17/07/2016

Lea Bridge Station

We have been fairly busy, especially me (Aubrey) as I've just moved back into London for the summer. This explains the lack of posts. Expect quite a few in the pipeline. And a chatbox is going to appear this month. Chatango based.

Lea Bridge Station
Lea Bridge Station Entrance (© Aubrey)

Lea Bridge Station re-opened on the 15th May 2016, with the official opening happening the following day. It is a simple unmanned station (which can easily be upgraded to a manned station), but on the day, there was an Abellio Greater Anglia member of staff keeping an eye on the first few services to ensure the station operated smoothly.

Lea Bridge Station
(© Aubrey)

There is a new lift and stair-accessed footbridge close to the road bridge over the railway where, ironically, the old entrance to the station was. The old entrance could not be used as the road had widened enough to make the pavement in front of the old station building very narrow. Also seen are the OPO monitors and various humans eager to see the first service arrive.

Lea Bridge Station
Information board (© Aubrey)

The departure list from Lea Bridge shows that 2tph is the general service towards Bishop's Stortford, with some services towards Hertford East (including all of Sunday). Another notable thing is the lack of the actual station within the maps in the station!

No Lea Bridge Station on maps in Lea Bridge
TfL and local area maps (© Aubrey)

Seen also here is the lack of Lea Bridge in maps around the station. This is odd as many stations around the area does have Lea Bridge as a station, yet this new station doesn't have itself on the maps!

Original Sign of Lea Bridge from 1985
Sign from previous closure (© Aubrey)

There has been a fairly notable campaign to reopen the station, which included the council. Prior to closure, this station only had a Tottenham Hale-Lea Bridge-Stratford shuttle run by a Class 105. The same performers who were at the closure of the station in 1985 appeared at each opening of the station (the literal opening and the ceremonial one). The station was marred with delays of platform clearance and disputes with freight operators.

Lea Bridge Station Platforms
Platforms (© Aubrey)

The station is going to regenerate the local economy, and as new housing is planned/being built around the area, this station looks to have a prosperous future. However the service...

First Train is late for Lea Bridge Station
(© Aubrey)

Yup, the first train is delayed. So it became the second train to actually arrive in the station. So the second scheduled train became the actual first train. The first scheduled train was held at a red signal at a junction before Lea Bridge.

The First (Actual) Train into new Lea Bridge Station

Abellio Greater Anglia 317672, Lea Bridge (© Aubrey)

The first northbound train is also the scheduled second train. However, as shown, the first train hasn't appeared yet. Only a minute and a half later:

The First (Scheduled) Train into new Lea Bridge Station
Abellio Greater Anglia 317669, Lea Bridge (© Aubrey)

The first scheduled train arrives. However, due to the volume of people boarding, and a musical performer celebrating the opening, the second train scheduled also became the first train to depart. The station is now well used, and more board on one journey than what used to board on the whole day back in 1985!

2 comments:

  1. Not surprised the trains were late, the state of those 317s are awful, the traction motors sound well past their sell-by-date. We're still running 70s / 80s stock in 2016, the bus is more modern than these mainline trains!

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    Replies
    1. The lateness was nothing to do with the trains, more to do with signals. Trains have a lifespan to last a very long time (40-50 years) so the 317s are well within that range, thus are not too old. It does not make economic sense to replace these trains in their mid-late 30s.

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