During these turbulent times of Covid19 we reflect that the wheels of Government do not stop turning. Also that the recovery and what platform we base the call to 'build, build, build' on as to whether it is a sustainable platform or laissez-faire ribbon development creep which is lacking in a balance, facilities, strategic public transport infrastructure and critically whether for the sake of the environment, let alone people and communities. Moreover, that we are sending more freight by rail and adding less tonnes to our road networks which backs up adding to congestion and maintenance costs?
The English Regional Transport Association (ERTA) is of the view that re-railing Hertfordshire is in the wider national interest. The geographical layout of the county lends to an east-west be-straddling of the area but most existing rail links are radial of London, meaning a drive or bus. Given growth and other developments including Government Reforms of Planning and Development gambits which could lead to sprawl around greenbelt areas but lacking the critical choice of transport infrastructure, so essential to balance things out. This article sums up the conflicts some face:
These issues are not only intrinsic to Hertfordshire, but across the English Regions and our call is for investment in better public transport and roads only solutions should not be the automatic solution. Sadly funding slants towards roads more than rail, whereby the new roads budget this year is
£27 billion contrasting the Rail Reopenings Fund of a mere £500 million out of which some is allocated for new stations. They should be balanced equitably, let alone the argument that a Climate Emergency could mean an absolute need to slant more back to favour rail links over road. Land is a precious commodity, once gone, hard if ever to recover and so how we steward it matters.
This is why we turn our attention to Napsbury. We note the following:
1. The old link from St Albans Abbey Station to St Albans City is built on, ditto the old trackbed at St Albans to Hatfield.
2. St Albans Abbey-Watford is to have a new loop at Bricket Wood for capacity creation.
3. There is a proposal for a new road to rail freight depot nearby which presumably will require a new rail duck-under off the slow lines to serve it off the Midland Main Line?
Our view is that if a new Parkway Station at Napsbury were built, it could serve as an interchange and junction station linking the Watford-St Albans Abbey Branch with the Thameslink services by building a new link from the Abbey Branch to link it. That could enable a London urban - suburban link of Thameslink to Bricket Wood and Watford respectively, currently it goes only to Luton to terminate on through tracks.
In addition, from Napsbury you could consider and study whether the Underground from Barnet could be extended to also link with Napsbury serving London Colney enroute and terminating at either St Albans Abbey (reinstate the second bay platform) and/or Watford.
For the latter to happen, fields east and south of Napsbury need protecting and access over or under the M25 considered. At this stage, with careful engineering, design and craft it could be done, but if we build on those fields, it could be lost.
England's Economic Heartlands (EEH) was in discussions with Network Rail on a southern east-west rail route. Is it beyond wit to rebuild/new-build a conventional rail link from Napsbury to Potters Bar linking the East Coast Main Line with the Midland Main Line? All sorts of possibilities could arise including better passenger and freight access and new opportunities for travel in normal times by public transport. It could speed end to end times up for people and goods and give more choices. It needs studying and careful stewardship to ensure corridors exist to enable these rail links. How far can we go, balanced with incrementalism.
This document may be of interest: https://www.
We are putting forward ideas, which need studying further by professionals if so inclined. The evidence shows that if you support them, you work to build coalitions, bring councils, agencies and other funders together, establish the business and engineering considerations amongst others and set to progress it to a successful conclusion.
If you support our suggestion, please advocate it. More of the same is not an option, as development of 10, 000 houses at 2.5 vehicles per household on average, means 30, 000 extra vehicles on our roads. Times that across the English Regions and walla, you can see the trend and pattern of where we are heading, chaos! We must re-rail/new-build rail links which can cream off that excess and give better options for people and goods.
I attach a rough diagram of pure illustration, but appreciate you need to bring others on board to take it forward. ERTA welcomes volunteers to join and offer time and talent to make these things work. Thank you.
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