Strategic Route 5 - West Anglia was the designation given by Network Rail, from 2004 to 2009, to a grouping of railway lines in the East of England that encompassed the West Anglia Main Line and its various branch lines. The route provided key services to Cambridge and Stansted Airport as well as supporting suburban services in North London and rural services in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.[1]

In 2010, Network Rail restructured its route categorisation. Routes 5 and 7 were merged into Strategic Route D: East Anglia.[2]


Strategic route sections

The Route was divided into a number of separate Strategic Route Sections (SRS's) that were defined based on route use, infrastructure and historical lines.

Route Strategic Route Sections (SRS) Corresponding historical lines (whole & partial)
Route 5 - West Anglia 05.01 - Bethnal Green – Stansted Airport Lea Valley Lines, West Anglia Main Line
05.02 - Hackney Downs – Cheshunt Lea Valley Lines
05.03 - Hertford East Branch Hertford East Branch Line
05.04 - Chingford Branch Lea Valley Lines
05.05 - Cambridge Lines Cambridge Line, West Anglia Main Line
05.06 - Ely – King's Lynn Fen Line
05.07 - Peterborough – Ely – Haughley Jn Ely to Peterborough Line, Ipswich to Ely Line
05.08 - Coldham Lane Jn – Chippenham Jn Ipswich to Ely Line
05.09 - Ely – Norwich Breckland Line
05.10 - Freight Lines freight only lines within area covered

Railway planning

As part of Network Rail's Strategic Business Plan a Route Plan for each route, including Route 5, was published annually. The Route 5 plans for 2008[3] and 2009[1] are made available online.

Together with Route 7 - Great Eastern and Route 6 - North London Line and Thameside, the route was included in the Greater Anglia Route Utilisation Strategy.[1]

Proposed developments

See also: West Anglia Main Line § Future developments

The Greater Anglia RUS includes a number of proposals for the future development of the route. In the medium term, 2009–14, this includes minor infrastructure works and additional rolling stock to allow main line peak-service trains to be extended to 12-car formation. A number of developments are also intended for the West Coast Main Line depending on the status of future development at Stansted Airport.[4] Enhancements to the power supply of the route are intended for completion by 2012 to interface with those carried out on Route 6 and Route 7.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Route 5 - West Anglia" (PDF). Network Rail. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  2. ^ "Route Plans archive". Network Rail. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Route 7 - Great Eastern 2008" (PDF). Network Rail. 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  4. ^ "Greater Anglia Route Utilisation Strategy" (PDF). Network Rail. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  5. ^ "Enhancements programme: statement of scope, outputs and milestones" (PDF). Network Rail. 31 March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
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