The Anonymous Widower

Hertford North Station – 6th December 2023

I went to Hertford North station this morning and took these pictures.

Note.

1. Getting to Platform 1 is not easy.
2. There would appear to be no obvious place for a lift.
3. The traditional signals are still working.
4. There is a cafe/shop in the station.

With some sympathetic refurbishment, it could be an excellent station.

I have some thoughts.

Digital Signalling

The digital signalling is currently being rolled out on the Northern City Line.

• The Class 717 train seemed to be running faster than I can remember.
• Had Network Rail been weeding the signals, as there only seemed to be one between each pair of stations?
• Currently, Moorgate and Welwyn Garden City takes around 50-53 minutes.
• Currently, Moorgate and Stevenage takes around 66-67 minutes.
• The average speed between Moorgate and Stevenage is only about 32 mph, which is slow for an 85 mph train.

Could the digital signalling find more time between Hertford North and Stevenage reduce the journey time to something less than an hour?

Trains For Current Schedule

I estimate that the current off-peak schedule of two trains per hour (tph) needs nine trains.

So as there are extra trains in the peak, the fleet of twenty-five Class 717 trains should be enough to be able to run the extra peak trains.

Could Four Trains Per Hour Be Run On Both Routes?

Four tph on both routes, would need something like eighteen trains, which leaves seven spare trains.

December 6, 2023 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Class 717 Train, Digital Signalling, Hertford North Station, Moorgate Station, Northern City Line, Step-Free, Stevenage Station