Braintree branch line

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} {{Use British English|date=December 2016}} {{distinguish|Braintree branch}} {{Infobox rail line |name = Braintree branch line |color = |logo = |logo_width = |image = Braintree - Greater Anglia 321303.JPG |image_width = 300px |caption = Braintree is the western terminus of the line |type = Regional rail |system = National Rail |status = Operational |locale = East of England |start = {{rws|Witham}} |end = {{rws|Braintree|England}} |stations = 5 |routes = 1 |daily_ridership = |open = 1848 |close = |owner = Network Rail |operator = Greater Anglia |character = Branch line |stock = {{Brc|720}} |linelength = {{convert|6|mi|30|chain|km}} |tracklength = |tracks = 1 |gauge = {{track gauge|uksg|allk=on}} |electrification = 25 kV AC OHLE |speed = |elevation = |map = 300px<br>(Click to expand) |map_state = uncollapsed }} {{Braintree Branch Line RDT|collapse=y}}

The '''Braintree branch line''' is a railway branch line in the East of England that diverges from the Great Eastern Main Line at {{rws|Witham}} and runs north-west to {{rws|Braintree|England}}. The route is {{convert|6|mi|30|chain|km}} in length and there are five stations, including the two termini. The line is part of Network Rail Strategic Route 7, SRS 07.06, and is classified as a London and South-East commuter line.<ref name=NRR7>{{cite web |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2009/Route%207%20-%20Great%20Eastern.pdf |title=Route 7 – Great Eastern |publisher=Network Rail |accessdate=2009-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607104601/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2009/Route%207%20-%20Great%20Eastern.pdf |archive-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The stations and all services are currently operated by Greater Anglia. As of 2019 the typical off-peak weekday service-frequency is one train per hour in each direction. The timetabled journey time between Witham and Braintree is 16 minutes.

== History == {{see also|Witham–Maldon branch line}} Originally constructed from Maldon to {{rws|Braintree|England}} via {{rws|Witham}}, only the line from Braintree to Witham remains open. The line was proposed by the Maldon, Witham & Braintree Railway (MWBR) and given royal assent in June 1846. The MWBR was subsequently purchased by the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR), and the line opened in 1848.<ref name=malden>{{cite web|url=http://www.itsaboutmaldon.co.uk/railway/|title=The Old Railway Lines to Maldon|publisher=This is Malden|accessdate=2009-05-04}}</ref>

The section from Maldon to Witham was constructed as double-track, however one track was lifted during the period of the Crimean War (1854–56) and sold to the War Office.<ref name=malden/>

The Bishop's Stortford–Braintree branch line, built by the Great Eastern Railway (GER), was opened in 1869. This created a route from Maldon through to the West Anglia Main Line.

The line was extended from Maldon to Woodham Ferrers in 1889.<ref name=malden/>

In 1923, both lines became part of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER).<ref name=malden/>

During the Second World War passenger services on the section between {{rws|Maldon East and Heybridge}} and Woodham Ferrers were withdrawn and never reinstated.<ref name=malden/>

The Bishop's Stortford–Braintree branch closed to passenger traffic in 1952 and then to freight in 1971. A railbus was tried in the early 1960s on the branches from Witham to Maldon East and Braintree. The section from Maldon East and Heybridge to Witham was closed to passengers following the Beeching cuts to the railways in 1964, although goods services on that section continued until 1966.<ref name=malden/> Conversely, the Witham-Braintree section saw an upsurge in passengers, and the railbus was then replaced by a diesel multiple unit to give sufficient capacity. The line was electrified in October 1977, becoming a rare example of a single-track electrified passenger line in Britain. Most trains then ran through to London.

The franchise for the line is currently held by Greater Anglia.

== Infrastructure == The line is single-track throughout and the route is electrified at 25 kV AC. It has a loading gauge of W6 and a maximum line speed of {{cvt|50|mph}}.<ref name="NRR7"/>

Services are formed of {{Brc|720}} units. The first entered service on 16 December 2020.

Most of the former railway alignment between just east of Bishops Stortford and Braintree has been preserved, and is managed by Essex County Council as the Flitch Way linear park. Two local groups volunteer to improve the site and campaign for improvements.

=== Stations ===

The following table summarises the line's five stations, their distance measured from {{rws|London Liverpool Street}}, and estimated number of passenger entries/exits in 2018–19:

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;" border="1" cellpadding="1" !Station !!Location !!Local authority !!Mileage !!Patronage |- |{{rws|Witham}} |Witham |District of Braintree |align=center|{{frac|38|1|2}} |align=right|2,349,496 |- |{{rws|White Notley}} |White Notley |District of Braintree |align=center|{{frac|41|3|4}} |align=right|12,046 |- |{{rws|Cressing}} |Cressing and Black Notley |District of Braintree |align=center|43 |align=right|39,010 |- |{{rws|Braintree Freeport}} |Braintree |District of Braintree |align=center|{{frac|44|1|4}} |align=right|91,574 |- |{{rws|Braintree|England}} |Braintree |District of Braintree |align=center|45 |align=right|727,982 |}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Braintree Branch Line}} *[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/subjectView.asp?ID=B11807 Maldon, Witham & Braintree Railway Co - 1845–50: promoters', shareholders' and directors' minutes, misc accounts, contracts, plans, letters and papers]

Category:Rail transport in Essex Category:Railway lines in the East of England EA 1070 Category:Railway companies established in 1846 Category:Railway lines opened in 1848 Category:Standard gauge railways in England Category:1846 establishments in England