St Albans Branch Line
Encyclopedia
The Abbey Line is a railway line from Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey railway station
. The 6.5 miles (10.5 km) route passes through town and countryside. The service is sometimes referred to locally as the Abbey Flyer.
(LNWR) on 5 May 1858 and was the first railway to reach St Albans
.
Originally, there were two intermediate stations:
In 1910 a further station was opened, at Callowland. This was later renamed .
In 1924 the terminus at St Albans
had a name change to to distinguish it from the Midland Railway
main line station at , which opened in 1868. The LNWR station was also served by a branch of the Great Northern Railway
from .
A sixth station was added at Garston
in 1966 and a seventh station was added at How Wood
in 1988, to coincide with the electrification
of the route at 25 kV AC overhead
.
.
The stations between Watford North and St Albans Abbey are unstaffed, and tickets must be bought on the train.
The Abbey Line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 18, SRS 18.10 and is classified as a Rural line.
at 25 kV AC
using overhead line equipment. It has a loading gauge of W6 and a line speed of between 40 mile per hour.
The service is operated using 25 kV AC EMU's
. A Class 321/4
EMU is in regular use, formerly services were operated by a Class 313
unit. Sometimes (but rarely, more commonly in the past) a Class 150
DMU
has been substituted.
) rules, where only one train is allowed on the line at a time. Trains can be moved into Watford Junction yard by a manual ground frame there. On 28 October 2005 its incorrect operation caused an incident with a train, not in passenger service.
There is an automatic level crossing
outside Watford North
. This is operated by a manual plunger for trains heading towards St Albans, and by a treadle
for trains heading towards Watford Junction.
as a community rail
line in July 2005, one of seven pilots under the Community Rail Development Strategy.
In 2004 a proposal was made by Transport for London
for a London Regional Rail Authority to take control over some rail services which extended out of Greater London, including the St Albans branch line.
On 30 October 2009 Secretary of State for Transport
, Lord Adonis
, announced a plan to increase frequency on the line by allowing Hertfordshire County Council
to lease the line from Network Rail
and converting it to operation using light rail
vehicles from 2011. This should be made possible for the same amount of subsidy the line currently receives, as the new infrastructure required, such as a passing loop
is cheaper for light rail than heavy rail. Longer-term proposals envisage the extension of the light rail
service into both Watford town centre via Clarendon Road and High Street, and into St Albans city centre, possibly as far as St Albans City railway station, as well as the possible re-instatement of the line to Hatfield
.
St Albans Abbey railway station
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...
. The 6.5 miles (10.5 km) route passes through town and countryside. The service is sometimes referred to locally as the Abbey Flyer.
History
The line was opened 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...
(LNWR) on 5 May 1858 and was the first railway to reach 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...
.
Originally, there were two intermediate stations:
In 1910 a further station was opened, at Callowland. This was later renamed .
In 1924 the terminus at 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...
had a name change to to distinguish it from 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....
main line station at , which opened in 1868. The LNWR station was also served by a branch of the Great Northern Railway
Great 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....
from .
A sixth station was added at Garston
Garston (Hertfordshire) railway station
Garston railway station serves the Garston area of Watford in Hertfordshire, England. It is the second station on the Abbey Line after leaving Watford Junction...
in 1966 and a seventh station was added at How Wood
How Wood (Hertfordshire) railway station
How Wood is a railway station in the village of How Wood, Hertfordshire, England.It is the fourth station on the Abbey Line 7 km after leaving Watford Junction. Like all the other stations on the branch , How Wood is a simple unstaffed halt...
in 1988, to coincide with the electrification
Railway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
of the route at 25 kV AC overhead
25 kV AC
The 25 kV Alternating current railway electrification system is commonly used in railways worldwide, especially for high-speed rail.-Overview:This electrification system is ideal for railways that cover long distances and/or carry heavy traffic...
.
Operations
Passenger services are 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....
.
The stations between Watford North and St Albans Abbey are unstaffed, and tickets must be bought on the train.
The Abbey Line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 18, SRS 18.10 and is classified as a Rural line.
Infrastructure
The line is single track and is electrifiedRailway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
at 25 kV AC
25 kV AC
The 25 kV Alternating current railway electrification system is commonly used in railways worldwide, especially for high-speed rail.-Overview:This electrification system is ideal for railways that cover long distances and/or carry heavy traffic...
using overhead line equipment. It has a loading gauge of W6 and a line speed of between 40 mile per hour.
The service is operated using 25 kV AC EMU's
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
. A Class 321/4
British Rail Class 321
The British Rail Class 321 alternating current electric multiple units were built by BREL York in three batches from 1988-91. The design was successful and led to the development of the similar Class 320 and Class 322 units for use by Strathclyde PTE and Stansted Express respectively...
EMU is in regular use, formerly services were operated by a Class 313
British Rail Class 313
British Rail Class 313 electric multiple units were built by BREL at York Works between February 1976 and April 1977 and were the first second-generation EMUs to be constructed for British Rail...
unit. Sometimes (but rarely, more commonly in the past) a Class 150
British Rail Class 150
The British Rail Class 150 "Sprinter" diesel multiple units were built by BREL from 1984-87. A total of 137 units were built in three main subclasses, replacing many of the earlier first-generation "Heritage" DMUs.- Background :...
DMU
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
has been substituted.
Signalling
Signalling is under "One Train Working" (without Train StaffToken (railway signalling)
In railway signalling, a token is a physical object which a locomotive driver is required to have or see before entering onto a particular section of single track. The token is clearly endorsed with the name of the section it belongs to...
) rules, where only one train is allowed on the line at a time. Trains can be moved into Watford Junction yard by a manual ground frame there. On 28 October 2005 its incorrect operation caused an incident with a train, not in passenger service.
There is an automatic level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
outside Watford North
Watford North railway station
Watford North railway station serves the North Watford area of Watford in Hertfordshire, England. It is the first station on the Abbey Line 1.2 km north east of Watford Junction. Originally opened in October 1910 as 'Callowland', the station was built to serve a developing residential and...
. This is operated by a manual plunger for trains heading towards St Albans, and by a treadle
Treadle (railway)
In railway signalling, a treadle is a mechanical or electrical device that detects that a train axle has passed a particular location. They are used where a track circuit requires re-inforcing with additional information about a train's location, such as around an automatic level crossing, or in an...
for trains heading towards Watford Junction.
The Future
Since 1995 the Abbey Flyer Users Group (ABFLY) has been campaigning to secure the future of the line and encourage its growth. The Abbey Line was designated by the Strategic Rail AuthorityStrategic Rail Authority
In existence from 2001 to 2006, the Strategic Rail Authority was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom set up under the Transport Act 2000 to provide strategic direction for the railway industry....
as a community rail
Community rail
In the United Kingdom, a community rail line is a local railway which is specially supported by local organisations. This support is usually through a Community Rail Partnerships – comprising both the railway operator, local councils and other community organisations – or sometimes by...
line in July 2005, one of seven pilots under the Community Rail Development Strategy.
In 2004 a proposal was made by Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
for a London Regional Rail Authority to take control over some rail services which extended out of Greater London, including the St Albans branch line.
On 30 October 2009 Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for Transport
The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. The role has had a high turnover as new appointments are blamed for the failures of decades of their predecessors...
, Lord Adonis
Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis
Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis is a British academic, journalist, Labour Party politician and Life Peer, who was Secretary of State for Transport between 2009-2010....
, announced a plan to increase frequency on the line by allowing Hertfordshire County Council
Hertfordshire County Council
Hertfordshire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Hertfordshire, in England, the United Kingdom. It currently consists of 77 councillors, and is controlled by the Conservative Party, which has 55 councillors, 17 Liberal Democrats, versus 3 Labour...
to lease the line from Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
and converting it to operation using light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
vehicles from 2011. This should be made possible for the same amount of subsidy the line currently receives, as the new infrastructure required, such as a passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
is cheaper for light rail than heavy rail. Longer-term proposals envisage the extension of the light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
service into both Watford town centre via Clarendon Road and High Street, and into St Albans city centre, possibly as far as St Albans City railway station, as well as the possible re-instatement of the line to Hatfield
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...
.