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Fen Line
First Capital Connect Class 365 Networker Express passing through Runcton Holme in 2012
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerNetwork Rail
LocaleEast of England
Termini
Stations8
Service
TypeHeavy rail
SystemNational Rail
Operator(s)
Rolling stock
Technical
Line length41 miles 47 chains (66.9 km)
Number of tracks1-2
CharacterSecondary\London & South-East[1]
Track gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV AC OHLE
Operating speed90 mph (145 km/h) maximum[2]
Route map

(Click to expand)

The Fen Line is a railway line in the east of England that links Cambridge in the south to King's Lynn in the north. The line runs through Cambridgeshire and Norfolk and the name of the line refers to the Fens which cover parts of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Lincolnshire. It is 41 miles 47 chains (66.9 km) in length and has eight stations.

The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 5 and comprises SRS 05.06 and part of 05.05. It is classified as a secondary line except between Cambridge and Ely where it is classified as a London and South East commuter line.[1]

History

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The line was completed in sections in the 1840s, and previously extended north to the seaside town of Hunstanton.

Services

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Great Northern

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Great Northern operate through services to London King's Cross (via the Cambridge line). These services operate non-stop between London and Cambridge for most of the day, as part of the half-hourly "Cambridge Express" service. One train an hour is extended beyond Cambridge to serve all stations to King's Lynn, whilst the alternative services run to Ely.

These services are mostly operated by Class 387 electric multiple units. Before May 2017, Class 365s were the principal units.

Three Class 365 EMUs received names associated with the line:

  • The Fenman (365518)[3] – previously a "named train" that used to operate on this line, consisting of locomotive-hauled InterCity (British Rail) trains;
  • Robert Stripe Passengers' Champion (365527)[4] was named on 10 March 2006, after the 21st Anniversary of the Fen Line Users Association;
  • Nelson's County (365531) had a special livery applied to the outside which shows various scenes of West Norfolk however this was removed when Great Northern took over First Capital Connect.

Greater Anglia

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Greater Anglia regularly runs services between Stansted Airport and Norwich on an hourly basis via the Breckland line, running non-stop between Ely and Cambridge North. Class 755 units are used for this service.

Until the timetable change in May 2023, Greater Anglia ran a few direct services between London Liverpool Street and King's Lynn or Ely (via the West Anglia Main Line). These services operated only during the morning and evening peaks. After the alterations, these services only run to and from Ely, and King's Lynn no longer has any direct services to London Liverpool Street.[5]

CrossCountry

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The section between Cambridge and Ely is also used non-stop by CrossCountry services from Stansted Airport (and onward to Birmingham New Street via Peterborough and Leicester). Class 170 units are used for this service.

Signalling

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The line is double tracked except between Littleport and Downham Market and between Watlington and King's Lynn where it is bi-directionally signalled single track. In the Down direction, the entrance to the single line sections is protected additionally by SPAD indicators.

Signal boxes controlling the line are;

  • Cambridge power box
  • Littleport
  • Downham Market
  • Magdalen Road (Watlington)
  • King's Lynn

The signalling system is Track circuit block with multiple aspect colour light signals- with the exception of:

In 2020, the Department of Transport announced funding to renew the signalling on the Fen Line to ETCS cab signalling.[7]

Infrastructure

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Traction current for electric trains is provided by 25 kV AC OHLE controlled by Romford Electrical Control Room.[8] There are Neutral Sections at Shepreth Branch junction, Milton Fen and just north of Littleport bypass. The line has a loading gauge of W8 except for the section connecting the Ipswich–Ely line to the Ely–Peterborough line, which is W10.[1]

Passenger volume

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These are the statistics of the numbers of passengers on the line from the year beginning April 2002 to the year beginning April 2017. Comparing each station between the first and last years (14 years total), King's Lynn has increased by 68%, Watlington by 133%, Downham Market by 111%, Littleport by 157%, Ely by 113%, Waterbeach by 149% and Cambridge by 109%.[9] Cambridge North was not open at the time of the publication of these figures.

Station usage
Station name 2002–03 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23
King's Lynn 593,675 641,668 622,034 656,624 680,230 739,282 750,738 821,772 869,006 879,836 913,460 970,890 973,660 998,316 998,498[10] 991,252 931,394 240,162 683,706 757,034
Watlington 64,091 85,231 85,423 91,250 100,665 111,612 107,956 113,898 129,146 137,874 131,742 143,904 148,928 144,114 146,014[10] 153,782 138,366 39,078 105,886 107,724
Downham Market 248,368 277,744 276,900 307,013 361,433 365,612 360,032 406,690 432,014 452,674 460,060 491,744 500,442 523,846 533,426[10] 549,562 512,772 129,058 341,550 386,270
Littleport 94,363 119,198 122,655 146,218 148,836 156,124 149,428 178,254 199,804 206,596 225,024 238,062 229,628 242,814 248,786[10] 248,808 238,488 60,976 153,660 186,752
Ely 1,038,708 1,255,362 1,278,724 1,420,734 1,505,730 1,583,246 1,579,948 1,731,956 1,824,036 1,878,426 1,976,150 2,068,240 2,131,818 2,209,350 2,281,710[10] 2,386,744 2,363,818 577,460 1,634,548 1,894,014
Waterbeach 176,639 197,863 213,500 227,281 250,039 277,470 266,020 301,376 312,216 335,660 344,726 381,202 420,730 440,142 430,050[10] 407,650 377,660 100,176 265,180 309,130
Cambridge North — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 488,878[10] 812,972 949,550 220,958 733,612 1,074,602
Cambridge 5,478,112 6,060,475 6,137,423 6,522,309 6,997,887 7,571,838 7,661,146 8,245,416 8,823,236 9,168,938 9,824,910 10,420,178 10,954,212 11,424,902 11,530,238[10] 11,983,320 11,599,814 2,300,528 6,952,780 9,341,600
The annual passenger usage is based on sales of tickets in stated financial years from Office of Rail and Road estimates of station usage. The statistics are for passengers arriving and departing from each station and cover twelve-month periods that start in April. Methodology may vary year on year. Usage from the periods 2019-20 and especially 2020-21 onwards have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Route 5 – West Anglia" (PDF). Network Rail. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  2. ^ Network Rail (August 2006). East Anglia Route Sectional Appendix. Vol. Module EA. p. 109 LOR EA1162 Seq007. NR30018/02.
  3. ^ The Fenman EXTRA
    Newsletter of the Fen Line Users Association     (PDF). Fen Line Users Association. November 2006. p. 1. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011.
  4. ^ The Fenman EXTRA
    Newsletter of the Fen Line Users Association     (PDF). Fen Line Users Association. February 2007. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 May 2011.
  5. ^ "Extra trains to run from King's Lynn into London King's Cross in timetable update". Lynn News. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  6. ^ Network Rail (August 2006). East Anglia Route Sectional Appendix. Vol. Module EA. p. 110 LOR EA1270 Seq001. NR30018/02.
  7. ^ "New rail tech roll-out set to bring more reliable journeys and boost jobs". GOV.UK. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  8. ^ Network Rail (August 2006). East Anglia Route Sectional Appendix. Vol. Module EA. p. 110 LOR EA1161 Seq008. NR30018/02.
  9. ^ "Station Usage". Rail Statistics. Office of Rail Regulation. Archived from the original on 5 July 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h "Station usage, April 2017 to March 2018 data". Rail Statistics. Office of Rail Regulation. Retrieved 2 September 2015.

Further reading

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  • Perren, Brian (19 October – 1 November 1989). "Electrification to King's Lynn". RAIL. No. 107. EMAP National Publications. pp. 40–43. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
  • Adderson & Kenworthy (December 2008). Eastern Main Lines – Ely to King's Lynn. Middleton Press. ISBN 9781901706536.
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Media related to Fen Line at Wikimedia Commons

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