GREATER Anglia is confirming timetable changes taking place this December. The primary changes are revised train times on the West Anglia route and extra Sunday services for West Runton on the Norwich to Sheringham line. Some services on the Great Eastern Main Line and between Southend Victoria and London will also see their capacity increased from five to ten carriages in line with the continued rise in passenger numbers.

Rail passengers travelling on Greater Anglia’s West Anglia route are advised to check before they travel, as a new timetable will come into effect from Sunday 14 December, including significant updates to the West Anglia peak time timetable.

The changes are focused on improving performance, connectivity, and capacity across the Cambridge, Ely, Stansted Airport, Hertford East, and Stratford routes.

As part of the alterations, most Greater Anglia services on the West Anglia route will depart 2–4 minutes earlier to help improve punctuality and network reliability.

Overview

• Re-timings: Most morning and evening peak services will depart 2–10 minutes earlier to improve punctuality.
• Cheshunt and Waltham Cross: Fewer Cambridge/Ely services call at Cheshunt, while more Hertford East and Stansted will serve the station.
• Hertford East/Bishop’s Stortford: Several Stratford-bound trains will be diverted between these destinations to help maintain punctuality.
• The Stratford–Meridian Water service will increase from three to four trains per hour during the evening peak, improving connectivity through the Lea Valley.

Morning Peak (towards London Liverpool Street & Stratford)

• Cambridge/Ely services start earlier.
• Cheshunt calling patterns have changed and will predominantly be served by Stansted and Hertford services.
• Several Hertford East–Liverpool Street trains now call at Cheshunt but no longer at Waltham Cross.
• Stansted services retimed for better integration with Cambridge arrivals into London.

Evening Peak (from Liverpool Street & Stratford)

• Most departures will leave 2–10 minutes earlier.
• Slower Cambridge-bound services will add Brimsdown and generally no longer call at Waltham Cross. Semi-fast Cambridge services will continue to call at Waltham Cross.
• Many Stratford-originating services will be diverted or alternated between Bishop’s Stortford and Hertford East.
• A new Stratford–Meridian Water service will operate during the evening peak, providing additional capacity.

Key Station Impacts

Cambridge North: Gains some additional calls on early morning and evening Cambridge services.

Cheshunt: Fewer peak Cambridge/Ely calls. Increased Stansted Airport services. Off-peak Cambridge services continue to call.

Waltham Cross: During the peaks, this station will be served mainly by Cambridge/Ely services, not Hertford East services.

Hertford East: Some Stratford services now originate/terminate here instead of Bishop’s Stortford.

Bishop’s Stortford: Alternates with Hertford East for Stratford routes; gains stops on certain Stansted and Liverpool Street services.

Brimsdown: Added to multiple evening Cambridge services to provide better local coverage.

Stratford: Gains additional evening peak departures.

Martin Beable, Managing Director, Greater Anglia, said:

“These timetable changes will improve punctuality and reliability across our network, helping customers enjoy faster and more consistent journeys. With our modern fleet now operating all services, rail travel in our region is more comfortable, reliable, and convenient than ever.”

Meanwhile on the Norwich to Sheringham line, West Runton station gains an hourly service on Sundays, up from what is currently a 2 hourly Sunday service.

Local stakeholders and residents were keen to see the hourly service frequency at the station already in place on Mondays to Saturdays, extended to seven days a week, so Greater Anglia has responded, as soon as practically possible, to add in extra services from the upcoming timetable change.  The attractive village has also become popular for walkers using the Coastal Path, so the additional stops will provide additional options for those using public transport to get to and from their walks.