Platform extension works begin

Work to extend Platform 2 at Hertford East station has begun, ahead of the introduction of new ten carriage trains on the branch line.

Train Operating Company Abellio have recently introduced a fleet of new 5-car Aventra trains to replace the ageing Class 317 stock that has been running on the line for 40 years. 

The platform extention will allow the company to run two sets of these trains copiled together during peak times. At present the platform can only accommodate Class 317 8-car sets.  

As well as the new trains having more carriages, those carriages are also around 4 metres longer than the older units.

There are no plans to extend the platforms at other stations on the branch line - Ware, St.Margarets and Rye House. At these stations passenger will need to be aware which carriages will align with the platform. Software will only open the doors where carriages are adjacent to the platform. The open design of the new trains allow passengers to move freely from one carriage to another.