Hertford Loop Line
Overview
Type	Heavy rail
Locale	Greater London Hertfordshire
Operation
Opened	1871—1924
Owner	Network Rail
Operator(s)	First Capital Connect
Rolling stock	British Rail Class 313 British Rail Class 317 British Rail Class 365
Technical
Line length	~24 mi (39 km)
Track gauge	Standard gauge
Electrification	25 kV AC OHLE

v • d • e Hertford Loop Line
Legend Stevenage and East Coast Main Line Watton-at-Stone Great Mole Wood Tunnel Hertford East Branch Line Hertford North Bayford Ponsbourne Tunnel Cuffley M25 motorway Crews Hill Gordon Hill Enfield Chase Grange Park Winchmore Hill Palmers Green North Circular Road Bowes Park Bounds Green TMD and former Palace Gates Line Alexandra Palace and East Coast Main Line

The Hertford Loop Line is a branch of the East Coast Main Line, providing a commuter route to London for Hertford and other Hertfordshire towns. The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 8 , SRS 08.03 and is classified as a London and South East Commuter line.^[1]

Contents 1 Operations 2 Infrastructure 3 History 4 Route and settlements served 5 References

[edit] Operations

First Capital Connect operates suburban services along the Hertford Loop Line between London King's Cross or Moorgate, and Letchworth, Stevenage or Hertford North. Occasionally, National Express East Coast, First Hull Trains, Grand Central and other faster First Capital Connect services operate non-stop along the route when diverted off the main section of the East Coast Main Line, due to engineering work. There is a siding to the north of Bowes Park which is occasionally used to turn around National Express East Coast trains heading for the Bounds Green Depot. There are also terminal platforms at Hertford North and Gordon Hill, the latter acting as a terminus during peak hours only.

[edit] Infrastructure

The line is about 24 miles long, is double track throughout and is electrified at 25 kV AC using overhead line equipment. It has a loading gauge of W9 and a line speed of 75 mph.^[1]

Grade-separated junctions connect each end of the northbound track with the main line. All stations are long enough to accept two, 3 car (20m) EMU's.

[edit] History

The line was opened in three stages between 1871 and 1924.

[edit] Route and settlements served

The Hertford Loop Line leaves the East Coast Main Line just south of Stevenage.

• Watton-at-Stone, serving the village of Watton-at-Stone
• Hertford North, serving the town of Hertford
• Bayford, serving the villages of Bayford and Brickendon
• Cuffley, serving the villages of Cuffley, Northaw and Goffs Oak
• Crews Hill, serving the village of Crews Hill
• Gordon Hill, serving the northern area of Enfield and Forty Hill
• Enfield Chase, serving Enfield Town
• Grange Park, serving Grange Park
• Winchmore Hill, serving Winchmore Hill
• Palmers Green, serving Palmers Green
• Bowes Park, serving Bowes Park and Wood Green

It rejoins the East Coast Main Line north of Alexandra Palace railway station.

[edit] References

Hornby, Frank (1995) London Commuter Lines. Volume 1: Main lines north of the Thames. Kettering: Silver Link Publishing Ltd.

v • d • e Railway lines in the East of England Primary High Speed 1 · East Coast Main Line · Great Eastern Main Line · Midland Main Line Secondary Hertford Loop Line · Lea Valley Lines · London to Aylesbury Line · London, Tilbury and Southend Line · Thameslink · Watford DC Line · West Anglia Main Line Local Abbey Line · Birmingham to Peterborough Line · Bittern Line · Braintree Branch Line · Breckland Line · Colchester to Clacton Line · Crouch Valley Line · East Suffolk Line · Ely to Peterborough Line · Felixstowe Branch Line · Fen Line · Gainsborough Line · Hertford East Branch Line · Hitchin–Cambridge Line · Ipswich to Ely Line · Marston Vale Line · Mayflower Line · Peterborough to Lincoln Line · Shenfield to Southend Line · Sunshine Coast Line · Wherry Lines

v • d • e Railway lines in London Primary High Speed 1 · East Coast Main Line · Great Eastern Main Line · Great Western Main Line · Midland Main Line · West Coast Main Line Secondary Bexleyheath Line · Brighton Main Line · Caterham Line · Chatham Main Line · Dartford Loop Line · Epsom Downs Branch · Hertford Loop Line · Lea Valley Lines · London to Aylesbury Line · London, Tilbury and Southend Line · North Kent Line · Oxted Line · Shepperton Branch Line · South Eastern Main Line · South Western Main Line · Sutton & Mole Valley Lines · Tattenham Corner Line · Thameslink · Watford DC Line · Waterloo to Reading Line · West Anglia Main Line Local Bromley North Line · Catford Loop Line · Chessington Branch Line · Chingford Branch Line · Gospel Oak to Barking Line · Greenford Branch Line · Greenwich Line · Nunhead to Lewisham Link · Hayes Line · Hounslow Loop Line · Mid-Kent Line · North London Line · Northern City Line · Romford to Upminster Line · South London Line · West London Line