Station adoption
Station adoption is one of the ways in which local people can become directly involved with their railway. Many groups across the country are now taking up the idea, as a way of injecting new life into often-neglected, unstaffed stations, and we are encouraging any group that wants to adopt their local Abbey Line station to get in touch.
Although there is no fixed template for station adoption, schemes generally fall into two categories:
- Where station 'monitors' act as additional "eyes and ears" and regularly report problems to the train operating company.
- "Friends of stations" where small groups undertake a wide variety of activities ranging from feeding in comments to provision of station enhancements such as gardens, planters, art work and signage.
At Watford North, a small group has taken up the challenge and they work on the 'eyes and ears' principle. An inspection takes place atleast once a week, a record sheet is filled in and then returned to the group station manager. Although the TOC do check their stations every day, such a process can help to flag up problems such as faulty lights and vandalism, which may save the handyman a journey. They have also been known to pester Network Rail to get the weeds cleared!
But please note than under no circumstances does station adoption give you the right to go on or near the track.
Station adoption groups also now exist at Garston and Bricket Wood.
If you are interested in setting up a group for How Wood, Park Street or St Albans Abbey stations, or joining one of the existing groups, please contact the CRP officer to discuss.
If you want to get involved at Watford North, contact:
David Horton
Tel: 07739 023316
