Stansted Express

Greater Anglia, the current franchise holder for much of the region from which it takes its name, the operator of the Stansted Express, has today (Monday 28 January) published what it describes as “a case for major East Anglican rail upgrades”. 

Ruud Haket, the Managing Director of the Abellio-owned train operator of The Netherlands, has written to over 200 regional stakeholders asking them to write to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), Department for Transport (DfT) and Network Rail requesting that key improvements are made to the Cambridge/Stansted Airport – Bishops Stortford – Harlow – Tottenham Hale – Liverpool Street line, amongst others, by 2019.

There is nothing specific in the document but by its publication it clearly acknowledges that the present rail operation from Stansted is inadequate.  At present Stansted Express quotes an average time of 47 minutes for the trip but nowhere on the timetable does it mention, other than Tottenham Hale,  that it always stops at other stations en route. 

In 2010 the service carried 4.5m passengers, in 2011 4.0m or just under 25% of the airport throughput.  A doubling of the track in certain places is one option open to Network Rail with a 30mins route target. 

The franchise only runs until July 2014. www.stanstedexpress.com

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