View source for Great Northern route

{{Short description|Suburban rail service in the East of England}}
{{About|the railway route|the current train operating company|Govia Thameslink Railway}}
{{other uses|Great Northern (disambiguation){{!}}Great Northern|Great Northern Railway (disambiguation){{!}}Great Northern Railway}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox rail company
|name           = Great Northern
|logo_filename  = File:GreatNorthernLogo.svg
|image          = File:Great Northern Class 717 Desiro City at Bowes Park June 2019 No.2.jpg
|caption        = A [[British Rail Class 717|Class 717]] standing at {{rws|Bowes Park}} in 2019
|franchise      = {{unbulleted list|[[Thameslink (train operating company 1997–2006)|Thameslink]]<br />2 March 1997 – 31 March 2006|[[West Anglia Great Northern]]<br /> 5 January 1997 – 31 March 2004|Great Northern<br />1 April 2004 – 31 March 2006|Thameslink and Great Northern<br />1 April 2006 – 14 Sep 2014|Part of [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern]]<br />14 Sep 2014 – 1 April 2028<ref name = dft22 >{{Cite web |title=National Rail Contract Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern | url = https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1097662/govia-thameslink-railway-limited-2022-national-rail-contract.pdf | date = 24 March 2022 | access-date = 7 March 2023 | publisher = Department for Transport }}</ref>}}
|nameforarea    = region
|regions        = {{ubl|[[East of England]]|[[Greater London]]}}
|secregions     = 
|fleet          = {{plainlist|
* {{brc|379}} ''Electrostar''<ref name="GreatNorthern">{{Cite magazine |date=11 February 2025 |title= Class 379s enter traffic with GTR |url= https://www.modernrailways.com/article/class-379s-enter-traffic-gtr |url-status=live |access-date=11 February 2025 |magazine=Modern Railways}}</ref>
* {{brc|387}} ''Electrostar'' 
* {{brc|717}} ''Desiro City'' 
}}
|abbr           = GN
|stations       = 54
|stationsop     = 
|routekm        = 
|parent_company = [[Govia Thameslink Railway]]
|website        = {{Official URL}}
|map            = [[File:Govia Thameslink Railway Map.svg|300px|Route map]]
|gauge          = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
|el             = {{ubl|[[25 kV AC|25 kV 50 Hz AC OHLE]]|750 [[Volt|V]] [[Direct Current|DC]] [[third rail]]}}
}}
{{First Capital Connect services}}
The '''Great Northern''' '''route''',<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-04 |title=Route revealed for planned new Overground line in north London |url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/25214622.tfl-reveals-great-northern-services-wants-run/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=Ham & High |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Makeover announced for First Capital Connect Class 365 Great Northern route trains |url=https://eversholtrail.co.uk/news/makeover-announced-for-first-capital-connect-class-365-great-northern-route-trains/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=eversholtrail.co.uk |language=en-US}}</ref> formerly known as '''Great Northern Electrics''',<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harman |first=R. |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Great_Northern_Electrics_in_Hertfordshir/vVq4vQEACAAJ?hl=en |title=Great Northern Electrics in Hertfordshire: A Case Study on the Role of Railway Modernisation in Suburban Development |date= |publisher=[[Hertfordshire County Council]] |year=1980 |language=en}}</ref> is a suburban rail route in [[London]] and the [[East of England]]. The route consists of services on the southern end of the [[East Coast Main Line]], which is the main railway link between the cities of [[London]] and [[Edinburgh]],<ref name="SRP">{{cite web |date=31 March 2010 |title=Route Plans 2010: Route Plan G East Coast & North East |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/RoutePlans/PDF/RouteG-EastCoastandNorthEast.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926131729/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/RoutePlans/PDF/RouteG-EastCoastandNorthEast.pdf |archive-date=26 September 2012 |access-date=1 August 2012 |publisher=Network Rail |at=p.5}}</ref> as well as its associated branches, including the [[Cambridge line]], [[Fen line]], [[Hertford loop line]], and [[Northern City Line]]. 

The route is currently operated by Great Northern, which is one brand under the umbrella of [[Govia Thameslink Railway]].<ref>{{cite web |title=GTR (Govia Thameslink Railway) Presentation |url=http://assets.goaheadbus.com/media/cms_page_media/1256/GTR%20franchise%20presentation.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714223336/http://assets.goaheadbus.com/media/cms_page_media/1256/GTR%20franchise%20presentation.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=10 July 2014 |publisher=[[Govia]]}}</ref> Services originating at  London King's Cross operate to Peterborough, Letchworth, Cambridge, Ely, and Kings Lynn, whereas services originating at Moorgate operate to Welwyn, Hertford North, Gordon Hill, and Stevenage.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Great Northern Timetables as of December 2024 |url=https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/service-updates/timetables}}</ref>

The route forms a major commuter route into London from Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and eastern Bedfordshire: ridership has grown rapidly over recent years.

== Route ==
The Great Northern route is formed of the [[Northern City Line]], [[Hertford loop line]], the southern section of the [[East Coast Main Line]] between [[London King's Cross railway station|London Kings Cross]] and [[Peterborough railway station|Peterborough]], the Cambridge line, and the [[Fen line]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 February 2025 |title=Our Network |url=https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/destinations-and-offers/where-we-travel-to/our-routes |website=greatnorthernrail.com |publisher=[[Govia Thameslink Railway]]}}</ref> Since Greater Anglia withdrew its services to King's Lynn in May 2023,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wakefield |first=Peter |date=June 2023 |title=Timetable Changes May–December 2023 |url=https://www.railfuture.org.uk/east/rail-east/RailEast-Issue-198-June-2023.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com |journal=RailFuture |issue=198 |pages=17}}</ref> Govia Thameslink Railway has been the sole operator of the entire route except between London Kings Cross and Peterborough, and between Cambridge and Ely. The route serves 57 stations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2025 |title=National Rail train operators and metro systems |url=https://assets.nationalrail.co.uk/e8xgegruud3g/2T2mCzq68e6qpqPuabW7Ya/52352ec6f4ac05fa0837c4c83fea3d05/TOCs_AS_v59_May_2025.pdf |access-date=17 June 2025 |website=[[National Rail]] |publisher=Project Mapping}}</ref>

At privatisation the services became part of [[West Anglia Great Northern]], becoming their sole route in 2004 when the West Anglia services were transferred to '[[National Express East Anglia|one]]'. In April 2006 the services became the responsibility of [[First Capital Connect]]. In September 2014, the [[Department for Transport]] transferred the new [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern]] franchise to [[Govia Thameslink Railway]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Department for Transport|author-link=Department for Transport|title=New rail franchising deal set to transform passenger services across London and south east|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-rail-franchising-deal-set-to-transform-passenger-services-across-london-and-south-east|access-date=28 May 2014}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Further|East Coast Main Line|Northern City Line|Hertford loop line|Cambridge line|Fen line}}
The term Great Northern is related to the [[Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)|Great Northern Railway]], the original builders of the line.

The July 1922 [[Bradshaw's Railway Guide]] stated a typical rail service on the [[Cambridge Line]] as follows:<ref>{{cite book|last=|title=Bradshaw's July 1922 Railway Guide|publisher=Henry Blacklock & Company|year=1922|location=Manchester}}</ref>

* {{rws|London King's Cross}} to {{rws|Cambridge}} - Six stopping and two (three on Saturday) semi-fast services from Monday to Saturday, one northbound and two southbound stopping services on Sunday. The fastest service took about 1 hour 30 minutes.
* London King's Cross to {{rws|Royston}} - Two (three on Wednesday) additional services from Monday to Saturday, one additional service on Sunday.
* London King's Cross to {{rws|Baldock}} - Seven additional services from Monday to Saturday.
* London King's Cross to {{rws|Letchworth}} - Three additional services from Monday to Saturday. The last service on Wednesday ran past midnight into Thursday morning.

Since the 1960s, Great Northern has been used to describe the suburban part of the [[East Coast Main Line]], south of {{rws|Peterborough}} and south of {{rws|Royston}}. The Great Northern Railway had proposed electrification of part of the line in 1903, but it was not until 1971 that a scheme to electrify the line from {{rws|London King's Cross}} and {{rws|Moorgate}} was authorised.<ref name="GNS">{{cite web|author=British Railways Board|author-link=British Railways Board|title=Your New Electric Railway: The Great Northern Suburban Electrification|url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BRE_GNElectric1973.pdf|access-date=15 April 2010}}</ref>

The Inner Suburban Lines to {{rws|Welwyn Garden City}} and {{rws|Hertford North}} were electrified in 1976 with {{brc|313}} EMUs. In 1978 the electrification was complete to Royston with {{brc|312}} EMUs providing the service. The route was then promoted as the '''Great Northern Electrics'''.<ref name=GNS /> The route between Hertford and Langley Junction, south of {{rws|Stevenage}}, was also electrified but not regularly used by electric trains until 1979, when one Moorgate - Hertford service per hour was extended to {{rws|Letchworth Garden City}}; prior to this [[Diesel multiple unit|DMUs]] provided an infrequent service over this route, running between Hertford and {{rws|Huntingdon}} / Peterborough. From 1979 until 1987 DMUs provided the service between Hitchin and Huntingdon/Peterborough. DMUs also provided a shuttle service between Royston and Cambridge between 1978 and 1988, connecting with the electric trains and replacing the former through Cambridge buffet expresses between Kings Cross and the university city.

In 1982 [[Watton-at-Stone railway station|Watton-at-Stone station]] was reopened between Hertford and Stevenage. A new station also opened at {{rws|Welham Green}} in 1986.

With the further electrification of the [[East Coast Main Line]] between 1986 and 1988, electric services could be extended to Peterborough and the outer suburban service was changed from {{brc|312}} to {{brc|317}}, some of which were cascaded from the newly created [[Thameslink]] route, with the remainder newly built.

In 1984<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times|title=Major rail closures ruled out|department=Home News|date=26 April 1984|page=4|issue=61815|column=}}</ref> it was decided to electrify the line between Royston and Shepreth Branch Junction, a junction on the [[West Anglia Main Line]] north of {{rws|Shelford}}, allowing the reinstatement of through services to {{rws|Cambridge}} from London King's Cross via the [[East Coast Main Line]], which was faster than the conventional route from {{rws|Liverpool Street}} via the [[West Anglia Main Line]]. This electrification was completed in 1988. Later the track between these points was also upgraded with [[Rail tracks#Continuous welded rail|welded joint track]] instead of the [[Rail tracks#Jointed track|jointed track]] that had existed, and the maximum line speed was raised to 90&nbsp;mph.

Rapid growth on the route, especially on the [[Cambridge Line]] resulted in consultation on a new service pattern,<ref>{{cite web|last=|title=Cambridge Capacity Study|url=http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=321|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402195524/http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=321|archive-date=2 April 2010|access-date=14 March 2010|publisher=[[First Capital Connect]]|df=dmy-all}}</ref> which was then implemented at the timetable change in Spring 2009. During the peak hours, the route is now [[East Coast Main Line#Capacity problems|saturated]] and can support no further service improvements.

=== Hitchin Flyover ===
{{main|Hitchin Flyover}}

Together with the two-track [[Digswell Viaduct]] (Welwyn Viaduct) some ten miles to the south, the flat junction just north of {{rws|Hitchin}} was a major [[traffic bottleneck|bottleneck]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/5751/its_uleeds_app2.pdf|title=APPENDIX 2: Issues in defining and measuring railway capacity|date=13 February 2006|access-date=28 February 2014|page=2|publisher=[[Office of Rail Regulation]]}}</ref> as northbound trains diverging from the [[East Coast Main Line]] towards Letchworth and thence to Cambridge had to cross one northbound (fast) line and two southbound (fast and slow) lines to access the Cambridge Line. Proposals as part of the original electrification work envisaged a new underpass here and land was set aside for its construction. However, budgetary constraints forced this part of the programme to be abandoned. The land stood empty for many years, but has since been used to provide new housing.

A new plan<ref>{{cite web|author=Network Rail|author-link=Network Rail|title=Hitchin Flyover|url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/6397.aspx|access-date=28 February 2014}}</ref> and subsequent application for an order<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/Consultation/Hitchin/6428_Hitchin%20-%20Statement%20of%20Case.pdf |author=Network Rail |author-link=Network Rail |access-date=15 April 2010 |title=The Network Rail Hitchin (Cambridge Junction) Order |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607023551/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/Consultation/Hitchin/6428_Hitchin%20-%20Statement%20of%20Case.pdf |archive-date=7 June 2011 }}</ref> to build a flyover was approved, and construction was completed in June 2013. The scheme has created a new single-track line that diverges from the northbound slow line at a new junction just beyond Hitchin station, using a short embankment section of the former [[Bedford to Hitchin Line]], a section of which was cleared of vegetation and made progressively higher, to form a short ramp. The track is carried over the [[East Coast Main Line]] on a newly constructed viaduct and onto a new embankment to join the present [[Cambridge Line]] at the newly created Hitchin East Junction, closer to Letchworth. Although this takes trains over a longer distance, it removes the need for them to dwell at Hitchin &ndash; sometimes for several minutes &ndash; awaiting a path across the tracks of the main London-Peterborough route, thus decreasing the overall journey time to Cambridge in many instances. The scheme improves the punctuality and reliability of both the London-Cambridge and London-Peterborough routes, because Peterborough-bound stopping trains are no longer delayed if running closely behind a Cambridge service being held at Hitchin waiting to cross the flat junction.

===Thameslink programme===
{{main|Thameslink Programme}}
As part of the Thameslink Programme,<ref>{{cite web|author=First Capital Connect|author-link=First Capital Connect|title=2016 (Thameslink & Great Northern routes)|url=http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/cms/pages/view/31|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402080415/http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/cms/pages/view/31|archive-date=2 April 2010|access-date=15 April 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> the Great Northern Route has been connected to the existing [[Thameslink]] route via a new junction at Belle Isle<ref>{{cite book |author=Network Rail |author-link=Network Rail |title=London North Eastern Sectional Appendix |volume=Module LNE |date=December 2006 |id=NR30018/02 |page=12 LOR LN101 Seq002}}</ref> (south of the [[High Speed 1]] flyover, just north of London King's Cross). Two single-bore tunnels (known as the [[Canal Tunnels]]) were driven from here to the low-level platforms at {{rws|St Pancras}} during the 'St Pancras Box' phase of the redevelopment works that created St Pancras International station. Trains diverging from the Great Northern Route at Belle Isle join the 'core' St Pancras - {{rws|Farringdon}} - {{rws|City Thameslink}} - {{rws|Blackfriars}} section of the existing Thameslink route and then serve stations across [[Surrey]], [[East Sussex]], [[Kent]], and [[West Sussex]].

On 6 November 2017 the first Thameslink Programme units entered service on the Great Northern route.<ref name="railmag">{{cite magazine| title = Class 700s make Great Northern debut| url=https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/class-700s-make-great-northern-debut| magazine= [[Rail Magazine]]| access-date =2017-11-20}}</ref> 700128 worked the 0656 Peterborough – London King's Cross and 1812 return, while 700125 worked the 0733 Peterborough – London King's Cross and 1742 return.<ref name="railmag"/>
{{Clear}}

== Services ==
<section begin="service-table" />

=== Off-peak ===
The Great Northern Monday{{ndash}}Friday off-peak service pattern, as of May 2025, with frequencies in ''trains per hour'' (tph), consists of the following:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=18 May 2025 |title=Timetable A |url=https://timetables.greatnorthernrail.com/GN/#/timetables/3550/TableA?daysetId=39017&date=&print=true |access-date=21 June 2025 |website=greatnorthernrail.com |publisher=[[Govia Thameslink Railway]]}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=18 May 2025 |title=Timetable B |url=https://timetables.greatnorthernrail.com/GN/#/timetables/3551/Table%20B?daysetId=39027&date=&print=true |access-date=21 June 2025 |website=greatnorthernrail.com |publisher=[[Govia Thameslink Railway]]}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! width="250px" | Route 
!{{abbr|tph|trains per hour}}|| Calling at
|-
| [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]] to {{rws|King's Lynn}}
|1|| [[Letchworth Garden City railway station|Letchworth Garden City]], [[Royston railway station|Royston]], [[Cambridge railway station|Cambridge]], [[Cambridge North railway station|Cambridge North]], [[Waterbeach railway station|Waterbeach]], [[Ely railway station|Ely]], {{rws|Littleport}}, {{rws|Downham Market}}, {{rws|Watlington}}
|-
| {{rws|London King's Cross}} to {{rws|Ely}}
|1
|Cambridge, Cambridge North, Waterbeach
|-
|London King's Cross to Cambridge
|1
|[[Finsbury Park station|Finsbury Park]], [[Alexandra Palace railway station|Alexandra Palace]], [[Potters Bar railway station|Potters Bar]], [[Hatfield railway station|Hatfield]], [[Welwyn Garden City railway station|Welwyn Garden City]], [[Welwyn North railway station|Welwyn North]], [[Knebworth railway station|Knebworth]], [[Stevenage railway station|Stevenage]], [[Hitchin railway station|Hitchin]], Letchworth Garden City, [[Baldock railway station|Baldock]], [[Royston railway station|Royston]], [[Meldreth railway station|Meldreth]], [[Shepreth railway station|Shepreth]], [[Foxton railway station|Foxton]]
|-
|London King's Cross to [[Letchworth Garden City railway station|Letchworth Garden City]]
|1
|Finsbury Park, Alexandra Palace, Potters Bar, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn North, Knebworth, Stevenage, Hitchin
|-
| {{stn|Moorgate}} to Welwyn Garden City 
| 2|| {{stn|Old Street}}, {{rws|Essex Road}}, {{stn|Highbury & Islington}}, {{rws|Drayton Park}}, Finsbury Park, {{rws|Harringay}}, {{rws|Hornsey}}, Alexandra Palace, {{rws|New Southgate}}, {{rws|Oakleigh Park}}, {{rws|New Barnet}}, {{rws|Hadley Wood}}, Potters Bar, {{rws|Brookmans Park}}, {{rws|Welham Green}}, Hatfield

|-
| Moorgate to Stevenage (via {{rws|Hertford North}}) 
|2||Old Street, Essex Road, Highbury & Islington, Drayton Park, Finsbury Park, Harringay, Hornsey, Alexandra Palace, {{rws|Bowes Park}}, {{rws|Palmers Green}}, {{rws|Winchmore Hill}}, {{rws|Grange Park}}, {{rws|Enfield Chase}}, {{rws|Gordon Hill}}, {{rws|Crews Hill}}, {{rws|Cuffley}}, {{rws|Bayford}}, {{rws|Hertford North}}, {{rws|Watton-at-Stone}}
|}

=== Peak hours ===
During peak hours, all services from London King's Cross to Letchworth Garden City (see table above) are extended to/from Cambridge, resulting in a 2tph 'stopping service' between London King's Cross and Cambridge.<ref name=":04">{{Cite web |title=Timetable December 2024 |url=https://timetables.thameslinkrailway.com/TL/#/timetables/3235/Table%20A |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=timetables.thameslinkrailway.com}}</ref> During peak hours, Great Northern runs 5 'limited stop' services in each direction between {{rws|Peterborough}} and London King's Cross, with calls at [[Huntingdon railway station|Huntingdon]], [[St Neots railway station|St Neots]], [[Biggleswade railway station|Biggleswade]] and Stevenage only.<ref name=":04" /> In addition, during peak hours, Great Northern runs 3 'limited stop' services in each direction between Letchworth Garden City and London King's Cross, with calls at Hitchin, Knebworth and Welwyn North only.<ref name=":04" />

<section end="service-table" />

==Rolling stock==

=== Govia Thameslink Railway ===
The majority of Great Northern  services are operated with ''{{Brc|387}} [[Bombardier Electrostar|Electrostar]]'' units.<ref name="Mansfield-2025">{{Cite web |last=Mansfield |first=Ian |date=25 February 2025 |title=Govia Thameslink Railway brings 30 more trains into service through London |url=https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/govia-thameslink-railway-brings-30-more-trains-into-service-through-london-79396/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=ianVisits |language=en-US}}</ref> On 12 March 2024 it was announced that Great Northern would lease 30 [[British Rail Class 379|Class 379]] units from Porterbrook.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007878-2024 | title=Leasing for the GN Network of Additional Rolling Stock - Find a Tender }}</ref> These were introduced for their services to [[Letchworth railway station|Letchworth]] in February 2025,<ref name="Class379GreatNorthern">{{Cite magazine |date=11 February 2025 |title=Class 379s enter traffic with GTR |url=https://www.modernrailways.com/article/class-379s-enter-traffic-gtr |access-date=11 February 2025 |magazine=Modern Railways}}</ref> which replaced Class 387 units in order to allow them to be transferred to Southern.<ref name="Mansfield-2025" />

{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Family
! rowspan="2" |Class
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Type
! colspan="2" |Top speed
! rowspan="2" |Number
! rowspan="2" |Carriages
! rowspan="2" |Routes operated
! rowspan="2" |Began operation
|- bgcolor="#f9f9f9"
!mph
!km/h
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Bombardier Electrostar]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Stansted stock stands up to the test |url=https://www.railmagazine.com/trains/current-trains/stansted-stock-stands-up-to-the-test |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.railmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" | [[British Rail Class 379|379]]
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Tottenham Hale BR station 20161116 091106 (40816506833).jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="7" | [[Electric multiple unit|EMU]]
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 100<ref name=":2" />
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 160
|style="text-align:center;"| 30<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Mansfield |first=Ian |date=2025-02-26 |title=Govia Thameslink Railway brings 30 more trains into service through London |url=https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/govia-thameslink-railway-brings-30-more-trains-into-service-through-london-79396/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=ianVisits |language=en-US}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"| 4<ref name=":2" />
| Great Northern express services between [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]] & [[Ely railway station|Ely]] / [[King's Lynn railway station|King's Lynn]] / [[Peterborough railway station|Peterborough]] and Great Northern stopping services between [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]] & [[Letchworth Garden City railway station|Letchworth Garden City]] / [[Cambridge railway station|Cambridge]]
|style="text-align:center;"| 2025<ref name=":3" />
|-
| colspan="4" |[[File:GA Class 379 w-pantograph.png|676x676px]]
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Bombardier Electrostar]]
| rowspan="1" | [[British Rail Class 387|387/1]]
| rowspan="3" | [[File:387115_Shepreth_Branch_Junc_210619.jpg|150x150px]]
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| 110<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-20 |title=SOLIDARITY IN ADVERSITY |url=https://www.modernrailways.com/article/solidarity-adversity |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.modernrailways.com |language=en}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| 177
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | 12<ref name=":3" />
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 4<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=First Class 387-1 enters service on Great Northern |url=https://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rolling-stock/first-class-387-1-enters-service-on-great-northern |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.railtechnologymagazine.com}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" | Great Northern express services between [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]] & [[Ely railway station|Ely]] / [[King's Lynn railway station|King's Lynn]] / [[Peterborough railway station|Peterborough]] and Great Northern stopping services between [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]] & [[Letchworth Garden City railway station|Letchworth Garden City]] / [[Cambridge railway station|Cambridge]]
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 2016<ref name=":4" />
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[British Rail Class 387|387/3]]
|-
| colspan="4" | [[File:Great_Northern_Class_387-1.png|alt=|676x676px]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Siemens Desiro]]<ref name="Rail7172">{{cite magazine |last=Clinnick |first=Richard |title=New Govia Thameslink Railway trains to be Class 717s |url=http://www.railmagazine.com/news/fleet/2016/06/08/new-govia-thameslink-railway-trains-to-be-class-717s |access-date=9 June 2016 |magazine=Rail}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" | [[British Rail Class 717|717 ''Desiro City'']]
| rowspan="2" | [[File:717009_OKL.jpg|150x150px]]
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 85<ref name="datasheet">{{cite book |url=https://assets.new.siemens.com/siemens/assets/public.1536773109.f3fefc372beb2112fe20b2704888468d2157dc27.db-desiro-city-moorgate-en.pdf |title=Desiro City Class 717 Electrical Multiple Units for Govia Thameslink Railway |publisher=Siemens Mobility |edition=2018 |location=München |id=Art. No. MOML-T10055-00-7600 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130171124/https://assets.new.siemens.com/siemens/assets/public.1536773109.f3fefc372beb2112fe20b2704888468d2157dc27.db-desiro-city-moorgate-en.pdf |archive-date=30 November 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 137
|style="text-align:center;"| 25<ref name="Rail7172" />
|style="text-align:center;"| 6<ref name="Rail7172" />
| [[Northern City Line]] services between [[Moorgate station|Moorgate]] & [[Welwyn Garden City railway station|Welwyn Garden City]] / [[Stevenage railway station|Stevenage]] via [[Hertford North railway station|Hertford North]]
|style="text-align:center;"| 2018<ref name="Rail7172" /><ref name="datasheet2">{{cite book |url=https://assets.new.siemens.com/siemens/assets/public.1536773109.f3fefc372beb2112fe20b2704888468d2157dc27.db-desiro-city-moorgate-en.pdf |title=Desiro City Class 717 Electrical Multiple Units for Govia Thameslink Railway |publisher=Siemens Mobility |edition=2018 |location=München |id=Art. No. MOML-T10055-00-7600 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130171124/https://assets.new.siemens.com/siemens/assets/public.1536773109.f3fefc372beb2112fe20b2704888468d2157dc27.db-desiro-city-moorgate-en.pdf |archive-date=30 November 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="4" | [[File:Great_Northern_Class_717.png|676x676px]]
|}

===Past fleet===
{{No references|section|date=June 2025}}
Trains formerly used on the Great Northern Route include, but are not limited to, the following:<!-- 64? Class 313s were originally introduced, and there's the Class 312 to also consider even if one limits the extent to post-electrification. -->

{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Family
! rowspan="2" |Class
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Type
! colspan="2" |Top speed
! rowspan="2" |Cars
! rowspan="2" |Number
! rowspan="2" |Routes operated
! rowspan="2" |Built
! rowspan="2" |Withdrawn
! rowspan="2" |Notes
|- bgcolor="#f9f9f9"
!mph
!km/h
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[British Rail Classes 445 and 446|BREL 1972]]
| rowspan="2" |[[British Rail Class 313|313]]
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[File:313057 AAP.jpg|120x120px]]
| rowspan="10" align="center" |[[Electric multiple unit|EMU]]
| align="center" |75
| align="center" |120
| align="center" |3
| align="center" |44
|[[Northern City Line]]: Services between {{rws|London Moorgate}} and {{rws|Welwyn Garden City}} / {{rws|Hertford North}} / {{rws|Watton-at-Stone}}
| align="center" |{{nowrap|1976{{ndash}}1977}}
| align="center" |2019
|Replaced by Class 717
|-
| colspan="8" |[[File:313_First_Capital_Connect_and_Great_Northern.png|375px]]
|-
| rowspan="4" |BR Second Generation ([[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3]])
| rowspan="2" |[[British Rail Class 317|317]]
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[File:Stevenage railway station MMB 02 317345.jpg|120x120px]]
| align="center" |100
| align="center" |160
| align="center" |4
| align="center" |12
|Semi-Fast and Express services between {{rws|London King's Cross}} and {{rws|Peterborough}} / {{rws|Cambridge}}
| align="center" |1981{{ndash}}1982
| align="center" |2017
|Replaced by Class 387
|-
| colspan="8" |[[File:Class 317 Great Northern Diagram.png|500px]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[British Rail Class 321|321]]
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[File:Great Northern 321418, King's Cross (16475785242).jpg|120x120px]]
| align="center" |100
| align="center" |160
| align="center" |4
| align="center" |13
| Semi-Fast and Express services between London King's Cross and Peterborough / Cambridge
| align="center" |1989{{ndash}}1990
| align="center" |2016
|Replaced by Class 387
|-
| colspan="8" |[[File:Class 321 Great Northern .png|frameless|502x502px]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Networker (train)|Networker]]
| rowspan="2" |[[British Rail Class 365|365 ''Networker Express'']]
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Class_365_Networker_Express_in_Great_Northern_livery_by_Hugh_Llewelyn.jpg|120px]]
| align="center" |100
| align="center" |160
| align="center" |4
| align="center" |40
| Semi-fast services between London King's Cross and Ely / Peterborough
| align="center" |1994{{ndash}}1995
| align="center" |2021
|Replaced by Class 387
|-
| colspan="8" |[[File:Great Northern Class 365.png|500px]]
|-
|rowspan="2" |[[Bombardier Electrostar]]
|rowspan="2" |[[British Rail Class 387|387/2]]
| rowspan="2" |[[File:387204 Gatwick Airport.jpg|120x120px]]
| align="center" |110
| align="center" |177
| align="center" |4
| align="center" |8
|Semi-fast services between London King's Cross & Ely / Peterborough
| align="center" |2016{{ndash}}2017
| align="center" |2022
|Replaced by Class 387/3
|-
| colspan="8" |[[File:Gatwick Express Class 387-2.png|500px]]
|}

==Future developments==
===Cambridge South railway station===
[[File:Cambridge_South_rail_station_14_May.jpg|thumb|205x205px|[[Cambridge South railway station|Cambridge South]] under construction in 2024.]]
A station to the south of Cambridge was first proposed in 2017,<ref>{{cite web |date=16 January 2017 |title=Cambridge South Station – Project Update |url=https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/documents/s37387/Cambridge%20South%20Station.pdf |website=cambridge.gov.uk |publisher=Cambridge City Council}}</ref> and although its application to New Stations Fund 2 that year was unsuccessful,<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 August 2017 |title=Nineteen bids for New Stations Fund second round – Proposed Railway Schemes |url=http://trundleage.co.uk/2017/08/nineteen-bids-new-stations-fund-second-round/ |access-date=22 November 2017 |work=Proposed Railway Schemes |language=en-GB}}</ref> the [[November 2017 United Kingdom budget|November 2017 budget]] allocated it £5 million in funding.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chancellor accepts East West Rail targets and strengthens plans with extra cash |url=http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/chancellor-accepts-east-west-rail-targets-and-strengthens-plans-with-extra-cash |access-date=22 November 2017 |website=www.railtechnologymagazine.com}}</ref> The station, called [[Cambridge South railway station|Cambridge South]], is situated between [[Foxton railway station|Foxton]] and [[Cambridge railway station|Cambridge]] on the [[Cambridge line]], and will serve the [[Cambridge Biomedical Campus]] and the wider [[Trumpington]] area.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Findlay |first=Cait |date=2023-01-19 |title=First look as Cambridge South station work begins after approval |url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/first-look-cambridge-south-station-26009898 |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Cambridgeshire Live |language=en}}</ref> The station is set to open in early 2026, which is a delay from the originally proposed date of late 2025.<ref name="Middleton-2025">{{Cite web |last=Middleton |first=Siobhan |date=2025-02-24 |title=Cambridge South station opening pushed back |url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/cambridge-south-station-opening-pushed-31072972 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Cambridgeshire Live |language=en}}</ref> The station will be managed and served by [[Greater Anglia]] and [[East West Rail]],<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Cambridge South station |url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/anglia/improving-the-railway-in-anglia/cambridge-south-station/#:~:text=The%20station%20will%20be%20managed,future%20service%20provision%20and%20timetabling). |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Network Rail |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=The approach to Cambridge |url=https://eastwestrail.co.uk/consultationfeedbackreport/chapter-3-approach-to-cambridge |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=East West Rail |language=en-GB}}</ref> with no further confirmation as to whether Great Northern, Thameslink, or [[CrossCountry]] will also serve the station.<ref name=":12" />

=== East West Rail ===
The route of [[East West Rail]], the new railway linking the cities of [[Oxford]] and [[Cambridge]], will intersect with the East Coast Main Line at [[Tempsford]] in Bedfordshire, where [[Tempsford railway station|a new station]] will be built to serve both routes. This has led to worry from local residents, particularly due to a report by East West Rail that the population of the village could grow from 600 to 44,000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-30 |title=Big city fear for Tempsford villagers near East West Rail station |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clye401051go |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> As a result of extra funding in the [[October 2024 United Kingdom budget|2024 budget]], East West Rail will deliver the station five years earlier than planned, allowing passengers on the East Coast Main Line to access the station before it opens as part of the East West Rail route.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 January 2025 |title=New station to deliver benefits sooner along East West Rail route |url=https://eastwestrail.co.uk/news/latest-stories/new-station-to-deliver-benefits-sooner-along-east-west-rail-route |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=East West Rail |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Both [[Cambridge South railway station|Cambridge South]] and [[Cambridge railway station|Cambridge]] stations on the Cambridge line will also be served by [[East West Rail]], the {{rws|Bedford}}–Cambridge section of which is in detailed planning as of 2025.{{sfnp|East West Rail|2023|pp=104–105|ref=ewr}} The current plan for the route will include a [[Flying junction|grade-separated junction]] with the line at [[Hauxton]], between [[Foxton railway station|Foxton]] and [[Cambridge railway station|Cambridge]]. This will include improvements to Hauxton level crossing.{{sfnp|East West Rail|2023|pp=104–105|ref=ewr}} East West Rail confirmed in their 2021 consultation that the Cambridge line will remain double-tracked between this junction and Shepreth Junction, where the line will be [[Quadruple-track railway|quadrupled]] to run alongside the [[West Anglia Main Line]] as far as Cambridge.<ref name=":02" />

=== East Coast Digital Programme ===

==== On the East Coast Main Line ====
{{Excerpt|East Coast Main Line|East Coast Digital Programme}}

==== On the Northern City Line ====
{{Excerpt|Northern City Line|East Coast Digital Programme}}

==== On the Herford Loop Line ====
{{Excerpt|Hertford loop line|ERTMS trials on the Hertford loop line}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite magazine|title=Great Northern reliability|first=Brian|last=Perren|pages=24–27|issue=110|date=30 November – 13 December 1989|magazine=[[RAIL (magazine)|RAIL]]|publisher=EMAP National Publications|issn=0953-4563|oclc=49953699}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}

{{Current rail infrastructure projects in the United Kingdom}}
{{UK TOCs}}

[[Category:Transport in Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:Transport in Bedfordshire]]
[[Category:Transport in Cambridgeshire]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Cambridge]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)]]
[[Category:Great Northern route]]