This major north London rail route is getting twice as many trains

Most Londoners benefit from train or tube services that are so frequent, they can just show up to a station safe in the knowledge that one will arrive imminently. No need to plan ahead. That’s not the case throughout the city, though. Some north London locals have to put up with just two train services into the centre per hour. But not for much longer! 

Great Northern has announced that it’s doubling its number of off-peak train services between Moorgate and Hertford North. 

There’ll be four trains an hour every Monday to Saturday until 9pm for trains going into central London and until 8pm for those travelling out. The idea is that, with trains arriving every 15 minutes, passengers can just ‘turn up and go’ just like people do for Underground services, rather than having to check the timetable ahead of time. 

Jenny Saunders, customer service director at Great Northern, said: ‘Locals will find it easier to make day trips to the capital and there will be more trains for shift workers. We hope the added convenience will drive people to use what is the most sustainable form of public transport, reducing everyone’s carbon footprint.’

The updated timetable will come into play from Monday December 14. Not everyone will benefit, though. The two extra trains will stop at all stations (including Finsbury Park, Alexandra Palace and Essex Road) except for Bayford and Crews Hill. Bypassing those stations means that the two new trains will get to Moorgate three to four minutes faster than the existing services. Bosses haven’t ruled out adding Crews Hill to the route in the future if demand increases (which is likely given that a new town has been planned for the area). 

The announcement comes as TfL pushes to make the Great Northern route part of the London Overground network. A business case to submit to the Department for Transport is still in the works but TfL’s proposal includes doubling peak services to eight trains per hour. 

ICYMI: A huge section of the Elizabeth line will be shut at the end of the month. 

Plus: Everything you need to know about the tube strikes this winter. 

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