REMEMBERING THE BED FORD TO HITCHIN LINE

The Bedford to Hitchin line was originally part of the Midland main line to London. In the 1850s, with the growth of the Midland Railway, the company was seeking a direct route to the capital rather than having to rely on its connections over the LNWR via Rugby. In 1857 it opened its new route to the south with the Leicester to Hitchin line via Kettering and Bedford. At Hitchin it joined the Great Northern Railway which took it into King’s Cross.

In the first few months passengers for London had to change at Hitchin but from 1858 the GN agreed Midland trains could run through. Unfortunately, although the Midland paid a high price for the privilege, there