West Anglia Main Line in the context of "Stansted Airport"

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⭐ Core Definition: West Anglia Main Line

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.

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In this Dossier

West Anglia Main Line in the context of Cambridge line

The Cambridge line is a railway line in the East of England; it connects the East Coast Main Line at Hitchin to the West Anglia Main Line at Cambridge. The line is owned by Network Rail and is 23 miles 15 chains (23.19 miles, 37.32 km) in length, serving nine stations. Train services are operated by Thameslink and Great Northern.

Originally opened in 1851, the Royston and Hitchin Railway built a route between Hitchin and Shepreth. There, it met the Shepreth Branch Railway, and the two were joined in 1862 to form the modern route. A station at Letchworth was added in 1905 in conjunction with its opening as the world's first garden city. However, the line fell into decline throughout the mid 1900s, and Harston station was closed as part of the Beeching Axe in 1963.

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West Anglia Main Line in the context of Stratford station

Stratford is a major multi-level interchange station serving the town of Stratford and the mixed-use development known as Stratford City, in the London Borough of Newham, East London for London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and Elizabeth line services. National Rail services also operate on the West Anglia Main Line and the Great Eastern Main Line, 4 miles 3 chains (6.5 km) from Liverpool Street.

It is the seventh busiest railway station in Britain, the second busiest station in London outside the London station group, and is the busiest station on the London Underground network outside London fare zone 1.

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West Anglia Main Line in the context of Hackney Downs railway station

Hackney Downs is a London Overground and National Rail station in Hackney Central and serves the old common land of Hackney Downs in Lower Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney, it is on the Lea Valley lines and West Anglia Main Line. It is 2 miles 78 chains (4.8 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street and has a direct passenger link to Hackney Central station, providing interchange with the North London line of the Overground network.

On the London Overground, Lea Valley Lines the station is between London Fields and either Clapton (on the Chingford branch) or Rectory Road (on the Cheshunt/Enfield Town branch). Main line trains, operated by Greater Anglia, call at Hackney Downs between Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale. Its three-letter station code is HAC and it is in London fare zone 2.

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West Anglia Main Line in the context of Cambridge railway station

Cambridge railway station is the principal station serving the city of Cambridge, in Cambridgeshire, England. Situated at the end of Station Road, it is 1 mile (1.6 km) south-east of the city centre. With over 10 million passengers passing through the station (2023–2024), it is both the busiest station in the East of England region and the thirteenth busiest outside of London.

The station serves as the northern terminus for both the West Anglia Main Line from London Liverpool Street, and of the Cambridge line from London Kings Cross. The station is also the southern terminus of three secondary routes: the Fen line to King's Lynn, the Breckland line to Norwich and the Ipswich–Ely line to Ipswich.

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West Anglia Main Line in the context of Harston railway station

Harston was a railway station on the Cambridge Line, which served the village of Harston in Cambridgeshire. The station opened on 1 April 1852, and closed on 17 June 1963. A small part of the former southbound platform remains in situ but otherwise all remains of the station have gone. However, the Cambridge Line, which formerly served the station, remains an increasingly busy commuter line connecting the East Coast Main Line to the West Anglia Main Line.

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