Instinct04
On Moderation
Can someone tell me why the XX:30 trains from Stratford to Bishops Stortford loop (to allow for Stansted Express trains to overtake) at Harlow Town instead of Broxbourne?
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Greater Anglia: potential timetable improvements, additional rolling stock & cascades?
- Thread starter Sam 76
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Possibly to do with P3 at Broxbourne being needed for Hertford services? Not sure why the Stortford can't use P4 though.
More likely to be about the need to accommodate the crossing move at Bishops Stortford, and the way the stops at Roydon and Harlow Mill fit in one service and not the other, but couldn't quite work it out. Is there also a freight path consideration?
Instinct04
On Moderation
I'm only asking as the xx:30 Stortford services currently only call have time to Waltham Cross, Cheshunt and Broxbourne before looping at Harlow Town (the Waltham X call will get moved to Roydon after the December 2025 timetable change)
I don't know if it can, but if this service was to loop at Broxbourne, then maybe it could pick up an extra call somewhere south of Cheshunt?
I don't know if it can, but if this service was to loop at Broxbourne, then maybe it could pick up an extra call somewhere south of Cheshunt?
Instinct04
On Moderation
I meant they only have time to call at Waltham cross, cheshunt and broxbourne before looping at HWN
dk1
Veteran Member
Drivers depot is at Stortford.
Bishops Stortford has platforms signalled for reversal and carriage sidings, Harlow Town has neither of these.
It has been that way since 1960 when Bishops Stortford was the limit of electrification.
Bishops Stortford (2.8m entries and exits) is also a much busier station than Harlow Town (1.8m).
Instinct04
On Moderation
Then you’d be leaving Harlow Mill and Sawbridgeworth with only 1tph
Instinct04
On Moderation
Originally when the Stratford service was first introduced it was hourly and ran all the way to Stansted, (wow)
It called at Tottenham Hale, Northumberland Park, Enfield Lock, Cheshunt and then all stations to Stansted. No lea bridge in those days.
Then at some point a second service was introduced, which was a faster variant of the above. Only new addition was the introduction of a Waltham Cross call. When lea bridge opened it was incorporated into both services.
The former service looped at Broxbourne, and the latter at Harlow Town (Still don't know why?)
To allow Stansted Express trains to overtake.
Instinct04
On Moderation
I mentioned in the above post that one of the services loops at Harlow instead, which is further away than Broxbourne.
This means it can’t have any more calls added to it.
Is this to allow for crossing moves at Bishops Stortford?
Instinct04
On Moderation
I’ve looked on RTT for the May 2026 timetable change, and it appears that Cheshunt loses 2tph GA services during the morning peaks. Quite interesting for a station that receives 2.5 million passengers a year.
The Hertford - Liverpool Street trains which stopped here now pick up Waltham Cross instead, and the 1HXX Cambridge - Liverpool Street trains all now run fast from Broxbourne to Tottenham Hale.
In the mornings also, many of these trains no longer call at Sawbridgeworth. Stansted trains pick up these calls as well.
Why has all this happened?
The Hertford - Liverpool Street trains which stopped here now pick up Waltham Cross instead, and the 1HXX Cambridge - Liverpool Street trains all now run fast from Broxbourne to Tottenham Hale.
In the mornings also, many of these trains no longer call at Sawbridgeworth. Stansted trains pick up these calls as well.
Why has all this happened?
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