St Albans Abbey railway station
Encyclopedia
St Albans Abbey railway station serves the city of St Albans
, in Hertfordshire
, England
, being situated about 1 km south of the city centre in the St Stephen's
area of the city. It is the terminus of the Abbey Line from Watford Junction, which is part of the London Midland
franchise. It is one of two stations in St Albans
, the other being the much larger and busier St Albans City station.
The unstaffed station consists of a single open-air platform and a car park. Improvement works were carried out at the station in 2008.
in 1858. It was, as it is now, the terminus of the line from Watford
; the company's original plans to extend this line northwards to Luton
and Dunstable
never materialised. Although the Midland Railway
opened their station (the present St Albans City station) in 1868, it was not until 1924 that "Abbey" was added to the station's title to avoid confusion (although by this stage, both stations were controlled by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
).
supported a group of local landowners to open a branch line between Hatfield and St Albans
which also terminated at St Albans Abbey with an intermediate stop at St Albans (London Road)
, and later at (1866), (1901), (1899), (1910) and (1942). This branch line closed to passengers in 1951. Goods services were withdrawn from the end of 1968 and the track was lifted. In the mid-1980s, the route was opened as a cycle path, now known as the Alban Way
. The remains of the branch can be seen to the left of the single platform when looking down the line in the direction of Watford Junction, including overgrown remnants of the second platform which would have served the branch.
.
trains.
Restoration of the old passing loop at Bricket Wood was being considered by the local authorities and Network Rail but was turned down in early 2008; if implemented, this would have facilitated trains running every 30 minutes, instead of the current 45-minute service.
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, being situated about 1 km south of the city centre in the St Stephen's
St Stephens, Hertfordshire
St Stephens is a former village which lies at the bottom of Holywell Hill in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England.It is named after the 10th century St Stephen's Church at the top of St Stephen's Hill, opposite the King Harry public house and at the junction of Watford Road, King Harry Lane and...
area of the city. It is the terminus of the Abbey Line from Watford Junction, which is part of the London Midland
London Midland
London Midland is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Legally named London and Birmingham Railway Ltd, it is a subsidiary of Govia, and has operated the West Midlands franchise since 11 November 2007....
franchise. It is one of two stations in St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, the other being the much larger and busier St Albans City station.
The unstaffed station consists of a single open-air platform and a car park. Improvement works were carried out at the station in 2008.
History
St Albans Abbey was the first railway station in St Albans, being built by the London and North Western RailwayLondon and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
in 1858. It was, as it is now, the terminus of the line from Watford
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
; the company's original plans to extend this line northwards to Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
and Dunstable
Dunstable
Dunstable is a market town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the eastward tail spurs of the Chiltern Hills, 30 miles north of London. These geographical features form several steep chalk escarpments most noticeable when approaching Dunstable from the north.-Etymology:In...
never materialised. Although the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
opened their station (the present St Albans City station) in 1868, it was not until 1924 that "Abbey" was added to the station's title to avoid confusion (although by this stage, both stations were controlled by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
).
Branch to Hatfield
In 1865, the Great Northern RailwayGreat Northern Railway (Great Britain)
The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
supported a group of local landowners to open a branch line between Hatfield and St Albans
Hatfield and St Albans Railway
The Hatfield and St Albans Railway was a branch of the Great Northern Railway which connected the Hertfordshire towns of St Albans and Hatfield. It opened in 1865 with the principal aim of allowing St Albans traffic to access the Great Northern's main line to London at , but soon came into...
which also terminated at St Albans Abbey with an intermediate stop at St Albans (London Road)
St Albans (London Road) railway station
St Albans London Road was one of several railway stations in St Albans, Hertfordshire.-History:The station was opened by the Hatfield and St Albans Railway on 16 October 1865, and passenger services ceased on 1 October 1951....
, and later at (1866), (1901), (1899), (1910) and (1942). This branch line closed to passengers in 1951. Goods services were withdrawn from the end of 1968 and the track was lifted. In the mid-1980s, the route was opened as a cycle path, now known as the Alban Way
Alban Way
The Alban Way is a cycle path in Hertfordshire, England that has been constructed along the route of the former Hatfield to St Albans railway line. It runs from St Albans, close to St Albans Abbey railway station and the site of Roman Verulamium, through Fleetville and Smallford to Hatfield, ending...
. The remains of the branch can be seen to the left of the single platform when looking down the line in the direction of Watford Junction, including overgrown remnants of the second platform which would have served the branch.
Services
Trains operate to Watford Junction every 45 minutes during Monday to Saturday daytimes, and every 60 minutes during weekday evenings and on Sundays. These services are all operated by London MidlandLondon Midland
London Midland is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Legally named London and Birmingham Railway Ltd, it is a subsidiary of Govia, and has operated the West Midlands franchise since 11 November 2007....
.
Future
In November 2007 responsibility for the branch line, including St Albans Abbey, passed from Silverlink trains to Govia London MidlandLondon Midland
London Midland is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Legally named London and Birmingham Railway Ltd, it is a subsidiary of Govia, and has operated the West Midlands franchise since 11 November 2007....
trains.
Restoration of the old passing loop at Bricket Wood was being considered by the local authorities and Network Rail but was turned down in early 2008; if implemented, this would have facilitated trains running every 30 minutes, instead of the current 45-minute service.