Herts and Beds
Our Herts and Beds Division (formerly Northern Division) is an integral part of Railfuture's London and South East regional branch. We aim to be the leading independent advocate for the rail industry and rail users in the area.
Area
Our area covers Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire (comprising three unitary authorities: Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, and Luton).
Within our Herts & Beds Division there are seven Rail User Groups affiliated to Railfuture:
- Abbey Flyer Users' Group (lapsed)
- Association of Public Transport Users (Thameslink)
- Bedford Commuters Association
- Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users Association
- Hadley Wood Rail User Group
- Hatfield Association of Rail Travellers
- Watford Rail Users Group - email.
Activities
We aim to become the main centre of independent rail advocacy for this area.
The next meeting will be on Saturday 25 July, and again ONLINE for about an hour from 10.30. Please do join us, virtually; it's very simple and is working very well as a means of keeping in touch and abreast of developments on the railway, with GTR and Herts CC representatives participating. See Contact below.
The next meeting is planned to be online on Tuesday 25 August at 19.30.
Our most recent meetings were on Saturdays 27 June, 30 May and 25 April 2020, all online. Topics ranged over the new May timetable's weekdays Saturday services, the earlier 'Sunday-plus' services, ticketing issues, engineering works, thoughts about aspirations for the post-GTR era, ticketing and fares - all the usual topics!
The previous meeting was on Saturday 28 March, also via video-conference. The particular topic was the draft Rail Strategy for Hertfordshire, the County Council consultation which closed on Monday 30th March. Our shared aspirations for a post-GTR era, whatever form a successor operational contract, or contracts, might be in the wake of the forthcoming publication of the Williams Rail Review, were also referenced.
It was therefore NOT held as usual at St. Paul's Church, corner of Hatfield Road/Blandford Road, St. Albans, AL1 4JP. 10.45 for 11.00 start, to 13.00. Contact Division Convener Neil Middleton, below. All rail user groups and community rail partnerships welcome.
The previous meeting on 22 February 2020 also had as its particular topic the draft Rail Strategy for Hertfordshire.
We have held several valuable meetings of this Division, formed in 2014, all in St. Albans. Regular participants include members from a number of local rail user groups and our neighbouring Thames Valley and East Anglia branches, plus Trevor Mason of Herts County Council and previously Larry Heyman, now Patrick Ladbury from GTR.
Stay up-to-date with all Railfuture and other events here and other key rail dates here.
Catch up with other London & South East rail development campaigning news in the regional branch newsletter railse here. Also subscribe there to the branch's new monthly e-newsletter inter-railse.
Take Part
We campaign for sustainable growth in market share for rail transport. Therefore we support initiatives which will improve the attraction of rail and create a successful, financially secure rail industry: sufficient capacity, efficient customer service, simpler fares, improved connectivity, faster schedules, network enhancements and improved competitiveness with other modes of transport. If you share these ideals please contact us. We welcome new members, and people to share practical ideas and to help put plans into action.
Contact
Email Herts & Beds Division Convener Neil Middleton: neil.middleton at railfuture.org.uk
