With the need to address climate change becoming ever more important, pushing for sustainable transport to take cars off the road seems like an easy win.

So no doubt there would have been some puzzlement when a bid to improve a railway service fell short.

There had been hopes to double the number of trains running every hour on the Abbey Line, which connects Watford and St Albans.

But the latest proposal to secure money to upgrade the line with a passing loop from the the Restoring Your Railway Fund failed to get Department for Transport backing.

Read more: Why bid for 'passing loop' on Abbey Line failed to win backing

Watford Observer: The Abbey Line at Watford North. Image: John Patterson/Watford Observer Camera ClubThe Abbey Line at Watford North. Image: John Patterson/Watford Observer Camera Club

Hertfordshire County Council has been told there is no chance of renewing or resubmitting the bid and the council acknowledges “realistic” opportunities for cash have run out.

At a transport meeting on September 6, the council’s team leader in strategic transport and rail, Trevor Mason, reassured councillors there is no threat to the existing service run by London Northwestern Railway.

Some members were critical of the line's current reliability, and discussion turned to what the line could look like in the future.

It became apparent that either the Abbey Line will stay as it is or it could be worked into a much grander transport scheme being worked on by the council, called the Hertfordshire to Essex Rapid Transit (HERT).

Read more: What is the HERT?

Designed to improve travel across Hertfordshire via the A414 corridor, the council is yet to give anything away on what form of transport the HERT would be or the exact route it would take.

Watford Observer: A CGI released by the county council of what the HERT could be. At this time, the council says no decisions have been made about what form of transport it will take. Image: Hertfordshire County CouncilA CGI released by the county council of what the HERT could be. At this time, the council says no decisions have been made about what form of transport it will take. Image: Hertfordshire County Council (Image: Hertfordshire County Council)

However, we do know the council is exploring the possibility of linking the “key” Abbey Line corridor with the HERT - and potentially the Watford 2 Croxley Link, which is being looked at as an alternative to the Met Line extension.

Read more: Update offered on W2CL - proposed MLX alternative for Watford

If this were to happen, it could well see the existing Abbey Line rail track converted into whatever the HERT runs on - possibly tram or guided bus - if the scheme gets the go-ahead.  

Watford Observer:

Going forward, councillors approved a recommendation that discussions on the future of the Abbey Line corridor should be incorporated within the HERT project, which is being led by the A414 Steering Group; a panel made up of officers and councillors from across Hertfordshire and parts of Essex.

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