“Investing in this vital link will help local residents travel for work and pleasure and, crucially, it will help us tackle the climate crisis by getting cars off the road.”
Daisy Cooper MP welcomes government funding to develop plans for Abbey Line passing loop.
A proposal to the Department for Transport to secure investment in the Abbey Line has progressed to the next stage with funding awarded to develop a business case.
Earlier this year the Members of Parliament for St Albans and Watford, Daisy Cooper and Dean Russell, collaborated to submit a proposal to the Department for Transport to secure investment in the Abbey Line.
Working with Abbey Flyer Users’ Group to develop the initial bid, the MPs made the case to ministers and officials in Whitehall that the project should progress to the next phase and receive financial support.
The Abbey Line is an important railway link running 6.5 miles between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey station. As it only currently runs every 45 minutes, many continue to travel that route in their car, but anyone who drives that route will know how congested it can be during peak times. The train is a much quicker service but due to the infrequency it is not convenient.
The Abbey Line passing loop has been described by Hertfordshire County Council as amongst its most important transport needs.
Daisy said: “Creating a passing loop on the Abbey Line is an absolute no-brainer so it’s really encouraging news that the funding application to government that would deliver this has moved to the next stage. It’s a huge testament to the Abbey Flyer Users’ Group, the numerous residents’ associations along the line and politicians of all parties who have kept banging the drum for this much overdue investment.
“Investing in this vital link will help local residents travel for work and pleasure and, crucially, it will help us tackle the climate crisis by getting cars off the road. As the MP for St Albans I was delighted to back this application alongside the MP for Watford, and I urge the Government to give the passing loop the green light in the final round.”