Enfield Council has lost a high court case over the number of trains serving a station in the borough.

The High Court dismissed the council’s judicial review over the minimum service requirements for Angel Road station (pictured), on Monday, 21 December.

In September 2015 the Department for Transport issued potential bidders for the franchise currently run by Abellio Greater Anglia, a Train Service Requirement, setting out the minimum number of services to be provided at each station.

Enfield Council were unhappy because the Requirement did not specify a service of four trains per hour throughout the day for Angel Road, which they expected. Instead, four trains per hour would only run during the evening peak hours, meaning that the station is likely to be served by fewer trains at other times of the day.

The Council’s challenge alleged that the ‘failure’ to guarantee four trains per hour throughout the day was unlawful because it did not deliver on ‘legitimate expectations’ from assurances given by Department for Transport officials, and did not account from the planned “Meridian Water” housing scheme on Angel Road.

These arguments were dismissed by the High Court for not being strong enough to demand more trains.

The East Anglia franchise serves 131 train stations, extending to Peterborough, Southend, Felixstowe and Cambridge, and in Enfield includes Angel Road, Ponders End, Brimsdown and Enfield Lock.

A competition is underway to select the company that will take over the operation of services when Abellio’s franchise comes to an end in October 2016.

Enfield Council have been contacted for comment.