Location notes
Situated about 18 miles north of London and just south of Hemel Hempstead on the West Coast Mail Line.
Railway type and traffic
Plenty of Virgin Anglo-Scottish/London - Midlands express passenger services. Silverlink trains runs the slower rural passenger services. There is also a wide mix of freight, working north to places like Manchester and Scotland.
Environment
A small town on the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead
Road directions
From the M25 junction to follow the A4251 (Signposted Kings Langley). Follow this road for a couple of miles (watching for the speed cameras) You will go under the WCML. Go straight across the roundabout and the roadside parking is here. The station approach has a sign and is the 2nd turn on your left.
Apsley map co-ordinates
Parking
Station car park and roadside parking is available. This location is a commuter station so parking during the day is hard to find.
Amenities
None noted
Where on the map
Helpful location information
Photographic notes
This location is best suited to trains heading north out of London. The views from the north of the station are not that good. The place to stand is at the very south tip of the center platform. The platform here is wide enough to stand both behind the yellow line and shoot round the end of platform signs. All the OLE masts span the 4 tracks, there are no masts or signal posts on the approach. Given the fact that the approach to the station is up a cutting with trees on either side lighting is ambient rather than direct.
If you do find this information useful then please feel free to mention how you 'found' the location on your website or magazine submission.
Offical Guidelines for Railway Enthusiasts
British Transport Police Guidelines for rail enthusiaist
Network Rail Guidelines for rail enthusiasts
ATOC/National Rail Guidelines for rail enthusiastsIf you see anything suspicious the British Transport Police can be contacted on their crime telephone number:
0800 405040
Help all us railway enthusiasts get a better name by helping the British Transport Police catch the cable thief's and vandals.
Links to photographs at this location
Rail-net - West Coast wind down
Black and white rail photos
General views - All photographs © Marcus Dawson unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south

This train less telephoto view shows the long straight approaching the station off to good effect.
Fig 2 - Looking south

The fast lines are to the right of this picture, with the slow lines to the left.
Fig 3 - Looking south

Here a northbound train is seen on the slow lines.
Fig 4 - Looking south
Location Video
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