Major boost for Enfield rail passengers as off-peak services return to four per hour

December’s new timetable will mark the first time in over six years that Hertford Loop Line off-peak trains have been more regular than every 30 minutes, reports James Cracknell

A Great Northern train at Winchmore Hill Station

Rail services on a key route through Enfield will operate four times per hour at off-peak times – except Sundays and late evenings – starting from December.

The major upcoming timetable change has been confirmed by rail operator Great Northern and will mean that passengers using the Hertford Loop Line shouldn’t have to wait any longer than 15 minutes for a train during the daytime and early evenings, unless there is disruption on the route.

The four-per-hour service will start at the beginning of each day and run until around 9.30pm each night, Monday to Saturday.

Gordon Hill, Enfield Chase, Grange Park, Winchmore Hill, Palmers Green and Bowes Park stations will all benefit from the change, although Crews Hill Station will be excluded from additional services for the time being.

The new timetable is set to be introduced from Monday, 14th December.

It represents a return to the level of service last offered by Great Northern in early 2020, nearly seven years ago.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit that year, Great Northern responded by cutting off-peak services from four to two per hour, but even when the lockdown ended and the impact of the pandemic subsided, a low service pattern has continued.

The long-running low-frequency issue along the Hertford Loop led to persistent calls from Joanne McCartney, Enfield and Haringey’s London Assembly member, for a return to pre-pandemic rail services.

Speaking to the Dispatch today (Monday 2nd) Joanne said she was “absolutely delighted” that Great Northern had finally responded.

“It will make the world of difference for people, having that regular service,” she said. “Nearly every year since Covid-19 I have asked them [Great Northern] to bring it back.”

John Cole, the co-chair of The Enfield Society who also leads the Friends of Gordon Hill Station, said the group “warmly welcomes” the return of four off-peak trains per hour.

He said: “You shouldn’t have to say it, but currently a single cancellation means an hour wait – resulting in a loss of confidence in the whole service. More frequent trains mean better connections and increase the likelihood of travel by rail, making our local stations more viable.

“But it’s only a start, we really need further investment for step-free access, maintenance of buildings and continuing with the East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) to provide even greater service improvements.”

Jenny Saunders, Great Northern’s customer services director, said: “We’re truly delighted to be able to realise a long-held ambition to double the number of trains in the off-peak, Mondays to Saturdays, on the route between Moorgate and Hertford North [via Enfield].

“With trains arriving every 15 minutes, there will be no need to check the timetable – passengers can just ‘turn up and go’. This will encourage more people to take the train, supporting the economies of towns along the route.

“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.”

There has been a lot of discussion this summer about whether the recent re-nationalisation of rail companies, including Govia Thameslink Railway which owns Great Northern, might allow City Hall to take control of more suburban rail routes.

With Crews Hill Station in particular looking set to become the centre of a ‘new town’ with thousands of homes, Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has made the devolution of Great Northern services running into and out of Moorgate Station one of his transport priorities – with the move even being mentioned in the new draft London Plan.

Joanne McCartney said she now expects devolution of the Hertford Loop – incorporating it into the London Overground network – to happen by 2030.

The Labour assembly member added: “Even before the new town, for the past few years Transport for London always said they want to take over the line and have new services – up to six trains per hour – which will transform it.”

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