Cambridge main line through time.: (Cheshunt to Audley End) - Part 1,

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.