Cambridge Line

Cambridge Line
Overview
Type	Heavy rail
System	National Rail
Status	Operational
Locale	East of England
Termini	London Kings Cross Cambridge
Stations	7
Operation
Opened	1851
Owner	Network Rail
Operator(s)	Great Northern
Rolling stock	Class 313 Class 317 Class 321 Class 365 "Networker"
Technical
No. of tracks	Double track throughout
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Loading gauge	W8
Route availability	RA 7-9
Electrification	25 kV AC OHLE
Operating speed	90 mph (140 km/h) maximum

Cambridge Line
Legend
West Anglia Main Line Cambridge 55m 26ch 53m 03ch Milepost change M11 motorway Harston 50m 77ch Foxton A10 road Barrington cement works 49m 67ch Shepreth 47m 75ch Meldreth A505 Royston Bypass 44m 72ch Royston A505 Royston Bypass 41m 00ch Ashwell and Morden 36m 47ch Baldock A1(M) motorway Letchworth sidings 34m 50ch Letchworth Garden City 31m 74ch Hitchin East Coast Main Line to Kings Cross →

The Cambridge Line runs from Cambridge junction on the East Coast Main Line to Shepreth Branch junction 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.

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. 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be two track in the view of its possible later use as part of a route from Cambridge to Bedford although this was later superseded by the Varsity Line via Sandy. 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. The line was then leased by the Great Northern in 1850 and subsequently purchased in 1898 and through services run from London King's Cross to Cambridge.

As part of the Great Northern Route electrification in the mid 70's, the through service was severed by the need to switch from the electrified service to Royston to a DMU stopping at all stations to Cambridge. The extension of electrification through to Cambridge was completed in 1988 under Network SouthEast and the track improved to increase speed. Occasional services are run by 12 car trains 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 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 up and over the East Coast Main Line.

Services

Services on the line are run by Great Northern as part of their Great Northern Route. A mix of Express, Fast and Stopping services are provided on the line as well as services via the Hertford loop to Moorgate which start and terminate from Letchworth Garden City.

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, with Neutral Sections at Cambridge junction, Litlington and Shepreth Branch junction. It has a loading gauge of W8 and a maximum line speed of 90 mph.

Route boundary & signalling

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

Stations

In order from southwest to north.

• 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%.

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
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. Please note that methodology may vary year on year.