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Written by Marcus Dawson - 30 Oct 2003
last update by Marcus Dawson - 07 Sep 2007
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Location notes
Welwyn Garden City is the northern terminus of the inner suburban services out of Moorgate. Outer suburban services also call here. To facilitate reversing of the inner suburban services there is a flyover to the south of the station.

Update September 2007:
Ticket barriers have been installed at this station now. So to access the platforms you will now need a ticket.
Railway type and traffic
There is a mix of suburban passenger and express workings passing through the station. Also the yard to the south of the station is often used to store rolling stock and reverse freight trains. Platform 1 (East side) is very rarely used by passenger services.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Welwyn Garden City
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
Environment
Welwyn Garden City is a large town. Lots of people pass through the station. The staff are generally friendly to enthusiasts, but it is worth checking in with station staff when you arrive. Their office is located on platform 3.
Road directions
From the A1(M) Junction 4 follow the signs to Welwyn Garden City. At the sports centre roundabout take the second exit and continue to the next roundabout. Here take the first exit and continue down this road. The Howard Centre car park is off the next roundabout.

Click here to set up your location for directions to this location

Welwyn Garden City map co-ordinates
Parking
There is plenty of parking available in the Howard Centre multi story car park.
Public transport
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Amenities
There is a coffee shop on the station platform. The Howard Centre has a cafe and some newsagents. Out side the Howard's Centre there is a McDonalds and down the street to the right a chip shop.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Welwyn Garden City

Googly map
Streetmap links
Welwyn Garden City general view map
Welwyn Garden City close up map

Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Welwyn Garden City



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Photographic notes
The station has four platforms; all these are located on slow roads with the fast roads being in the centre. The overhead line masts are located on the platform giving clear views in both directions through the station. The over bridge is can provide good views of the yard but it is covered over when crossing the main lines.
The Howard Centre car park also provides good views of the south of the station.
Station lights are of the tungsten variety so night time photography will need appropriate compensation measures.
Links to photographs at this location

Rail-net- GBRf by night
Rail-net - The Green Welly Specials


General views - All photographs © Marcus Dawson unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Facing north wide


Fig 1 - Facing north wide

Here you can see the two fast and two slow lines that run through the centre of the station. On the outer platforms are (to the left) the inner suburban reversible platform and a very rarely used platform four south bound trains.

Fig 2 - Facing north zoom


Fig 2 - Facing north zoom

From the same spot using a zoom lens

Fig 3 - Facing south


Fig 3 - Facing south

In this view you can see the flyover that is used by the inner suburban workings to cross over the ECML from a northbound platform to the southbound lines. This view also has a great telephoto shot of northbound trains approaching straight down the centre line of the bridges. There is however a 'passengers must not cross the line' sign at this point so panning shots with video cameras suffer.

Fig 4 - From the Howard's Centre Car park facing south


Fig 4 - From the Howard's Centre Car park facing south

From the adjacent car park you can get a good view of northbound trains but the southbound view is blocked by the station buildings

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