View source for West Anglia Main Line

{{Short description|Mainline railway line in East Anglia, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name                            = West Anglia Main Line
| color                           = 
| logo                            = 
| logo_width                      = 
| image                           = 379 011 Bethnal Green(8091060727).jpg
| image_width                     = 300px
| caption                         = Greater Anglia 379021 at {{rws|Bethnal Green}} in August 2012
| type                            = [[Commuter rail]], [[Suburban rail]]
| system                          = [[National Rail]]
| status                          = Operational
| locale                          = {{unbulleted list|[[Greater London]]|[[East of England]]}}
| start                           = {{stn|Liverpool Street}}, London
| end                             = {{rws|Cambridge}}
| stations                        = 28
| routes                          = 
| daily_ridership                 = 
| open                            = 
| close                           = 
| owner                           = [[Network Rail]]
| operator                        = {{unbulleted list|[[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]]|([[Stansted Express]])|[[CrossCountry]]|[[London Overground]]}}
| character                       = 
| depot                           = 
| stock                           = {{unbulleted list|[[British Rail Class 170|Class 170 <i>Turbostar</i>]]|[[British Rail Class 710|Class 710 <i>Aventra</i>]]|[[British Rail Class 720|Class 720 <i>Aventra</i>]]|[[British Rail Class 745|Class 745 <i>FLIRT</i>]]|[[British Rail Class 755|Class 755 <i>FLIRT</i>]]}}
| linelength                      = 
| tracklength                     = 
| tracks                          = 2–4
| gauge                           = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}
| electrification                 = [[25 kV AC|25 kV 50 Hz AC]] [[OHLE]]
| speed                           = {{convert|85|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} maximum
| elevation                       = 
| map                             = [[File:West Anglia Main Line.png|300px]]<br>([[:commons:File:West Anglia Main Line.png|Click to expand]])
| map_state                       = uncollapsed
}}
{{West Anglia Main Line RDT|collapse=y}}
{{For|details on the routes in the London area|Lea Valley lines}}
The '''West Anglia Main Line''' is one of the two main line railways that operate out of {{stn|Liverpool Street}} (the other being the [[Great Eastern Main Line]] to [[Ipswich]] and [[Norwich]]). It runs generally north through [[Cheshunt]], [[Broxbourne]], [[Harlow]], [[Bishop's Stortford]] and {{rws|Audley End}} (near [[Saffron Walden]]) to [[Cambridge]], with branches between serving [[Stratford, London|Stratford]], [[Hertford]] and [[Stansted Airport]]. The line runs along the boundary between [[Hertfordshire]] and [[Essex]] for much of its length.

In the early years, the line was the main route from London to Cambridge. Following the opening of the [[Cambridge Line]] between {{stn|Hitchin}} and {{stn|Cambridge}}, the West Anglia Main Line is now primarily a commuter route for stations between Cambridge and London. It was an important goods route for many years as the southern end of a route from coalfields in [[Yorkshire]], and there are still [[freight trains]] which run occasionally to [[Harlow]] and [[Rye House Power Station]], along with a [[Network Rail]] base at [[Broxbourne]].

==History==
The first section was built for the [[Northern and Eastern Railway]] from [[Stratford station|Stratford]] to {{rws|Broxbourne}} and opened in 1840. It was extended northwards in stages, reaching [[Spellbrook]], {{convert|3|mi|0}} short of Bishops Stortford, in 1842. In 1843 the line reached {{rws|Bishops Stortford}}, and in the following year the Northern and Eastern Railway was leased by the [[Eastern Counties Railway]]. It was this railway company opened the section from Bishops Stortford to {{rws|Cambridge}} as part of its extension to {{rws|Ely}} and {{rws|Brandon}} in 1845.

By the 1860s the railways in East Anglia were in financial trouble, and most were leased to the Eastern Counties Railway. Although  they wished to amalgamate formally, they could not obtain government agreement for this until 1862, when the [[Great Eastern Railway]] (GER) was formed by amalgamation.<ref>{{cite book|last=Vaughan|first=Adrian|title=Railwaymen, Politics and Money|year=1997|publisher=John Murray|location=London|isbn=0-7195-5150-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/railwaymenpoliti0000vaug/page/134 134, 135]|url=https://archive.org/details/railwaymenpoliti0000vaug/page/134}}</ref>

The opening of the [[Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Railway]] in 1882 saw the Great Eastern open up a direct link with coal-producing areas in [[Nottinghamshire]] and [[South Yorkshire]] joining the line north of Cambridge at Chesterton Junction, generally routed to the large marshalling yards at [[Temple Mills]].

Following the grouping in 1923 the line became part of the [[London & North Eastern Railway]].

In 1948 following [[Transport Act 1947|nationalisation]] the line passed to [[Eastern Region of British Railways|British Railways Eastern Region]].

In 1952 the branch from Elsenham to Thaxted (known as the "Gin & Toffee Line") closed to passengers, and goods services were withdrawn a year later. The Saffron Walden line closed to passengers on 7 September 1964 and to freight three months later.

Electrification first came in the early 1960s under [[British Rail]] in sections. Electrification to Chingford included the Stratford – Lea Bridge – Hall Farm Junction section (although this was never completed), and the line from Liverpool Street to Broxbourne via Seven Sisters and the Southbury Loop was electrified. The route via Tottenham Hale was still operated by diesel traction, the [[British Rail Class 125]] 'Lea Valley' DMUs.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mitchell|first=Vic|title=Stratford – Cheshunt|date=January 2014|publisher=Middleton Press|location=Midhurst|isbn=978-1-908174-53-6|page=96|author2=Dave Brennand }}</ref>

The line from Clapton Junction (on the Chingford line) through [[Tottenham Hale station|Tottenham Hale]] to Cheshunt and from Broxbourne to Bishops Stortford was electrified on 9 March 1969<ref>{{cite book|last=Mitchell|first=Vic|title=Stratford – Cheshunt|date=January 2014|publisher=Middleton Press|location=Midhurst|isbn=978-1-908174-53-6|page=3|author2=Dave Brennand }}</ref>  and from there to Cambridge in 1987. Stratford to Coppermill Junction was electrified in 1989. The power supply is [[25 kV AC railway electrification|25 kV AC]] [[overhead line]].

In 1991, a [[Single-track railway|single-track]] [[branch line]] to Stansted Airport was opened, and services to London Liverpool Street commenced.

In early 2011, [[turnstile|ticket barriers]] were installed at {{rws|Bishop's Stortford}}, {{rws|Harlow Town}}, Broxbourne, Cheshunt and Hackney Downs, some of the busiest stations on the line, to reduce the need for ticket inspectors on the [[Stansted Express]] service and reduce fare evasion.

In May 2015, services from {{rws|Liverpool Street}} to {{rws|Chingford}}, {{rws|Enfield Town}} and {{rws|Cheshunt}} via {{rws|Seven Sisters}} transferred to [[London Overground]], along with a new station opening at {{rws|Lea Bridge}}. In August the same year, a direct [[covered walkway]] opened between {{rws|Hackney Downs}} and {{rws|Hackney Central}} on the [[North London Line]].

In September 2019, the ''Lea Valley Rail Project'' was completed between Lea Bridge, and the new station at {{rws|Meridian Water}}. This removed the level crossing at {{rws|Northumberland Park}}, and added a new third platform for both there and {{rws|Tottenham Hale}}, along with a third track.

As a result of the new {{brc|720|n}} and {{brc|745|n}}, platform extensions are necessary at many stations to allow for ten/twelve car trains to stop at stations respectively. However, the class 720 has [[selective door opening]], allowing for some platforms not having to be extended.

==Services==
Services from Liverpool Street to Cambridge, Hertford East and Stansted Airport are operated by [[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]].

Express services from Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport are operated by [[Stansted Express]], a sub-brand of Greater Anglia.

Services from Stansted Airport to Cambridge (and onward to {{rws|Birmingham New Street}} via {{rws|Peterborough}}) are operated by [[CrossCountry]].

The line is part of the [[Network Rail Route 5 (West Anglia)|Network Rail Strategic Route 5]], which comprises SRS 05.01 and part of 05.05. It is classified as a London and South East commuter line.<ref name=NRR5>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2009/Route%205%20-%20West%20Anglia.pdf
|title=Route 5 – West Anglia
|publisher=[[Network Rail]]
|access-date=2009-05-22}}</ref>

In London, the line forms the Tottenham Hale branch of the [[Lea Valley Lines]].

==Infrastructure==
The line was initially {{Track gauge|5ft|lk=on}} gauge, but between 5 September and 7 October 1844 it was converted to {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}.

Currently, the line has double track for most of its length, with two exceptions at Stansted Airport Tunnel and at {{rws|Ware}}. There is also a short section of quadruple track between {{rws|Hackney Downs}} and {{rws|Bethnal Green}}, from which the West Anglia Main Line runs alongside the [[Great Eastern Main Line]] to {{rws|London Liverpool Street}} as two of six tracks into the terminus. The line is [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrified]] at [[25 kV AC]] and has a [[Loading gauge#Great Britain|loading gauge]] of W8 except for the Stansted branch, which is W6.<ref name=NRR5/>

Line-side train monitoring equipment includes hot axle box detectors (HABD) on the up main south of Newport (39 miles 48 chains from Liverpool Street) and on the down main north of Shepreth Branch Junction (53 miles 10 chains). There are no wheel impact load detectors (WILD) ‘Wheelchex’ on the line.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/misc/habdwild.shtm|title=Railway Codes: HABD and WILD devices}}</ref>

=== Tunnels and viaducts ===
Major civil engineering structures on the West Anglia Main Line include the following.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Railway Track Diagrams Book 2: Eastern|last=Brailsford|first=Martyn|publisher=Trackmps|year=2016|isbn=978-0-9549866-8-1|location=Frome|pages=2, 10, 11}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Tunnels and viaducts on the West Anglia Main Line
!Railway structure
!Length
!Distance from [[Liverpool Street station|London Liverpool Street]]
![[Engineer's Line Reference|ELR]]
!Location
|-
|Littlebury Tunnel
|407 yards (372 metres)
|43 [[mile]]s 46 [[Chain (unit)|chains]] – 43 miles   27 chains
| rowspan="4" |BGK
| rowspan="2" |Between [[Great Chesterford railway station|Great Chesterford]] and Audley End stations
|-
|Audley End Tunnel
|456 yards (417 metres)
|43 miles 11 chains – 42 miles 70 chains
|-
|Audley End Viaduct
|
|41 miles 43 chains
|South of [[Audley End railway station|Audley End station]]
|-
|Newport Viaduct
|
|40 miles 36 chains
|North of Newport station
|-
|Stansted Airport Tunnel
|1 mile 184 yards (1778 metres)
|36 miles 23 chains – 35 miles 15 chains
|TLA
|[[Stansted Airport railway station|Stansted Airport]] branch
|-
|Long Bridge Viaduct (River Stort)
|
|19 miles 16 chains (via Clapton)
|BGK
|South of Roydon station
|-
|Hoe Street Tunnel
|71 yards (65 metres)
|6 miles 52 chains – 6 miles 49 chains
|CJC
|Chingford branch, between Wood Street and Walthamstow Central  stations
|-
|Clapton arches (River Lea)
|6 chains (c. 120 metres)
|4 miles 35 chains – 4 miles 29 chains
| rowspan="3" |BGK
|Clapton line, north of [[Clapton railway station|Clapton station]]
|-
|Clapton Tunnel
|284 yards (260 metres)
|3 miles 66 chains – 3 miles 53 chains
| rowspan="2" |Clapton line, between Clapton and [[Hackney Downs railway station|Hackney Downs stations]]
|-
|Hackney Downs or Queens Road Tunnel
|445 yards (407 metres)
|3 miles 39 chains – 3 miles 19 chains
|-
|Theobalds Grove arches
|10 chains (c. 200 metres)
|13 miles 51 chains – 13 miles 41 chains
| rowspan="3" |HDT
|Stoke Newington line, [[Theobalds Grove railway station|Theobalds Grove station]]
|-
|White Hart Lane arches
|10 chains (c. 200 metres)
|7 miles 03 chains – 6 miles 73 chains
|Stoke Newington line, south of [[White Hart Lane railway station|White Hart Lane station]]
|-
|Stoke Newington Tunnel
|60 yards (55 metres)
|4 miles 22 chains – 4 miles 19 chains
|Stoke Newington line, north of [[Stoke Newington railway station|Stoke Newington station]]
|-
|Bethnal Green – Hackney viaducts
|c. 2.5 miles (3900 metres)
|3 miles 43 chains – 1 miles 10 chains
|BGK
|
|-
|Bishopsgate Tunnel
|627 yards (573 metres)
|0 miles 56 chains – 0 miles 27 chains
|LTN
|
|}

==Locomotives and rolling stock==
{{More citations needed|section|date=December 2022}}
Throughout the steam era trains were predominantly hauled by Great Eastern Railway (or its constituent companies') locomotives: when steam ended in East Anglia in the 1960s some of these locomotives were still operated – see [[Stratford TMD]] and [[Great Eastern Railway]]. After the grouping of 1923 LNER-designed locomotives were used with the B17 4-6-0 class working many main line services. Following nationalisation in 1948 British Railways introduced the Britannia 4-6-2 class on some main line services until succeeded by diesels in the late 1950s.

East Anglia was the first area to be worked completely by diesel trains with [[British Rail Class 31|Class 31]]s taking over some express workings.  These were succeeded by more powerful [[British Rail Class 37|Class 37]] and [[British Rail Class 47|Class 47]] until full electrification to King's Lynn in the 1980s when [[British Rail Class 86|Class 86]] locomotives took over.

Suburban services from about 1958 were operated by [[British Rail Class 125|Class 125]] DMUs, and following the 1969 electrification [[British Rail Class 305|Class 305]] and [[British Rail Class 308|Class 308]] units. Other units from the GE section such as [[British Rail Class 302|Class 302]] and [[British Rail Class 306|306]] also operated services during this period,<ref>{{cite book|last=Mitchell|first=Vic|title=Stratford – Cheshunt|date=January 2014|publisher=Middleton Press|location=Midhurst|isbn=978-1-908174-53-6|pages=106, 110, 120|author2=Dave Brennand }}</ref> with [[British Rail Class 310|Class 310s]] temporarily operating once electrification to Cambridge was complete. These [[List of British Rail electric multiple unit classes#First generation|first-generation units]] were replaced soon after by [[British Rail Class 315|Class 315]] and [[British Rail Class 317|Class 317]] [[Electric Multiple Units|units]].

In 2011, new Bombardier [[British Rail Class 379|Class 379]]s began operation mainly to replace class 317 from [[Stansted Express]] duties to mainline services (which in-turn relocated class 315s to inner suburban routes). [[British Rail Class 170|Class 170]] [[Diesel multiple unit|DMU]]s operate from [[Stansted Airport]] north through Cambridge to Birmingham on [[CrossCountry]] services.

In 2020, new [[British Rail Class 745|Class 745s]] were introduced on [[Stansted Express]] services, cascading the Class 379s to other WAML services. The delayed [[British Rail Class 720|Class 720s]] began to replace both class 317s & class 379s on the route on 25 August 2021,<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Aug 2021 |title=More passengers in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire enjoy new trains |url=https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/news-desk/news-articles/more-passengers-in-cambridgeshire-and-hertfordshire-enjoy-new |access-date=6 January 2024 |website=Greater Anglia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 Aug 2021 |title=Greater Anglia: Passengers welcome brand-new electric commuter trains |url=https://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/articles/greater-anglia-passengers-welcome-brand-new-electric-commuter-trains |access-date=6 January 2024 |website=Rail Technology Magazine}}</ref> with full fleet replacement on this route completed in August 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New trains now operating all Greater Anglia's West Anglia services |url=https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/news-desk/news-articles/new-trains-now-operating-all-greater-anglias-west-anglia-services |access-date=6 January 2024 |website=Greater Anglia}}</ref>

==Future developments==

It seems likely that two tracks will be built alongside the line to [[Cheshunt railway station|Cheshunt]] as part of [[Crossrail 2]]. Intermediate stations from [[Tottenham Hale railway station|Tottenham Hale]] will transfer to Crossrail 2 releasing capacity on the mainline for additional trains.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonreconnections.com/2013/the-transport-committee-crossrail-and-the-overground-talk-shop|title=The Transport Committee: Crossrail and the Overground Talk Shop|date=7 March 2013|publisher=London Reconnections|access-date=2014-01-18}}</ref> In August 2019, it was announced that funding had been approved for four-tracking and related platform construction work between Tottenham Hale and Meridian Water to enable up to 8 trains per hour to make local stops in this section at peak times.<ref>[https://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/17846218.enfield-regeneration-scheme-gets-156m-funding-boost/ Enfield regeneration scheme gets £156m funding boost] Enfield Independent: 19 August 2019</ref> 

[[East West Rail]] are also proposing to add 2 additional tracks next to the West Anglia Main Line between the [[Royston and Hitchin Railway|Shepreth Branch Junction]] and Cambridge.<ref>{{Cite web |title=East West Rail {{!}} Your Area {{!}} Cambridge |url=https://eastwestrail.co.uk/your-area/cambridge |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=East West Rail |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Railway lines in London}}
{{Railway lines in the East of England}}

{{Airport rail links in the United Kingdom}}

[[Category:Rail transport in Cambridgeshire]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Essex]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:Railway lines in London]]
[[Category:Railway lines in the East of England]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in England]]
[[Category:5 ft gauge railways in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Cambridge]]