb 1898. col C, p. 5.
8. "NSE Chronology January 1988 to December 1988". Network SouthEast Railway Society. Archived from the original on 2014-10-10. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
9. First Capital Connect. "From 13 Dec: Great Northern All routes ALL DAYS" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
10. "Platform extensions in South Cambridgeshire". Thameslink Programme. Archived from the original on 2017-04-01. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
11. "Hitchin flyover". Network Rail. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
12. Network Rail (December 2006). London North Eastern Route Sectional Appendix. Module LN2. p. 50 LOR LN125 Seq004. NR30018/02.
13. "Station Usage". Rail Statistics. Office of Rail Regulation. Retrieved 3 January 2013.