Calls to improve the ‘Cinderella service’ Abbey Flyer

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/new...__Abbey_Flyer/


Campaigners are calling for the Watford to St Albans Abbey Line to be upgraded to London Overground style of service.
The Abbey Flyer Users’ Group hope the branch line can be improved from a current ‘Cinderella service’ to "a fundamentally better service to meet passenger demand, the growing population and to relieve road congestion".
David Horton, of Abbey Flyer Users’ Group, who have been campaigning since 1995 said: "The government must grasp the opportunity of the new franchise to bring essential investment into the 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 Oyster card 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 and passenger satisfaction has also soared and punctuality is at an all-time high. London Overground have 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?
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 16minutes.
However the group say the 45 minute service leaves passengers with an unmemorable timetable and limits the number of good bus and train connections.
The group say they are concerned the last trains from Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey depart too early to be of practical use for the evening leisure market.
To answer the ‘45 minute problem’ the group say a ‘clock-face’ 20 or 30minute frequency service should be provided, along with two trains on a ‘passing loop’ track to allow two trains to pass.
London Midland, existing operator, are due to hand back the keys to their franchise in June 2017, having been in control since taking over from Silverlink Trains in 2007. The Users’ Group believe this may be the only chance in the next 15 years to achieve real improvements to this ‘Cinderella’ service.
Mr Horton 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."
To support the group visit www.abfly.org.uk.
…………………………………………†¦.
John Burke

wrote in message
...
Calls to improve the ‘Cinderella service’ Abbey Flyer

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/new...__Abbey_Flyer/


Campaigners are calling for the Watford to St Albans Abbey Line to be
upgraded to London Overground style of service.
The Abbey Flyer Users’ Group hope the branch line can be improved from a
current ‘Cinderella service’ to "a fundamentally better service to meet
passenger demand, the growing population and to relieve road congestion".
David Horton, of Abbey Flyer Users’ Group, who have been campaigning since
1995 said: "The government must grasp the opportunity of the new franchise
to bring essential investment into the 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 Oyster card
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 and passenger satisfaction has also soared and
punctuality is at an all-time high. London Overground have 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?
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 16minutes.
However the group say the 45 minute service leaves passengers with an
unmemorable timetable and limits the number of good bus and train
connections.
The group say they are concerned the last trains from Watford Junction and
St Albans Abbey depart too early to be of practical use for the evening
leisure market.

last train back at 21:50 is about as good as it gets in "ruralland" I'm
afraid. Doubt anyone would want to fund anything different

tim

On Tue, 3 Jun 2014 03:58:28 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

[...]And we know that London Mayor Boris Johnson is keen to take over more
services in the Greater London area,[...]

But the Abbey Line is outside Greater London. Why would the London
mayor be interested in managing something that is entyrely outside his
area of jurisdiction? Will it benefit his voters?

--
jhk

"Jarle Hammen Knudsen" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 3 Jun 2014 03:58:28 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

[...]And we know that London Mayor Boris Johnson is keen to take over more
services in the Greater London area,[...]

But the Abbey Line is outside Greater London. Why would the London
mayor be interested in managing something that is entyrely outside his
area of jurisdiction? Will it benefit his voters?

--
jhk

No idea about answers to your questions but in 2015 TfL acquires the West
Anglia inner suburban services and the line to Cheshunt will be added to the
Overground map. Cheshunt station is outside the M25 by almost the same
distance as St Albans Abbey.

"MikeS" wrote:
"Jarle Hammen Knudsen" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 3 Jun 2014 03:58:28 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

[...]And we know that London Mayor Boris Johnson is keen to take over more
services in the Greater London area,[...]

But the Abbey Line is outside Greater London. Why would the London
mayor be interested in managing something that is entyrely outside his
area of jurisdiction? Will it benefit his voters?

--
jhk

No idea about answers to your questions but in 2015 TfL acquires the West
Anglia inner suburban services and the line to Cheshunt will be added to the
Overground map. Cheshunt station is outside the M25 by almost the same
distance as St Albans Abbey.

Sure, and the Met goes to Amersham, Chesham and soon Watford, and the
Overground ventures beyond zone 6 to Watford as well. But these are all
London-based routes, which the Abbey line is not.

On 03/06/2014 18:11, Jarle Hammen Knudsen wrote:

Why would the London
mayor be interested in managing something that is entyrely outside his
area of jurisdiction?

I'm sure the thought of Boris managing something rather larger than
Greater London has never ever crossed his (or Cameron's) mind...


Anyway, maybe they could convert the St Albans line into some kind of
light rail service?



--
Arthur Figgis Surrey, UK

On 2014\06\03 23:05, Arthur Figgis wrote:

Anyway, maybe they could convert the St Albans line into some kind of
light rail service?

I think they should close Abbey Station and divert it to the main
station and extend it to Luton Airport.

"Arthur Figgis" wrote in message
news
On 03/06/2014 18:11, Jarle Hammen Knudsen wrote:

Why would the London
mayor be interested in managing something that is entyrely outside his
area of jurisdiction?

I'm sure the thought of Boris managing something rather larger than
Greater London has never ever crossed his (or Cameron's) mind...


Anyway, maybe they could convert the St Albans line into some kind of
light rail service?
--
Arthur Figgis Surrey, UK

God help us, not that bonkers scheme again. I read a report a few years back
from an idiot who said the switch over from one system to another could be
done over a week end.
Clearly know idea of the differences between 25kv ac rail system and a 750
v dc light rail system.

Kevin

"Basil Jet" wrote in message
...

On 2014\06\03 23:05, Arthur Figgis wrote:

Anyway, maybe they could convert the St Albans line into some kind of
light rail service?

I think they should close Abbey Station and divert it to the main
station and extend it to Luton Airport.

Believe it or not there used to be a link. The bridge abutments were still
in Park Street in the 70s. Might still be there but I have no reason to go
through park Street any more. The line came off some where near Howe Street
then run across what became Radlett aerodrome.

Kevin

On 03/06/2014 20:55, Recliner wrote:
"MikeS" wrote:
"Jarle Hammen Knudsen" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 3 Jun 2014 03:58:28 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

[...]And we know that London Mayor Boris Johnson is keen to take over more
services in the Greater London area,[...]

But the Abbey Line is outside Greater London. Why would the London
mayor be interested in managing something that is entyrely outside his
area of jurisdiction? Will it benefit his voters?

--
jhk

No idea about answers to your questions but in 2015 TfL acquires the West
Anglia inner suburban services and the line to Cheshunt will be added to the
Overground map. Cheshunt station is outside the M25 by almost the same
distance as St Albans Abbey.

Sure, and the Met goes to Amersham, Chesham and soon Watford, and the
Overground ventures beyond zone 6 to Watford as well. But these are all
London-based routes, which the Abbey line is not.


"soon Watford"?

---
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