The Anonymous Widower

How Will Greater Anglia/London Overground Use The Third Track On The West Anglia Main Line?

This morning as I often do, I took the 11:00 train between Stratford and Enfield Lock stations.

I like to have a look at progress on STAR, which involves the following.

• A five and a half kilometre third track to the East of the current two tracks of the West Anglia Main Line between Lea Bridge and Angel Road stations.
• A third platform and station improvements at Tottenham Hale station.
• A third platform, removal of a level crossing and complete rebuilding of Northumberland Park station.
• Building of a completely new three-platform station at Meridian Water to replace the current inadequate Angel Road station.

This Google Map shows the location of Meridian Water station with respect to Tesco Extra and IKEA in Glover Drive.

You can just see the concrete foundations of the station and its platforms alongside the West Anglia Main Line to the West of the Tesco Extra.

In Meridian Water Station – 14th June 2018, I show pictures of the station just over two months ago.

There has been steady and worthwhile progess since.

• Meridian Water station now has platforms under construction.
• Northumberland Park station looks like it could be ready before Spurs’ new stadium.
• The lift towers for the footbridge at Tottenham Hale station are being erected.
• I estimate about seventy percent of the third track has been laid.
• All the electrification gantries seem to have been erected and there are even some overhead wires.

The target for finishing the works is said to be May 2019 and I suspect that is achievable.

Use Of The Third Track

It certainly looks like the third track will be ready, so how will it be used?

The Northern End

At the Northern end, the third track appears to finish in a bay platform at Meridian Water station.

Once Angel Road station is closed and reduced to rubble, there would be plenty of space to add a junction, so that trains going South towards Stratford, could use the third track.

This would surely ease operation of the West Anglia Main Line.

Meridian Water Station

Meridian Water station appears to be being built as a three-platform station with provision for a fourth.

From various drawings and notes on the Internet it looks like there will be two platforms on the West Anglia Main Line and a separate bay or through platform to the East.

This map from carto.metro.free.fr shows the relationship of Angel oad and Meridian Water station.

The dotted line on the map is the third track.

I took these pictures from a slow train through the station.

It looks very much like a through platform is being created.

I feel that access to this platform will be in two ways.

• From the North via a junction with the Southbound track of the West Anglia Main Line. This junction could be to the North the current Angel Road station.
• From the South using the new third track.

This would mean that no trains will have to cross the West Anglia Main Line using a flat junction.

I don’t believe that trains can run bi-directionally on the third track, as there is not enough time in an hour for four trains to shuttle between Lea Bridge and Meridian Water.

So that means all services calling at Meridian Water will go further up the Lea Valley to turn back.

Using The Third Platform At Tottenham Hale Station

I think it is likely that the current two platforms will be used as follows.

• Platform 2 – Northbound trains
• Platform 1 – Southbound trains to Liverpool Street

It would be logical that the new third platform would handle Southbound trains to Stratford.

As Platform 1 and the new platform share an island, passengers will have a step-free cross-platform  interchange, if they need to go to the alternative destination.

The following journey times should be noted.

• Tottenham Hale to Stratford currently takes 14 minutes
• Tottenham Hale to Liverpool Street currently takes between 14 and 17 minutes
• Liverpool Street to Stratford will take eight minutes on Crossrail

I suspect a lot of passengers will change to a direct train.

It could also mean that an ideal service would see the same frequency of trains at both platforms.

The Southern End

At the Southern end, the third track joins the West Anglia Main Line going towards Stratford, but there is also a crossover to allow trains coming from Stratford to use the third track.

Is The Third Track Going To Be Bi-Directional?

Loops like this third track are often signalled to be bi-directional, to ease operation. But as I said earlier, I think the third track is too long to operate in that way all the time with passenger services.

What Will Be The Operating Speed Of The Third Track?

I have watched the third track being constructed and it is totally new.

• All bridges have been replaced with new structures.
• The track is fully electrified.
• There appear to be no junctions, except at the two ends.

Everything certainly looks professional to my untrained eye.

The operating speed will probably be determined by the time set for the driver to take the train between stations on the line.

But the track has surely been designed to minimise the time between Meridian Water and Stratford.

Could The Third Track Be Extended Northwards?

The length of the third track is 5.5 km.

Could the third track be extended to the North?

If Crossrail 2 is built, there will be a need to make the route four tracks.

• Two fast tracks for the expresses between London, Stansted and Cambridge.
• Two slow tracks for Crossrail 2 as far as the terninus at Broxbourne.

These are my observations

• Looking from both a train and on Google Map, it appears that it will be a tight fit to squeeze in two tracks.
• There is the serious problems of the two level crossings at Brimsdown and Enfield Lock stations.
• Waltham Cross station seems very tight too.

But I do think, that with a clever redesign at the three troublesome stations, that a third track, but not necessarily a fourth can be squeezed in  as far as North as Broxbourne, which would be another 11.2 miles.

Although in places, like these pictures taken just South of Tottenham Hale station show, there may be plenty of space for two tracks.

I suspect that to put in the fourth track will mean that the bridge at Ferry Lane will need to be rebuilt.

But it does appear that in building the third track, the builders are making sue there is space for a fourth track to be added in a few years.

Currently, How Many Calls Are There At Each Station?

These figures are calculated from the current timetable.

Lea Bridge

• Two trains per hour (tph) – Stratford to Bishop’s Stortford

Two tph stop in both platforms.

Tottenham Hale

• Two tph – Liverpool Street to Hertford East
• One tph – Liverpool Street to Cambridge
• One tph – Liverpool Street to Cambridge North
• Four tph – Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport
• Two tph – Stratford to Bishop’s Stortford

Ten tph stop in both platforms.

Northumberland Park

• Two tph – Stratford to Bishop’s Stortford

Two tph stop in both platforms.

In addition, eight tph pass through both platforms without stopping.

Meridian Water

• Two tph – Stratford to Bishop’s Stortford

Two tph stop in both platforms.

In addition, eight tph pass through both platforms without stopping.

Ponders End

• Two tph – Liverpool Street to Hertford East

Two tph stop in both platforms.

In addition, eight tph pass through both platforms without stopping.

Brimsdown

• Two tph – Liverpool Street to Hertford East

Two tph stop in both platforms.

In addition, eight tph pass through both platforms without stopping.

Enfield Lock

• Two tph – Liverpool Street to Hertford East
• One tph – Stratford to Bishop’s Stortford

Three tph stop in both platforms.

In addition, seven tph pass through both platforms without stopping.

Waltham Cross

• Two tph – Liverpool Street to Hertford East
• Two tph – Stratford to Bishop’s Stortford

Four tph stop in both platforms.

In addition, six tph pass through both platforms without stopping.

Cheshunt

• Two tph – Liverpool Street to Hertford East
• One tph – Liverpool Street to Cambridge
• One tph – Liverpool Street to Cambridge North
• Two tph – Stratford to Bishop’s Stortford

Six tph stop in both platforms.

In addition, four tph pass through both platforms without stopping.

Broxbourne

• Two tph – Liverpool Street to Hertford East
• One tph – Liverpool Street to Cambridge
• One tph – Liverpool Street to Cambridge North
• Two tph – Stratford to Bishop’s Stortford

Six tph stop in both platforms.

In addition, four tph pass through both platforms without stopping.

Harlow Town

• One tph – Liverpool Street to Cambridge
• One tph – Liverpool Street to Cambridge North
• Two tph – Liverpool Street to Stansted
• Two tph – Stratford to Bishop’s Stortford

Six tph stop in both platforms.

In addition, two tph pass through both platforms without stopping.

Bishop’s Stortford

• One tph – Liverpool Street to Cambridge
• One tph – Liverpool Street to Cambridge North
• Two tph – Liverpool Street to Stansted
• Two tph – Stratford to Bishop’s Stortford

Four tph stop in both platforms.

Two tph would terminate at the station.

In addition, two tph pass through both platforms without stopping.

A Summary Of Current Services

This is summary of stops at the selected stations.

• Lea Bridge – 2 tph
• Tottenham Hale – 10 tph
• Northumberland Park – 2 tph
• Meridian Water – 2 tph
• Ponders End – 2 tph
• Brimsdown – 2 tph
• Enfield Lock – 3 tph
• Waltham Cross – 4 tph
• Cheshunt – 6 tph
• Broxbourne – 6 tph
• Harlow Town – 6 tph
• Bishop’s Stortford – 6 tph

Note.

1. To say the least service is a bit patchy, with some stations getting a much better service than others.
2. London Overround, Merseyrail and others feel that a service of four tph is highly desirable and attracts passengers.

The service definitely needs improvement.

STAR Services

It is certainly intended that four tph, will be run between Stratford and Meridian Water stations calling at Lea Bridge, Tottenham Hale and Northumberland Park stations.

Current Services

Currently, this service is provided at a frequency of two tph by Greater Anglia, who extend the service to Bishop’s Strortford station.

There are various ways that this could be increased to four tph

Possible Northern Terminals

As I said earlier to avoid train-slowing flat junctions, STAR services must terminate North of Meridian Water station.

I think there are these possibilities.

• Bishop’s Stortford, which currently handles two tph in the bay platform 3.
• Broxbourne which is a large station with 8 platforms and has been earmarked as the terminal for Crossrail 2.
• Hertford East has platform space, but there may not be the capacity for the trains on the Hertford East Branch.

Passenger numbers will drive the choice, but I suspect all three terminals have their merits.

In the following sub-sections I’ll look at each terminus.

Two Extra Trains To Bishop’s Stortford

I will assume these services will call at the same stations as the current two trains.

This is summary of stops at the selected stations.

• Lea Bridge – 4 tph
• Tottenham Hale – 12 tph
• Northumberland Park – 4 tph
• Meridian Water – 4 tph
• Ponders End – 2 tph
• Brimsdown – 2 tph
• Enfield Lock – 4 tph
• Waltham Cross – 8 tph
• Cheshunt – 8 tph
• Broxbourne – 8 tph
• Harlow Town – 8 tph
• Bishop’s Stortford – 8 tph

Note.

1. Enfield Lock now has the preferred four tph.
2. Ponders End and Brimsdown probably need more services.
3. Are there too many services at Harlow Town and Bishop’s Stortford?

But generally, it is a better distribution than now!

Two Extra Trains To Broxbourne Or Hertford East

I will assume these services will call at the same stations as the current two trains, that run between Stratford and Bishop’s Stortford.

This is summary of stops at the selected stations, which will be the same for both destinations.

• Lea Bridge – 4 tph
• Tottenham Hale – 12 tph
• Northumberland Park – 4 tph
• Meridian Water – 4 tph
• Ponders End – 2 tph
• Brimsdown – 2 tph
• Enfield Lock – 4 tph
• Waltham Cross – 8 tph
• Cheshunt – 8 tph
• Broxbourne – 8 tph

Note.

1. Enfield Lock now has the preferred four tph.
2. Ponders End and Brimsdown probably need more services.
3. There will be no increase in frequencies North of Broxbourne.

Operational needs and passenger numbers will decide if these are better destinations.

Use Of The High Meads Loop At Stratford

The High Meads loop under the Eastfield Shopping Centre was designed to turn trains.

This map from carto.metro.free.fr shows the loop.

On the map it is the horeshoe-shaped double track shown in black.

• , It goes through Platforms 11 and 12 in Stratford station.
• Currently, Platform 11 is used exclusively as a terminal for the two tph between Stratford and Bishop’s Stortford.
• Currently, Platform 12 is not used and the track is used to take trains to and from the Orient Way sidings
• Both ends of the loop join together just to the South of the Orient Way sidings and Lea Bridge station.
• In the past it has been used to turn Stansted Expresses, which used Platform 12 according to the signs still in place.
• I believe it would be possible to build a platform on the loop to serve Stratford International station and the Northern part of the Olympic Park.

In my view it is wasted fully-working infrastructure.

The Wirral Line Loop Under Liverpool

The most important rail loop in the UK is the loop of the Wirral Line under Central Liverpool.

• The loop is single-track with three single-platform stations
• This loop handles fourteen tph.
• The loop is built for full-size trains.
• Trains take eight minutes to go round the loop from Liverpool James Street station and fourteen minutes from Birkenhead Hamilton Square station on the other side of the Mersey.

It was built in the early 1970s and I’m sure the designers of the High Meads Loop were influenced strongly by the track layout in Liverpool.

The Wirral Line Loop showcases the major examples of this type of track layout.

• The driver just keeps driving and doesn’t have to change ends.
• A single terminal platform can handle a maximum of perhaps 4-6 tph, whereas a single platform on a loop can handle at least 14 tph.
• Stations can be provided at several places on the loop, where they are needed.

A loop is a very fast and simple way to turn trains.

Time Saving At Stratford Using The High Meads Loop

The 06:34 from Bishop’s Stortford stops at Tottenham Hale at 07:29, Lea Bridge at 07:33 and Stratford at 07:43.

The train then forms the 08:04 from Stratford, which stops at Lea Bridge at 08:10, Tottenham Hale at 08:18 and terminates at Bishop’s Stortford at 09:02.

So the train has taken thirty-seven minutes between the two calls at Lea Bridge station on a modern double track railway.

If the train loaded and unloaded passengers at Platform 11 at Stratford, I suspect that this time could be reduced to under twenty minutes, if the train continued round the High Meads Loop.

Even if there was an extra station on the loop to serve Stratford International station and the Northern part of the Olympic Park, I suspect that a saving on twenty minutes could be made.

Greater Anglia would be a big beneficiary. Currently the train leaves Bishop’s Stortford at 06:34 and arrives back at 09:02, which means a total trip time of 148 minutes for an out-and-back journey with ten intermediate stops both ways.

With a bit of time saving and the new Class 720 trains, I suspect that with the turnround time at Bishop’s Stortford added in, that a train could do the full trip within two and a half hours.

This would mean that ten trains would be needed for a four tph service between Stratford and Bishop’s Stortford.

Take off the twenty minutes saved by the High Meads Loop and the minutes saved by the new trains and I believe that well-driven trains could do the full trip in two hours

This would mean that eight trains would be needed for a four tph service between Stratford and Bishop’s Stortford.

Stansted Airport To Stratford

How much time would be saved if Stansted Airport trains went to Stratford and used the High Meads Loop?

The fastest trains take forty-seven minutes between Liverpool Street and Stansted, with about fourteen minutes needed for the short stretch between Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale.

Using the High Meads Loop at Stratford would probably mean a similar journey time, as from Liverpool Street, but there would be other advantages, disadvantages and score draws.

• Both platforms used by Stansted Expresses would be step-free.
• Train tracks to Stratford are probably less likely to delay.
• Walking routes at Stratford might be shorter.
• Both Liverpool Street and Stratford will be served by Crossrail.
• Stratford could have links to Highspeed services to Kent.

Greater Anglia would be a big winner, as they would have a better train utilisation.

What Length Of Trains Could Use The High Meads Loop?

The only restriction will be the length of platforms at Stratford, Lea Bridge and Tottenham Hale.

Without getting my tape measure out, I suspect they are all capable of taking a twelve-car Class 317 train, which is around 240 metres long.

Ten-car versions of Greater Anglia’s new Class 720 trains are 243 metres long.

I would be very surprised if the platforms couldn’t accept these long trains.

What Would Be The Ultimate Capacity Of The High Meads Loop?

Consider.

• The Wirral Line Loop under Liverpool handles fourteen tph.
• More complicated tunnels under London like Crossrail, the East London Line and Thameslink are planned to handle 24 tph.
• Modern digital signalling will be applied in the next couple of decades to the West Anglia Main Line.

Consider.

• The Southbound third track and the route to Stratford from Lea Bridge can probably easily handle fifteen tph or a train every four minutes.
• Platform 11 at Stratford with perhaps some escalators, could probably handle fifteen or even twenty tph, as do stations like Canada Water and several stations on Thameslink and the Wirral Line.
• Northwards from Stratford, there is probably a total limit of twelve tph along the Lea Valley, that could be increased by removing level crossing and modern signalling.

I suspect that the ultimate capacity is way in excess of the number of services that need to be run from Stratford up the West Anglia Main Line.

Using The High Meads Loop To Take Pressure From Liverpool Street

Liverpool Street is crowded.

• Some platforms can’t accept full length trains.
• West Anglia services crawk between Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale at a speed of not much more than 40 mph at times.
• The two operators; London Overground and Greater Anglia want to add additional services to the station.
• c2c also want to serve the station, as they have capacity problems at Fenchurch Street.

However, future developments will make Stratford a viable alternative to Liverpool Street.

• Crossrail will provide a high-capacity service linking both stations to the Canary Wharf, Heathrow and the West End.
• Better access to the Central Line will happen.
• Stratford has access to the important Jubilee Line.
• Stratford will be able to take advantage of Docklands Light Railway developments.
• Tottenham Hale station will have better interchange to the Victoria Line.

So why not move some services from the West Anglia Main Line to the High Meads Loop?

What Services Could Be Transferred From Liverpool Street To The High Meads Loop?

At present, all stopping trains between London and Bishop’s Stortford, start from Stratford and I can see this continuing after the third track opens.

I could also see extra services on this route to deliver the promised four tph to Meridian Water and Nothumberland Park.

Four tph can probably use Platform 11 st Stratford, but looking at the smooth unhurried operation of the Wirral Line Loop at Liverpool, I suspect that the High Meads Loop will be used.

Looking at all the other services between Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale, only the two tph between Liverpool Street and Hertford East, stop at another station, which is South of Tottenham Hale.

So it would probably not be sensible to transfer theseHertford East services to the High Meads Loop, but it might be a good idea to add two tph all day between Stratford and Hertford East, to create a four tph service to Hertford East with two tph from both Southern terminals.

Some services between Liverpool Street and Cambridge and between Liverpool Street and Stansted might be augmented with more services or moving the services to the High Meads Loop at Stratford.

I would suggest that about half the services went to Liverpool Street and terminated as they do now and the rest used the High Meads Loop.

This would mean that those, who’d caught the wrong train or changed their destination, could just change at Tottenham Hale by walking across the island platform.

I was on a train going South to Liverpool Street recently, when I changed my mind and transferred to a Stratford train. As I inew a Stratford train was close behind, I only had to wait a few minutes.

Note that, if there are six trains on both branches, then the maximum wait would be ten minutes.

Examining A Possible Timetable

This is definitely my speculation, but I am trying to show what is possible!

I also very much believe that Network Rail, Greater Anglia and London Overground will come up with something much better.

A Few Rules

I am using these rules to guide me in my thinking.

1. All trains going to Stratford use the High Meads Loop and Platform 11 at Stratford.
2. No station gets an inferior service to that it gets at the present time.
3. All Southbound trains for Stratford use the new third track between Meridian Water and Lea Bridge Junction.

I think that this could be a good mix of services.

• One tph Liverpool Street to Cambridge
• One tph Liverpool Street to Cambridge North
• Two tph Liverpool Street to Hertford East
• Four tph Liverpool Street to Stansted
• Four tph Stratford to Bishop’s Stortford
• Two tph Stratford to Hertford East
• Two tph Stratford to Stansted

Note.

1. Greater Anglia have said they will run a Stratford to Stansted service from 2019.
2. The two extra Stratford to Bishop’s Stortford and Hertford East services will have similar calling patterns to the existing services.
3. Eight tph goes to and from both Liverpool Street and Stratford.
4. Currently, eight tph run between Tottenham Hale and Liverpool Street.
5. Based on the my observations of the relaxed operation of the Wirral Line Loop under Liverpool, I feel the capacity of the High Meads Loop could be as high as sixteen tph.
6. Calling patterns will be adjusted to improve frequencies at Ponders End and Brimsdown stations
7. The only other passenger trains on the route are two tph between Stansted Airport and Cambridge.

The number of trains running on each section of track would be as follows.

• Eight tph – Liverpool Street to Tottenham Hale
• Eight tph – Stratford to Tottenham Hale – Southbound trains use the third track where is has been added.
• Sixteen tph – Tottenham Hale to Broxbourne – Southbound trains use the third track where is has been added.
• Twelve tph – Broxbourne to Bishop’s Stortford
• Eight tph – Bishop’s Stortford to Stansted Airport
• Six tph – Stansted Airport to Cambridge

I’m not sure if this would be achievable, but there are several double-track main lines in the country, that handle at least sixteen tph.

Extra Services On The Lea Valley Routes Of The London Overground

The London Overground services from Liverpool Street to Cheshunt and Enfield Town have the following characteristics.

• A frequency of two tph.
• Extra peak hour services.
• Both services pass through Hackney Downs and Seven Sisters stations.

London Overgriound probably want to add two extra tph to both routes to increase the frequency to four tph. Unfortunately, the crowded lines South of Seven Sisters and a full Liverpool Street station, probably make this difficult.

Look at this map from carto.metro.free.fr, which shows the lines South of Tottenham Hale and Seven Sisters stations.

South Tottenham station is on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line, with the following connections.

• At the Western end of the station, the Seven Sisters Chord connects the station to the Lea Valley Line to Cheshunt and Enfield Town.
• At the Eastern end of the Tottenham South Curve connects the station to the line to the High Meads Loop at Stratford.

Would it be possible to run the extra two tph from both Cheshunt and Enfield Town to the High Meads Loop?

If it is possible, then the following frequencies will be achieved.

• Four tph between Cheshunt and Edmonton Green
• Four tph between Enfield Town and Edmonton Green
• Eight tph between Edmonton Green and Seven Sisters.
• Four tph between Seven Sisters and Stratford.

But more importantly, it will create more routes for East London’s Duckers-and-Divers to challenge the clock.

• Large parts of Enfield and Haringey now get a direct connection to Stratford.
• The new White Hart Lane station will have a direct connection to Stratford.
• Stratford to stations on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line is now just a step-free change at South Tottenham station.

I also wonder how many new sites for housing will become viable because of all the new transport links.

Future Developments

There are several developments planned or proposed, that will affect traffic on the West Anglia Main Line.

Track Improvements

The mainly two-track West Anglia Main Line has a maximum operating speed of 100 mph, but travelling the line over the last few days, at times we were only travelling at about 50 mph for long periods.

So I suspect that the average operating speed could be increased.

There are also several level crossings, including those at Brimsdown, Enfield Lock and Cheshunt on the busiest Southern section of the route..

Digital Signalling

Modern digital signalling on the West Anglia Main Line must allow more trains to be squeezed into the timetable.

New Trains

The current trains that work the West Anglia Main Line are Class 379 and Class 317 trains.

Both trains are 100 mph trains although the Class 317 trains are now nearly forty years old.

They are being replaced with Class 720 and Class 745 trains, which although they are also 100 mph trains, may offer advantages, because they are newer designs.

• Better acceleration and smoother regenerative braking.
• Easier passenger entry and exit.
• Shorter dwell times at stations.
• Better passenger comfort and facilities.

But crucially, they will be able to take advantage of the modern digital signalling.

I think it is very likely that the new trains will speed up services on the West Anglia Main Line.

I also think that the combination of digital signalling and new trains, that are capable of using it, will allow higher frequencies of trains to be run on the West Anglia Main Line.

A Possible Pattern Of West Anglia Line Services

Could we see the following in the future?

• London Overground services on the Lea Valley Lines use Liverpool Street, as they do now.
• Greater Anglia services on the West Anglia Main Line to Bishop’s Stortford, Cambridge, Hertford East and Stansted Airport are split between Liverpool Street and Stratford.
• Stratford services use the High Meads Loop and stop at either Platform 11 or 12 at Stratford.

It would certainly increase terminal capacity at the Southern end of the West Anglia Main Line and free up platform space in Liverpool Street.2 ru

.Conclusion

I wouldn’t be surprised to see the following.

• Twenty tph up and down the West Anglia Main Line.
• Direct services up the West Anglia Main Line to Norwich via Cambridge using bi-mode Class 755 trains.
• Extra services between Stratford and Cambridge, Hertford East and Stansted.
• Services are adjusted so that each station South of Broxbourne gets four tph or more.

Note that I haven’t mentioned adding a fourth track.

I believe that my calculations show it might not be needed to achieve the required intensive service on the West Anglia Main Line.

August 20, 2018 Posted by AnonW | Transport | Class 720 Train, Class 745 Train, High Meads Loop, Liverpool Street Station, Meridian Water Station, Stansted Airport, STAR, Stratford Station, Tottenham Hale Station, West Anglia Main Line, West Anglia Route Improvement | 6 Comments