Bishop's Stortford–Braintree branch line

The line was one of several schemes promoted in the 19th century that included north-south lines connecting Great Dunmow with Epping, Halstead and/or Saffron Walden. The route of the built line was proposed by the Eastern Counties Railway in 1859 but the line from Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree was built by the Great Eastern Railway which had absorbed ECR. Construction started in 1864 and the line opened on 22 February 1869 serving Takeley, Felstead and Rayne and Easton Lodge opened in 1895, Hockerill Halt in 1910, and Stane Street and Bannister Green Halt in 1922.[1]

The line was single track with passing loops at Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow, Takeley, Rayne and Braintree. Goods sidings were provided at Hockerill Halt, Takeley, Easton Lodge to supply US Air Force bases at Stansted and Easton Lodge), Dunmow, Felsted for general and use by the sugar beet factory, and Rayne.

A viaduct crossed the River Chelmer to the south of Great Dunmow; it was demolished in the 1970s to make way for the A1256 Great Dunmow bypass.

Passenger numbers were at decent levels when the line first opened, but competition from bus and road transport meant trains were running almost empty before it closed to passengers on 3 March 1952. The line remained open for freight until the end of 1971 before closing completely in 1972.

The tracks have been removed, but most of the line formation remains as the Flitch Way country park, a walking and cycling route.[2]

Several proposals to reopen the line have been made but none have come close to being realised.[1] In January 2018, Bishop's Stortford Council called for restoration of the line as part of a consultation on new communities.[3] The line has been identified as being of significant value and feasible for restoration with work required mainly at Braintree, Dunmow and a diversion to join the National Rail network near Stansted Airport.[4]

In January 2019, the Campaign for Better Transport's report identified the line between Braintree and Stansted Airport as Priority 2 for reopening. Priority 2 is for lines which require further development or a change in circumstances (such as housing developments).[5]

• Peter Paye (2010). Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree Branch. Oakwood Press. ISBN 978-0-85361-708-2.
• David Gridley (2016). Lost And Found, Journey to a Forgotten Railway. Slowcoach Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9564128-1-2.

http://www.stortfordhistory.co.uk/guide11/braintree-branchline/ Bishop’s Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree Branch Line. Downloaded 25 May 2018.