The St. Albans Abbey branch: low passenger usage

[swt class 450]

I personally think that one of the major problems is that the services finish far too early. There needs to be a service until at least around 00:00 to make it more attractive and useful for people to use.

I do like DynamicSpirit 's idea of running a Watford Junction - Watford North - Garston shuttle as well as the Watford Junction - Watford North - Garston - Bricket Wood - How Wood - Park Street - St Albans Abbey service.

The timetable could be as follows.

WFJ xx:00 xx:40
WFN xx:03 xx:43
GSN xx:05 xx:45
BWO xx:08
HWW xx:10
PKT xx:12
SAA xx:16

SAA xx:20
PKT xx:24
HWW xx:26
BWO xx:28
GSN xx:31 xx:51
WFN xx:33 xx:53
WFJ xx:36 xx:56

I would suggest that the last train of the day is at the very least around 00:00 as follows.

WFJ 00:00
WFN 00:03
GSN 00:05
BWO 00:08
HWW 00:10
PKT 00:12
SAA 00:16

SAA 00:20
PKT 00:24
HWW 00:26
BWO 00:28
GSN 00:31
WFN 00:33
WFJ 00:36

Unfortunately London Midland is run by Govia (Go Ahead) who couldnt care less about their passengers so i highly doubt that any improvements will actually happen.

Also do 350s ever get used on this line? If not is there any reason why they are not used?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Also do 350s ever get used on this line? If not is there any reason why they are not used?

Basically "cost" (at least twice as expensive as a 319 , and the fleet is more than committed on the main line services - more so now with 2 out of action following the landslip action at Watford Tunnel North. They are also somewhat overspecified for a 40 mph all stations branch line service.