Harpenden railway station

Infobox UK station
name = Harpenden
code = HPD


caption = Exterior of main station building at Harpenden, with the modern covered footbridge behind.
manager = First Capital Connect
locale = Harpenden
borough = St. Albans
usage0405 = 2.534
usage0506 = 2.612
usage0607 = 2.806
platforms = 4
start = 1868

Harpenden railway station serves the town of Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England. It is situated on the Midland Main Line. The station is managed by First Capital Connect, and is served by the Thameslink line service.

The station has a PlusBus scheme where train and bus tickets can be bought together for a cheaper price.

History

The second station in Harpenden, it was built by the Midland Railway in 1868 on its extension to St. Pancras. However nothing remains of the original station buildings. Although located on Station Road, the road is actually named after the first station, Harpenden East, now closed.

A branch line, built by the Hemel Hempstead Railway Company in 1877, known as the Nicky Line but operated by the Midland, formerly diverged from the main line near the station. The intention had been to meet the LNWR at Boxmoor but the section from Hemel Hempstead was never built. In 1886 a south curve was added to the junction allowing passengers to join the London trains at Harpenden rather than Luton. The branch was closed in 1964. The route remains in use as a cycleway, albeit severed where the route crosses the M1.

A row of five brick built former coal merchant's offices along the station approach are now used as small retail and office units.

ervices

2006/07 Services

The typical off-peak service pattern sees six trains per hour in each direction operated by First Capital Connect. Four of these are fast trains between Bedford and Brighton, via Kings Cross Thameslink station in central London and Gatwick Airport. The remaining two trains call at all stations between Luton and Sutton (in South London).

November 2007

First Capital Connect operate trains on the Thameslink route between Bedford, Luton, Sutton and Brighton.

East Midlands Trains operate trains on the Midland Main Line route from St Pancras International to/from Leeds, Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester through the station, but do not stop.

ources

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External links