View source for Braintree branch line

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{distinguish|Braintree branch}}
{{Infobox rail line
|name        = Braintree branch line
|color       =
|logo        = 
|logo_width  = 
|image       = Braintree - Greater Anglia 321303.JPG
|image_width = 300px
|caption     = Braintree is the western terminus of the line
|type        = [[Regional rail]]
|system      = [[National Rail]]
|status      = Operational
|locale      = [[East of England]]
|start       = {{rws|Witham}}
|end         = {{rws|Braintree|England}}
|stations    = 5
|routes      = 1
|daily_ridership = 
|open        = 1848
|close       = 
|owner       = [[Network Rail]]
|operator    = [[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]]
|character   = [[Branch line]]
|stock       = {{Brc|720}}
|linelength  = {{convert|6|mi|30|chain|km}}
|tracklength = 
|tracks      = 1
|gauge       = {{track gauge|uksg|allk=on}}
|electrification = [[25 kV AC railway electrification|25 kV AC]] [[Overhead line|OHLE]]
|speed       = 
|elevation   = 
|map         = [[File:Braintree branch line.png|300px]]<br>([[:commons:File:Braintree branch line.png|Click to expand]])
|map_state   = uncollapsed
}}
{{Braintree Branch Line RDT|collapse=y}}

The '''Braintree branch line''' is a railway [[branch line]] in the [[East of England]] that diverges from the [[Great Eastern Main Line]] at {{rws|Witham}} and runs north-west to {{rws|Braintree|England}}. The route is {{convert|6|mi|30|chain|km}} in length and there are five stations, including the two termini. The line is part of [[Network Rail Route 7 (Great Eastern)|Network Rail Strategic Route 7]], SRS 07.06, and is classified as a London and South-East commuter line.<ref name=NRR7>{{cite web
|url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2009/Route%207%20-%20Great%20Eastern.pdf
|title=Route 7 – Great Eastern
|publisher=[[Network Rail]]
|accessdate=2009-05-22
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607104601/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2009/Route%207%20-%20Great%20Eastern.pdf
|archive-date=7 June 2011
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

The stations and all services are currently operated by [[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]]. As of 2019 the typical off-peak weekday service-frequency is one train per hour in each direction. The timetabled journey time between Witham and Braintree is 16 minutes.

== History ==
{{see also|Witham–Maldon branch line}}
Originally constructed from [[Maldon West railway station|Maldon]] to {{rws|Braintree|England}} via {{rws|Witham}}, only the line from Braintree to Witham remains open. The line was proposed by the Maldon, Witham & Braintree Railway (MWBR) and given [[royal assent]] in June 1846. The MWBR was subsequently  purchased by the [[Eastern Counties Railway]] (ECR), and the line opened in 1848.<ref name=malden>{{cite web|url=http://www.itsaboutmaldon.co.uk/railway/|title=The Old Railway Lines to Maldon|publisher=This is Malden|accessdate=2009-05-04}}</ref>

The section from Maldon to Witham was constructed as double-track, however one track was lifted during the period of the [[Crimean War]] (1854–56) and sold to the [[War Office]].<ref name=malden/>

The [[Bishop's Stortford–Braintree branch line]], built by the [[Great Eastern Railway]] (GER), was opened in 1869. This created a route from Maldon through to the [[West Anglia Main Line]].

The line was extended from Maldon to [[South Woodham Ferrers railway station|Woodham Ferrers]] in 1889.<ref name=malden/>

In 1923, both lines became part of the [[London and North Eastern Railway]] (LNER).<ref name=malden/>

During the [[World War II|Second World War]] passenger services on the section between {{rws|Maldon East and Heybridge}} and Woodham Ferrers were withdrawn and never reinstated.<ref name=malden/>

The Bishop's Stortford–Braintree branch closed to passenger traffic in 1952 and then to freight in 1971. The section from Maldon East and Heybridge to Witham was closed to passengers following the [[Beeching cuts]] to the railways in 1964, although goods services on that section continued until 1966.<ref name=malden/> Conversely, the Witham-Braintree section saw an upsurge in passengers after a [[railbus]] was tried in the early 1960s, which was then replaced by a [[diesel multiple unit]].

The franchise for the line is currently held by [[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]].

== Infrastructure ==
The line is [[Single-track railway|single-track]] throughout and the route is [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrified]] at [[25 kV AC railway electrification|25 kV AC]]. It has a [[Loading gauge#Great Britain|loading gauge]] of W6 and a maximum line speed of {{cvt|50|mph}}.<ref name="NRR7"/>

Services are formed of {{Brc|720}} units. The first entered service on 16 December 2020.

Most of the former railway alignment between just east of Bishops Stortford and Braintree has been preserved, and is managed by Essex County Council as the Flitch Way linear park. Two local groups volunteer to improve the site and campaign for improvements.

=== Stations ===

The following table summarises the line's five stations, their distance measured from {{rws|London Liverpool Street}}, and estimated number of passenger entries/exits in 2018–19:

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;" border="1" cellpadding="1"
!Station !!Location !!Local authority !!Mileage !!Patronage
|-
|{{rws|Witham}}
|[[Witham]]
|[[Braintree District|District of Braintree]]
|align=center|{{frac|38|1|2}}
|align=right|2,349,496
|-
|{{rws|White Notley}}
|[[White Notley]]
|[[Braintree District|District of Braintree]]
|align=center|{{frac|41|3|4}}
|align=right|12,046
|-
|{{rws|Cressing}}
|[[Cressing]] and [[Black Notley]]
|[[Braintree District|District of Braintree]]
|align=center|43
|align=right|39,010
|-
|{{rws|Braintree Freeport}}
|[[Braintree, Essex|Braintree]]
|[[Braintree District|District of Braintree]]
|align=center|{{frac|44|1|4}}
|align=right|91,574
|-
|{{rws|Braintree|England}}
|[[Braintree, Essex|Braintree]]
|[[Braintree District|District of Braintree]]
|align=center|45
|align=right|727,982
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Braintree Branch Line}}
*[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/subjectView.asp?ID=B11807 Maldon, Witham & Braintree Railway Co - 1845–50: promoters', shareholders' and directors' minutes, misc accounts, contracts, plans, letters and papers]

{{Railway lines in the East of England}}

[[Category:Rail transport in Essex]]
[[Category:Railway lines in the East of England]]
[[Category:Network Rail routes|EA 1070]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1846]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1848]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in England]]
[[Category:1846 establishments in England]]