"Branch Lines Around Hertford and Hatfield" from Middleton Press may be the book you are thinking of. Some interesting pictures of Ware station and its surrounding infrastructure.Andy B wrote:There's a book, the name evades me, which recalls the working life of the Hertford and Ware stations back in the days of steam and is an interesting historical read.
There were in fact two sidings south of the station but they were staggered. If Network Rail still own the land they were situated on there would be room for a second line and platform but it too would have to be staggered and the platform would be rather narrow. I don't see how you could continue the double track over the level crossing without demolishing the building there or shortening the current platform and slewing the track. Sounds very expensive.
The reason there is only one platform at Ware is because the New River Company wouldn't sell the land to the railway company. I don't know what the situation is on that now.
Timetabling should not be an issue with the current set up. When the line was first electrified the rush hour service was three an hour at, I seem to remember, 7, 27 and 47 past the hour to London.
There was once a rumoured suggestion that Hertford East be closed and the line terminated at Ware. In my day Ware took more money than the other three stations on the branch put together but at that time the old goods yard was still available to be developed as a terminus. Not sure it would be possible now without greater expenditure and probably relocating the station eastwards.