The railway at Broxbourne dates from 1840, and that at Bishop's
Stortford from 1843; the rest of the line was running by 1845. A busy
freight route up until the 1980s, it has seen large growth in the
passenger business since electrification and the opening of the Stansted
Airport branch. Recent investment by Railtrack and later Network Rail
has seen resignalling south of Bishop's Stortford as well as providing
new passenger rolling stock. This first volume takes a journey over the
line from Cheshunt to Audley End, stopping at all the stations to view
what has changed over the last 170 years. This main line is now
principally a commuter route for journeys to London and Cambridge, and
for people travelling to Stansted Airport. All the goods yards at the
intermediate stations have now closed, except for a stone depot at
Harlow Mill, and most of these have been turned into station car parks.