20th Anniversary Celebrations!
And Annual General Meeting
The Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership celebrated its 20th anniversary this week. Past and present team members and stakeholders gathered to reminisce and to look to the future – over cake and a glass of fizz.
They were honoured to be joined by St Albans’ Deputy Mayor Cllr Susan Griffiths.
Community Rail Partnerships aim to ‘Connect Communities with their Railway’ and promote their lines. The Abbey Line CRP was one of the initial six partnerships formed as a pilot project back in 2005.
The partnership consists of representatives from the train industry, local government and other local interested parties and has gone from strength to strength over the past 20 years.
Substantial investments have led to significant improvements at stations, including passenger and cycle shelters, customer information screens and better accessibility. Projects and activities engage with a diverse range of local groups and promotional activities help keep this sustainable transport option between St Albans and Watford in the minds of the local community. The partnership also provides volunteering opportunities, supports local Station Adoption groups and feeds back community concerns to the train operator.
Photo: Former chair, Cllr Sandy Walkington, Chair, Cllr Steve Cavinder, St Albans’ Deputy Mayor Cllr Susan Griffiths
The celebrations followed on from the Abbey Line CRP’s Annual General Meeting, where updates on key projects were presented. Highlights included progress on the wildlife-friendly community garden at Garston Station, the completion of the ‘Walkway Gallery’ at Watford Junction, the formation of the Abbey Station Friends volunteer group and the strategic decision to advocate more vociferously for improved access at Abbey Line stations. Cllr Sandy Walkington stood down as Chair of the Partnership and handed over to Cllr Steve Cavinder.
Cllr Sandy Walkington said “It has been a tremendous experience chairing the Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership for the last four years. It is all about putting community into railway and I leave a partnership which is firing on all cylinders with a host of projects up and down the line. I could not be leaving it in better hands than those of Cllr Steve Cavinder who has so many community connections up and down the line. Happy 20th birthday to the partnership, happy 200th birthday to the railways!”
Cllr Steve Cavinder said “I’m delighted and honoured to have been elected as the Chair of the Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership. The partnership plays a hugely important role in supporting and promoting the Abbey Line and my aim is to continue working with our partners to ensure that passengers on the Abbey Line have the best possible travelling experience.”
The Chief Executive of Transport Focus, Alex Robertson gave an enlightening talk on passenger wants and needs, and what the future may hold as the train industry transitions to Great British Railways. Transport Focus is the independent watchdog for transport users.
2025 also marks 200 years since the first passenger rail travel in the UK.
The Abbey Line CRP has been marking this anniversary through a series of events and projects throughout the year, including producing a short film, collecting ‘Abbey Line Tales’ and will be providing free rides on a miniature locomotive at the Cottonmill Gathering in St Albans (13th July) and at Bricket Wood Armed Forces Day (29th June)
