Abbey Flyer Users Group

Abbey Flyer Users’ Group

2nd June2014

PRESS RELEASE

On behalf of the Abbey Flyer Users’ Group

USERS’ GROUP CALLS FOR

OVERGROUND-STYLE SERVICE

The Abbey Flyer Users’ Group is calling for the Watford to St Albans branch line to be upgraded to London Overground-style levels of service.

The Abbey Line currently operates a single train at 45 minute intervals, serving five intermediate stations between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey. End-to-end journey times are unbeatable, at only 16mins, yet the 45 minute service leaves passengers with an unmemorable timetable and limits the number of good bus and train connections.

The last trains from Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey also depart too early to be of practical use for the evening leisure market.

Since 1995 the Users' Group has been campaigning for improvements. Many people share their view that the Abbey Line needs a fundamentally better service to meet passenger demand, the growingpopulation and to relieve road congestion in the area.

The group believes that the answer to the ‘45 minute problem’ is to provide a ‘clock-face’ 20 or 30min frequency service. But this requires investment. Firstly, two trains instead of one would be needed. Secondly, since the branch is only single track, a ‘passing loop’ would be required in order to allow the two trains to pass.

Several Herts County Council and Department for Transport-led studies going back to the late 1990s have attempted to make the case for this. But these studies focussed heavily on reducing subsidy, rather than increasing passenger numbers. The latest attempt, originating in 2009, was a proposal to convert the line to light rail, meaning that it would run a tram-like service. Unfortunately this came to nothing because of commercial and contractual technicalities.

The existing operator of the line, London Midland, are due to hand back the keys to their franchise in June 2017, having been in control since taking over from SilverlinkTrains in 2007. Because of the nature of the franchising system, the Users’ Group believe that this may be the only chance in the next 15 years to achieve real improvements to this ‘Cinderella’ service.

David Horton, spokesman for the Abbey Flyer Users’ Group, said, “The government must grasp the opportunity of the new franchise to bring essential investment intothe line.”

“Passengers now look enviously at the London Overground network and see bright new, air-conditioned trains, well-maintained stations that feel welcoming and secure, friendly motivated staff, blanket Oystercard coverage and a much higher frequency timetable than it used to be. Because of this, passenger numbers on London Overground have quadrupled - in just five years. Passenger satisfaction has also soared and punctuality is at an all-time high. London Overgroundhave triumphed in attracting new business, getting people to give up their cars, simply by delivering a high quality service.”

“At this time of record investment in the rail industry, why should the Abbey Flyer continue to be such a poor relation?”

He added, “We will be campaigning hard in the next few years to get this on the government’s agenda. We are pleased to say that several local politicians are already backing us, including Watford MP Richard Harrington, St Albans MP Anne Main and Watford Mayor Dorothy Thornhill. And we know that London Mayor Boris Johnson is keen to take over more services in the Greater London area, so we should be pushing at an open door.”

“We would encourage anyone that shares our view to express this in writing to their local MP or the Department for Transport.”

Alternatively, if you would like to pledge your support to the User Group’s campaign, please feel free to join the group, via or you can follow them on Twitter @abflyusers, ‘Like’ their page at facebook.com/abflyrail, or just drop them an e-mail to .

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About the Abbey Flyer Users’ Group:

The Abbey Flyer Users' Group (better known as 'ABFLY') was created in 1995 with the overall aim of securing a better future for the Watford to St Albans branch line in Hertfordshire. Our two keys aims are to watch for, and challenge, any lowering of standards, and to keep the branch line alive and thriving as an increasingly useful part of the public transport network in South West Hertfordshire.Our campaign objectives include smarter and cleaner stations and trains, a higher frequency service and restoration of late night trains. ABFLY is also a key partner in the line's Community Rail Partnership (CRP) which was formed in 2005.

For more details please contact:

David Horton, The Abbey Flyer Users Group (ABFLY)

Tel: 07739 023316

E-mail: