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The Railway Around Stevenage


The original Stevenage station was opened by the Great Northern Railway (GNR) in 1850 and comprised two island platforms linked by a footbridge. This was sited 28 miles 45 chains from the London Kings Cross terminus, and was closed after 22 July 1973. A view of the old station recorded shortly after closure appears below (thanks to Andy Hannah for supplying this interesting photo).


Above is a photograph of the old Stevenage Station kindly provided by Andy Hannah


The present Stevenage station was opened by British Rail on 23 July 1973, although the ‘official opening’ of the new station by Mrs Shirley Williams did not take place until 29 September 1973. This event is denoted by a commemorative plaque affixed to the wall facing passengers as they pass through the ticket barrier on the footbridge. The BR station also comprises a pair of island platforms linked by a footbridge. This is situated a mile south of the former GN station at 27 miles 45 chains from Kings Cross.


Before the new station opened Hitchin was served by a limited number of Express services, however it was decided that these should instead serve the growing New Town of Stevenage and it’s emerging business market and therefore the new station was provided with platforms of sufficient length to accommodate full length BR Inter City Services.


Stevenage is still served by a number of Inter City East Coast services, operated by East Coast. These are formed of either "push-pull" Class 91 electric locomotives (normally at the country end) + Mark 4 coaches + Class 82 Driving Van Trailers (DVT), or diesel High Speed Train (HST) sets.


A small number of Hull Trains “5-car class 180 “Adelante” and the occasional “4-car Class 222 "Pioneer" diesel sets also call at Stevenage, to either pick up only or set down only.


Grand Central's HST sets can be seen at Stevenage, but are not scheduled to stop.


The bulk of Stevenage passenger services are either commuter or local services operated by First Capital Connect (FCC) which either run south direct via Welwyn & Potters Bar or round the Hertford Loop and Gordon Hill to either Kings Cross or Moorgate, or run north to Huntingdon & Peterboro or via the Cambridge branch from Hitchin to Letchworth Garden City, Royston, Cambridge, Ely & Kings Lynn. Services to / from Moorgate are formed of Class 313 electric units (1 or 2 units) whilst services to / from Kings Cross are largely formed of Class 365 ‘Networker’ units (1 or 2 units) supplemented by a few of the older Class 317 (1 or 2 units).


Future plans should see FCC's Great Northern (GN) and Theameslink services combined in a new franchise embracing both routes, in readiness for new cross-London services from Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire running via Farringdon and Blackfriars.


Stevenage is also served by a number of charter trains whose organisers recognise the importance of providing an outer London pick up point.


The following five photographs of Old Stevenage Station (May 1973) are from the D. L. Percival Collection.





Live timetables.


How are the trains running through Stevenage Station (or elsewhere) today?


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Train Operating Companies


Train operating Companies that may be seen passing through Stevenage:


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How to find us.

 

For a printable map


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