User:Ajcoxuk/Hitchin-Cambridge Line

The Hitchin–Cambridge Line links Hitchin in Hertfordshire with Cambridge 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
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be two track in the view of its possible later use as part of a route from Cambridge to Bedford although this was later superseded by the Varsity Line via Sandy.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 subsquently purchased in 1898 and through services run from King's Cross to Cambridge. As part of the Great Northern Line 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 electrification was extended to Cambridge in the mid 80's and the track improved to increase speed. Occasional services are run by 12 car trains allowing them to stop only at Royston where the platform is long enough to accommodate them.

The flat junction at Hitchin has always been an issue with conflicting train movements, but is being replaced by a viaduct to the north of the existing junction to carry north-bound services up and over the East Coast Main Line.

Services
Services on the line are run by First Capital Connect as part of their Great Northern Route. It exists as a distinct line only between Cambridge (where it shares tracks for a while with the West Anglia Main Line) and Hitchin (south of which it merges with the East Coast Main Line). A mix of Express, Fast and Stopping services are provided on the line. An alternative route via the West Anglia Main Line links Liverpool Street to Cambridge but now provides stopping services only.

Infrastructure
The line is double track throughout and is electrified at 25 kV AC using overhead line equipment. It has a loading gauge of W8 and a line speed of 90 mph.

Stations
In order from southwest to north.


 * Hitchin
 * Letchworth Garden City
 * Baldock
 * Ashwell and Morden
 * Royston
 * Meldreth
 * Shepreth
 * Foxton
 * Harston (closed 1963)
 * Cambridge