West Anglia Main Line

West Anglia Main Line
Greater Anglia 379021 at Bethnal Green in August 2012
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerNetwork Rail
Locale
Termini
Stations28
Service
TypeCommuter rail, Suburban rail
SystemNational Rail
Operator(s)
Rolling stock
Technical
Number of tracks2–4
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC OHLE
Operating speed80 mph (130 km/h) maximum
Route map

(Click to expand)

The West Anglia Main Line is one of the two main line railways that operate out of 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 Audley End (near Saffron Walden) to Cambridge, with branches between serving 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 Hitchin and 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.