Photo gallery
Here in the photo gallery you can see some
of the projects, groups and events that the
Community Rail Partnership has helped to
facilitate.
Santa Specials have become an annual fixture
in the Abbey Line's calendar.
Station Adoption groups have been formed
at Watford North, Park Street, How Wood and
St Albans Abbey station. This photo shows
the Watford North station adoption group
as formed in 2006.
Another favourite event on the line has been
the 'Easter Bunny' specials.
The Abbey Line CRP has helped to foster links
with local schools through project work.
For example, children at schools along the
Abbey Line got to put their creative skills
to the test, when the CRP sponsored local
wood sculptor, John Spielman, to spend a
day with each of the six schools along the
route, creating wood sculptures that represented
their thoughts on the Abbey Line.
Increased bicycle parking at Watford Junction
station.
New shelter at How Wood station.
Attractive information boards for the 'Abbey
Flyer walks' were erected at stations.
Children from St Stephens School in St Albans
were treated to a 'excursion' and
picnic by train to and from Bricket Wood,
thanks to the CRP.
In 2008, as part of the celebrations for
the line's 150th anniversary, a special
'Abbey Line Victorian Music Hall'
performance was commissioned and performed
at the Abbey Theatre in St Albans.
On May 5th 2008 the line celebrated its 150th
Anniversary. Amongst the celebrations were
a procession through the streets of St Albans,
replicating the opening day of 1858, the
unveiling of a plaque at Watford Junction,
and a funfair at Bricket Wood, close to the
site of the original 'Grays funfair'
which briefly brought the boom-times to Bricket
Wood almost 100 years earlier.
St Albans Abbey station has seen significant
improvements thanks to a joint venture between
London Midland, the train operator, and the
Community Rail Partnership. Improvements
included a new passenger shelter, bicycle
shelter, ticket machine, CCTV, signage, fencing,
resurfacing and remarking of the car park,
a new footpath, and finally a special ‘hump’
was installed at one end of the platform
to reduce the stepping distance between the
train and the platform. All of these improvements
make for a much safer, friendlier and more
welcoming station.
Another example of the CRP's work with
local schools, these mosaics at St Albans
Abbey were the 'icing on the cake'
of the station refurbishment program.
Another art project took place at Garston
station. The children painted both their
own images for display in the station poster
cabinets, and on the walls of the approach
path to the station.
