Service to run from London Euston to Abbey Line stations from December 13

The Abbey Line is a single line track that ferries passengers between Watford and St Albans daily, via stations including Watford North, Garston, Park Street, How Wood, and Bricket Wood.

It's not the most used route but it is an important transport link for those who live in neighbourhoods along the line; particularly those who commute in and out of London.

That's because it takes passengers into a platform at Watford Junction where they can change for frequent services in and out of the capital.

But from Monday December 13, every weekday at 9.10pm, you'll be able to hop on a train at London Euston and travel all the way to St Albans Abbey station without getting off.

A sign for St Albans Abbey station (Image: Newsquest)
Railway operator London Northwestern says the service, which will be the last of the day to St Albans Abbey, will use a short bit of 25mph track at Watford Junction that connects to the Abbey Line which is usually out of bounds.

The new journey is scheduled on the Trainline app, taking 37 minutes to get from Euston to St Albans Abbey.

According to the app, it will actually take exactly the same amount of time the quickest journey from Euston to St Albans takes at the moment via Watford Junction.

It's because the 9.10pm service takes 21 minutes from Euston to Watford Junction whereas normal services take 16 minutes.

You won't have to change at Watford Junction to get onto the Abbey Line on your way back from London for the last service of the day. Credit: Watford Borough Council

In full, and according to the Trainline app, the new 9.10pm service will call at Watford Junction at 9.29pm, at Watford North at 9.33pm, Garston at 9.36pm, Bricket Wood at 9.39pm, How Wood at 9.42pm, and Park Street at 9.43pm, before terminating at St Albans Abbey at 9.47pm.

According to MyLondon, the 9.10pm service is being introduced for operational reasons, connected to the replacement of older Class 319 trains with newer Class 350 trains used on the mainline.

London Northwestern is urging people to check timetable changes to its services, introduced from Sunday December 12, at www.lnr.uk/plan.

Meanwhile, it was announced earlier this year funding has been successfully sought to develop a business case for a passing loop on the Abbey line, potentially in the Bricket Wood area.

The Abbey Flyer Users Group believes this will help improve the frequency of train journeys on the line, which currently run every 45 minutes.

Related: Big boost for Abbey Line and idea of a 'passing loop'