Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey (Abbey Line)

Print Print page   Download PDF PDF image

St Albans Abbey branch (Hertfordshire)

Watford Junction - St Albans (Abbey). 6.5 miles long. This is an electrified suburban route with considerable scope for attracting new passengers given the congestion levels on local roads.

Objectives/actions:

  • Increasing use of the line through promotion and marketing in conjunction with the new Community Rail Partnership
  • Closer integration with local bus services linking to the town centres at either end of the line
  • Focus on meeting local passenger flows as well as feeder role to West Coast Main Line
  • Improved ticket selling and fares collection
  • Innovative signalling to provide a passing point on the single line
  • Increased service frequency (every half hour)
  • Purpose built bus rail interchange at either end of the line planned in conjunction with property development

There is strong local support from the ABFLY user group (http://www.abfly.org.uk) and local authorities.

Progress:

The project has benefited from having a small committed client group, Hertfordshire County Council, Silverlink Trains, Network Rail and the SRA.

The first objective of the pilot project was to establish a Community Rail Partnership and on 15th June the 'Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership' was launched, with the support of a newly appointed Community Rail Partnership Officer.

The long term aim to increase train frequency will require the construction of a passing loop mid-way along the line. Hertfordshire CC have commissioned a study to see whether this can be built safely at an affordable price, based on standards appropriate to the use and location of the line. The final report is awaited before a business case can be developed.

Designation:

The SRA Executive formally designated the line as one of the first Community Rail lines on 23rd June.