Royston and Hitchin Railway
| Cambridge line | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Type | Heavy rail |
| System | National Rail |
| Status | Operational |
| Locale | East of England |
| Termini |
London King's Cross Cambridge |
| Stations | 7 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1851 |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Operator(s) | Great Northern |
| Rolling stock |
Class 313 Class 365 "Networker" Class 387 "Electrostar" |
| Technical | |
| Number of tracks | Double track throughout |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Loading gauge | W8 |
| Route availability | RA 7-9 |
| Electrification | 25 kV AC OHLE |
| Operating speed | 90 mph (140 km/h) maximum |
The Cambridge line runs from Cambridge junction on the East Coast Main Line to Shepreth Branch Junction on the West Anglia Main Line and forms part of the route between London King's Cross and East Anglia. The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 5, SRS 05.05 and is classified as a London and South East Commuter line.
Plans for a line between Hitchin and Royston were placed before Parliament in 1846 by the Royston and Hitchin Railway company. The line was initially planned to be a single track spur from Hitchin, but during debate in the Lords it was recommended that the line be two track in the view of its possible later use as part of a route from Cambridge to Bedford although this was later superseded by the Varsity line via Sandy. The line was opened in 1851 then extended to Cambridge although this was resisted by the company already operating a service from Liverpool Street via the West Anglia Main Line. The line was then leased by the Great Northern in 1850 and subsequently purchased in 1898 and through services run from London King's Cross to Cambridge.
As part of the Great Northern Route electrification by British Rail in the mid 1970s, the through service was severed by the need to change from the electrified service at Royston to a diesel train stopping at all stations to Cambridge. The extension of electrification through to Cambridge was completed in 1988 under Network SouthEast and the track improved to increase speed. Occasional services are run by 12 car trains allowing them to stop only at Royston & Letchworth Garden City where the platform is long enough to accommodate them. The platform extension at Letchworth Garden City was completed in December 2011. The Down platforms at Shepreth and Foxton are being extended in May 2017 to allow 8 car trains to stop without blocking the level crossings.
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