Elsenham railway station

Infobox UK station
name = Elsenham
code = ESM


manager = National Express East Anglia
locale = Elsenham
borough = Uttlesford
lowusage0405 = 192,377
lowusage0506 = 186,309
lowusage0607 = 167,620
platforms = 2
start =

Elsenham railway station serves the village of Elsenham in Essex, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by National Express East Anglia.

The station is 57 km (35 ½ miles) north of London Liverpool Street on the West Anglia Main Line to Cambridge. It was opened in 1845 and retains its original layout with staggered platforms on either side of a road level crossing. From 1913 to 1952 it was the junction for the Elsenham & Thaxted Light Railway.

Elsenham accidents

On 3 December 2005, a train struck and killed two teenage girls onthe station pedestrian crossing, next to the manually operated road level crossing, between the staggered platforms. Although flashing red lights and a klaxon sound indicated that a train was approaching, it is likely that they thought these applied to the train they wanted to catch to Cambridge, which was just pulling in to the opposite platform. The curvature of the line gives only 3 seconds visibility of an approaching non-stop train. Network Rail has responded to requests from the girls' families to erect a footbridge and other works that will make the crossing safer. The accident led to a complete review by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch of all pedestrian level crossings at stations. [http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/RAIB_Elsenham2005.pdf] A previous fatality of the same type had occurred in 1979.

In response to the serious concerns about the safety of the crossing, a bridge was installed at the station in August 2007, and the foot-crossing now has locking gates.

ervice

There is an hourly service every day in each direction from Elsenham going towards Cambridge, northbound and London Liverpool Street southbound.

At peak times, the service becomes half-hourly in both directions. This is before 9am and from 5pm to 9pm.

External links

* [http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=6183 Railways Archive account including RAIB report]
*IoEentry|121790|Images of England entry

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