Park Street - Least Used Station in Hertfordshire

Another in the series! Visiting the least used station in each county in the UK to see what's there. This time, Hertfordshire! We're on the Abbey Line, where the least used station is Park Street.
The ORR statistics can be downloaded here: dataportal.orr...
Thanks for Roger for coming along with me, you can follow him on twitter at @busandtrainuser

[@josephwright433]

You know what, this just warms my heart. You first met Rodger 6 years ago, and recently you did the westernmost bus stop with him in Vatersey, you made a life long friend. It’s awesome.

[@busandtrainuser619]

Brilliant trip out with the wonderful Geoff. Great video capturing a great morning ... one that didn't quite go according to plan!

[@peaxn]

5 years into the future : we have covid 19

[@ParisHayes]

Roger was a pretty cool guy

[@BaZzZaa]

Roger is a legend

[@dongvo9220]

Arrrr

[@keepgoing1973]

"was"? Is he dead now?

[@313rail]

Ex Brighton and Hove Bus manager

[@demonnick666]

@@keepgoing1973He’s just not cool anymore.

[@denelson83]

"Euston, we've had a problem."

[@LisaSimpsonRules]

Euston doesn't care.

[@hi24x]

Lisa Simpson doesnt rule

[@beeble2003]

Wow, somebody got the quote correct! ("[W]e've had", not "we have".)

[@TommyWoodland]

​do u love lisa simpson

[@andreaculverhouse5789]

My 2 year old nephew watches your videos all day everyday! I'm convinced he's you're youngest fan. Funnily enough he lives in Park Street!!! Had my sister of known you were there she would have invited you in for a tea. She tweeted you a photo of him watching you today. He is disabled and your videos give him so much joy! I just wanted to thank you :)

[@grahamfrench329]

Wow, my old boss! Best man in the transport world.

[@busandtrainuser619]

Graham French Hey, cheers Graham 👍😊 You're the tops too.

[@ANarrowEscape115515]

Thought the face was familiar ...

[@buksi6342]

Graham French I saw him on a Southern train, I was going to say hello, but he got off.

[@davidpiper3652]

Just found this, brilliant. I was one of the 56 a day as it's my local station and I commuted to Euston every day for many years.

[@Antthecool1]

Just because someone had to do it, there several single track branch lines with first class such as the Newquay gets a HST and a Cross Country service in the Summer, the Windermere branch uses TPE 185s from Windermere to Oxenholme Lake District. Am sure there are a few others ;) Always enjoy the video Geoff!

[@Yournotsinginganymore]

Plane Sailing Ye Newquay has a massive platform so FGW fits perfect

[@techauthor324]

Late to the party here. I used to use the Abbey line all the time during the 1970s and 80s when i lived in Bricket Wood a bit further along the line towards Watford. l moved away from the area late 80s. The train itself was known as the Abbey Flyer. The Bricket Wood station was at the bottom of my grandparents garden and, as a child, i would always run to see the train when it passed. I remember the change from diesel to electric but cannot recall steam tho' l have old picture that show steam working late C19/early C20. Talk about unreliable trains? I walked most of the length of this line in my youth when the tain wasnt running! Nothing much changes.

[@thehaprust6312]

Ah, the Roger origin story. Somehow I have missed this one up to now.

[@smdhomeworkhelp]

Great video to end 2016 on Geoff and probably the most eventful of the series so far! The looks on both of your faces when the train was announced as cancelled were brilliant. Happy New Year!

[@richardmcgowan5878]

I used to live in Park Street and it's heartening to see the Abbey Flyer surviving. It's a pleasant ride, quite scenic once you're out of Watford, and it ends right by Verulamium Park so it's handy for the Abbey, the Roman museum and a stroll by the lake.

[@NavyAstroTurf]

memories :(

[@HenrysAdventures]

Great video, I enjoyed watching! I wish they'd reinstall the passing loop at Bricket Wood so a half hourly train could operate and if BedPan (class 319) has a problem with the doors they'd still be able to run one train!

[@TotalMorgo]

I had to laugh when you said "Crappy old 319s" as we've just received them as cast offs on the Liverpool to Manchester run. 😂

[@XNick291X]

I was once on a Class 321 out of Liverpool Street and it didn't even make it to Bethnal Green before it got cancelled, I think maybe because the lead car away from London couldn't get traction power on the incline between Liverpool Street and Stratford. I got a Class 315 ride instead which was a lot more enjoyable!

[@Veggietalesgodloveyou]

I was waiting for a class 350 at Cannock and the train got cancelled

[@davidoneill1]

I live near Park Street. It is a lovely area. There are some nice pubs in the nearby village of Frogmore, you can go for a walk along the River Ver, and there’s the beautiful Frogmore lakes. Plus there’s the Moor Mill restaurant nearby, which is housed in a 250-year-old former watermill with roots stretching back to 1086. A thoroughly underrated area if you ask me. I don’t know how often you check these comments - especially on the old videos - but if you’re ever back in the area, get in touch and I can show you the delights of Park Street.

[@AndyW77]

How interesting. I'm working on a radio feature about the Abbey Line's reliability; it gives up at any excuse. Interesting video. Do come back to St Albans though; it's very nice )

[@haydenluck]

These vlogs are great. I liked the guy who tagged along.

[@haywoodbadman10]

Hey Geoff it's great that you're taking a look at the abbey line. I'm from Stoke and my gf lives near St Albans. It's such a unique railway yet it's so poorly run I'm barely able to use it when I travel to and from hers. I had trouble the other week and thought of you!! Cheers for looking at it :)

[@MTVvids]

You are one of the best KZbinrs ever and I absolutely love this series! I might pop down to Elton and Orston in my area one day. That is the least used station in my home county of Nottinghamshire I think! I have only ever been through there on the train a few times and I recall some people getting of there. But, I am not sure...

[@JoeStunner]

I'm 51 now but lived in Park Street with my grandparents and mother as a toddler (Mayflower Road), then later on in my twenties, and still love the whole area. The Abbey Flyer and especially Park Street Station will always be precious to me because I remember taking trips to St. Albans with my grandmother. As any small kid will tell you, seeing a train approaching and boarding it is a thrill like no other. THANKS for posting this video, even if you didn't get to actually use the train itself. :-)

[@erik_griswold]

Park Street in Boston, USA is the main junction station there and is also the city's busiest.

[@barnabynorman157]

That is so typical of that line - you never really know if its going to go or not or be waiting for a bus that does not arrive! Better to get the trains from Radlett and they are tfl zone 7! Sometimes there is a train that goes all the way from Euston - It was empty when I got it! Thanks for sharing.

[@clickrick]

I remember using that station when I lived there, which predates both the electrification of the line and How Wood Halt being created!

[@hamishashcroftplaysminecra6262]

Please take a trip up to visit us in Scotland. We have some pretty quiet stations up here too. A really scenic lovely station in the middle of nowhere is Corrour station. Its the highest railway station in the UK and the nearest road is 10km away, its got a lovely hotel/restaurant at the station aswell. Also take the train up to Glenfinnan and go on the steam train their, I know one of the drivers. Also head to Angus which has Two of the least used train stations in the UK, Barry Links and Golf street. Happy travels :)

[@greatbritishentertainmentl5636]

I use to live at Bricket Wood and got a steam train to (1957/58) Abbey Station on way to school 5 days a week. It changed to DMU diesel trains in the '60s and was very popular as was Park Street station as there was a Handley Page aircraft factory and aerodrome there. Staff used the train service until it closed I believe in the 90s, so the station usage became quieter, but still handy for Watford or St Albans.

[@merlinmediagroup]

I used to use this station when I worked in Park Street. I also used to get the 655 from St Albans Station to Park Street.

[@chrisw443]

omg, thats so cool! a community website that has a actual voice in trains and public transit?! we dont get that in the states!

[@Ciaran100]

You get public transit in the states?!!!!!

[@ronclark9724]

@@Ciaran100 In the large cities there is public transportation. Most large to mid sized cities have buses, some have trains of one sort or another. Smaller towns in the rural areas usually have some sort of shuttle bus for hospitals, usually in association with nursing homes. America does have wonderful school bus services throughout the nation, even for the handicapped. But being so much larger than the UK, only in areas around the northeast corridor does public transportation come close to matching. Simply put, America spent more on freeways both urban and rural than Europe. Only London has the urban sprawl of many American cities, Liverpool and Manchester and Birmingham are no matches to sprawl as Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Dallas-Fort Worth, etc. As Geoff has discovered, the frequency of service does not exist on branch rail lines even in the UK, no where near the frequency of service as London... Keep in mind the one state of New York is larger in size than England...

[@alexleo172]

@@Ciaran100 Big cities have public transportation,who are we? Some idiots?

[@joesos]

you dont get much railway at all in the states..

[@victorharderson8782]

This is now one of my favorites.. O enjoyed it very much. Thank you

[@victorharderson8782]

*I

[@lofcmatt]

Sat on NYE watching this video of a local train station I've always wanted to visit but never bothered as it's such a weird branch line to no where! Brilliant work!

[@Dean256]

Nearly 7 years of Roger. Great guy.

[@cyberknue1598]

HEY! The 319's are good units one of the best in my opinion, especially with the new 'refurbishment' Thameslink put to them. Great video, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[@ianmurray250]

Re: Ticket machine, it was brand new, and awaiting connection to the Internet, thus the station information saying there wasn't a ticket machine. Sloppy really, London Midland could have had a sign on the screen that said new, being installed or something, poor software design, but if you think about it to install a ticket machine, you first build the location, then get an electrical connection, then install the machine and only when it is up and running can you connect it to the network.

[@danthefryingpan963]

Geoff's videos are the ideal rail videos. Please dont stop uploading.

[@dylanlcreser]

I just woke up and I am watching this video now

[@aperrin9727]

D George same!

[@Stockstad]

D George Same here, Happy new year!

[@EinkOLED]

wooooow. You deserve to be knighted.

[@Onixstar]

D George Still living in Beaulieu?

[@jvids2735]

D George same

[@peterbradburn9115]

Love Roger.

[@carlybishop6160]

I live near Watford Junction and soon will be catching that train. I work in How Wood which is one of the stops. And you have upset everyone living in Watford! :O I moved here 2 years ago and love it. Great town!

[@monstrositysam6370]

Roger: Its a 319 Geoff: Oh its a crappy 319 Also the cab door fell off :)

[@henryhart7101]

Henley-on-Thames to Twyford branch always has a first class!

[@rossssd4969]

Henry Hart Not any more. The first class compartments are now open to standard class passengers. There's signage up saying so.

[@henryhart7101]

Oh thanks for letting me know! Last time I was on the line was couple years ago but moved from Henley to near Northamptonshire so don't get to travel on the line anymore! Many thanks though

[@mraiq4223]

What did Geoff say?

[@Thegoldenemerald]

Its declassified

[@dongvo9220]

????

[@DJWerkz]

My wife’s cousins live on Park Street a short distance from the station. Nice to see great British rail network again. Greetings from Texas

[@voxley19]

As you arrived at Watford Junction in the video, I thought "they're lucky the St. Albans train is running"- and then nomal service on that line was resumed i.e. no trains!

[@HenrysAdventures]

I remember a few years ago they were going to convert the Abbey Line to a tramway! I think the best way to increase the service to 1/2 hourly would be to reinstate the passing loop at How Wood!

[@njuham]

Geoff, you found a proper anorack, I have to admit. Well done!

[@VulcanTrekkie45]

Funny, cos when I hear Park Street, I think very busy, simply because the Park Street here in Boston sees nearly 20k passengers a day.

[@jc441-i3q]

Geoff has a little of a Daniel Craig look to him.

[@CastorRabbit]

I think he looks a bit like a trainspotting Hawkeye

[@laurathornton1456]

With a touch of Liam Neeson around the eyes.

[@rachelquarrell71]

Come to think of it he does.

[@lewiszzz13]

JPaul C Geoff looks like my head teacher

[@BillyF2LJeffs]

The village where I grew up! :) So cool to see that you covered the station. Never knew it was the least used!!! I would have thought it'd be How Wood just one stop down the line because it's kinda far from How Wood central whereas Park Street is right in the village. Strange! :)

[@jerematic]

6:03 "It is Watford; it's not very interesting" You hecking got that right XD

[@JeffrevinYT]

Happy New Year, Geoff!

[@kimifur]

Roger was a cool guy! Fun video - thanks for uploading!

[@Maximevete]

cab door fell off😂😂😂😂

[@rajuseth1683]

disadvantage of using EMUs,anything goes wrong even a bolt,service is cancelled

[@SomeBritishDud1]

@@rajuseth1683 Not a problem with EMUs, more just the Class 319s

[@rajuseth1683]

@@SomeBritishDud1 i guess class 319 is also a EMU(EMU = electrical multiple unit as oer indian railways)

[@gregkiteos1936]

The driver drove it to Bletchley and it was fixed.

[@nicholaskelly1958]

Dear Roger French! We certainly miss you in Brighton & Hove!

[@Trockenshampooleopard]

"Helpful information: Ticket office - there is no ticket office at this station. That's helpful." - I love you, Roger

[@anokata-kd8oc]

I like your host this time, a really sympathic man!

[@francislawson3523]

You hate the 319? Come up North. We've got Pacers... to us the 319s are new.

[@neoshadow4793]

Don't worry, you'll be getting brand new 195s soon

[@thisis_mudchute]

pacer > 319

[@paulneave2041]

Brilliant! Roger was a natural.

[@RBXTrains]

That is one of London Midlands brand new TVMs (They've gone mad installing new TVMs in their franchise extension due to a new commitment). LM TVMs have a habit of being out of use for a few days-weeks when first being installed so maybe it was just very new when you visited!

[@servertoaster]

Yesterday, 185120 almost broke down at Stalybridge (if you were wondering, yes we did take the parliamentary train) and 185129 had to come to the rescue! 185129 pushed it to Manchester Piccadilly, then detached and did its run to Manchester Airport. 185120's Liverpool service had to be cancelled! I don't know what happened t 185120 because I went to the café and waited for my 11:17 Class 142 142043 back home.

[@onthecoast8]

Ha. Just stumbled across this. I grew up in Park Street and as a teenager relied on this non-existent service to get me to St.Albans. Even worse in the late Seventies and not nearly as flash. Never turned up so usually ended up getting the fairly reliable 355 bus. This alone motivated to get my driving licence as soon as was legally allowed!

[@RoulinBrooks]

Roger was a natural at this. You should use him again. Yeah, Roger!

[@martinclitheroe]

You and your cups of tea.....! 😂

[@manusk40]

*you're

[@Komputerderg1]

😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@dez3540]

@@manusk40 Definitely "your"

[@mistie710]

Amazing number of cameras seem to be left behind in these videos! :)

[@matthewtowe755]

Geoff love your videos they are very good and I have been watching all the stations

[@matthewfair9195]

You two should get a show! "Roger And Geoff's Railway Adventures"

[@marcdebruin2425]

Nice one. The cancelled train only adds to the 'fun'.

[@Lemonaitor]

The Braintree branch, a single track (which on a sunday service is just used as a branch) has a first class compartment on the 321s.

[@Lemonaitor]

Also White Notley on the Braintree branch is least used station in Essex, and served hourly from Liverpool Street!

[@lewismelrose4334]

The Marshlink between Hastings and Ashford is predominantly Single Tracked and has a first class section

[@Carlyknarly]

I liked Rodger, can he go on another one?

[@TommyWoodland]

Train got cancelled Haa the 10.24 service 4:20

[@Benyboy001]

Look forward to when you visit Shippea Hill station in Cambridgeshire!

[@LeeRender1980]

Even though the Abbey Line has suffered a high number of cancellations / failures since Class 319s were introduced back in 2015, replacing Class 321/4s which were sent North at the behest of the franchising process - London Midland have recognised that with this high failure it's not ideal and a number of remedial plans are in the course of being action. Having done the reverse of what Geoff and Rodger did, London - St. Albans CIty - Abbey - Watford - for those unfamiliar with St. Albans, like me, there is very little wayfinding signage between the two stations so it's easy to get lost! Also, City station is at the top of a hill and Abbey at the bottom

[@TravelJackJourneys158]

Hi Geoff Happy New Year to you I liked your video on my local route London Midland are always cancelling train but I also have Arriva Trains Wales there run a fantastic service

[@ellenkingsley]

I'm actually from Watford myself and I have never used the St Albans Abbey Line I will now thanks to this video

[@benjaminchan1590]

You should come to Park Street station in Boston, MA. That station with both the Red and Green Lines also with the Orange Line via passageway at Downtown Crossing (Next Stop) is extremely busy every day. Trust me, you will see the difference between the two!

[@SGMiner21]

Another brilliant, interesting video. Shame you couldn't get to Park Street by train lol but at least you had fun. One thing that bothers me, at 11:21, the guy in the background looks slightly similar to the footballer Luis Suárez in that shot and is bugging me somehow. I would do a video for the Least Used Station in Wales but I am 13 and that may look quite weird in a video? I am not sure, would love to do one though :) Anyways, hope you're looking forward to 2017 and hope there will be more Least Used Station videos next year :D

[@kapage74]

Screwed over by a good old 319, I know the feeling

[@shaunhouse8634]

My experience on Thameslink is since they've started bringing in the 700s these are proving even worse than the 319s which must be about 20 odd years old now

[@uwlodar]

Luckily the 319's are being phased out now on Thameslink. Hopefully the 700's should be way more reliable. London Midland may unfortunately still be having their 319 on this line for some time, unless one day it refuses to start and never works again.

[@etsmp_gh]

Right now i hate 700s more than 319s there so bland and boring

[@thisis_mudchute]

now london northwestern (which took over london midland) has 730s in the west midlands livery

[@mattpilgrim2607]

Roger was a fantastic guy

[@jordanhard4251]

I use that exact train a little while ago and wondered why I thought it felt familiar, because i had watched this video!!!

[@CoffeeOnRails]

god I'm so glad they replaced my 319's with 700's.

[@beeble2003]

"'There is no ticket machine available at this station.' What a minute -- what's that over there, then?" That is a ticket machine, but it is not _available_. The sign is technically correct.

[@MirzaAhmed89]

If you are ever in the US, head over to Stamford, Connecticut, and ride the New Canaan Branch line. Just as charming as many of the branch lines in the UK, and with stations that are just as "basic".

[@erictoucan8405]

My one and only attempt to travel on the Abbey line was on a Sunday morning in summer 2016. What a surprise the train was cancelled, due to a defective door on the Class 319!

[@Mishima505]

I used to use this line to go to college in Watford back in the BR days. Trains used to run in time back then.

[@ye_mother]

I dunno how he makes this series entertaining

[@AndyThorne23]

Looking forward to the Teeside Airport video Geoff...

[@jamiew6438]

Shame you couldn't do the journey . I grew up along one of the stops and it is a lovely semi-rural train ride . Also I would have thought How Wood , had less custom .

[@klaudiagrob]

You know I really admire the fact that you go to these places which are in the middle of nowhere and really hard to get out off. This is actually ridiculous because people who live in places like this need a good service.

[@cfs123plays8]

The Norwich to Great Yarmouth line sometimes has a first class compartment, however that is a double track branch. Liked the video anyway.

[@Cars_and_adventures]

It's funny I am currently waiting for a friend at park street station walking the exact same steps as you as I watch it haha

[@mccanmat]

My very local station! The reason the ticket machine was out of service is because it had only just been installed and wasn't ready for service :-)

[@ClydebridgeStation]

I like the 319s. Been on them a few times, when on holiday on the south coast, and never broke down!

[@BarneyLeith]

I believe Herts County Council would like to turn the St Albans Abbey Line into a guided busway. Because there's no passing loop on the line, the service frequency cannot be improved, but they don't have the money (or they're too mean) to build the necessary passing loop.

[@hammerontrains2645]

Single branch line with First Class: Inverness-Aberdeen/Stonehaven/Edinburgh/Glasgow.

[@andrewhutchinson36]

Lymington branch. Single throughout with 1st class accommodation on all trains.

[@wilfredocadelina6424]

If u go to Shropshire, the least used station is Broome

[@offwithhishead2556]

Memory lane! As dreadful teenageers my mates and I used to ride the old 2-carraige diesel Flyer to St Albans just to see how many posh storeowners we could annoy. There wasn't much to do in Watford in the 70s.

[@the123king]

Swanage Heritage Railway (due to be connected to the mainline in 2017/2018) has first-class carriages and the whole line is single track

[@onlinespeedy8108]

I really really hate the London midiland ticket machines for many many reasons they are confusing, unresponsive, always out of order! And I have to use them all the time and sometimes I just get on the train without one and pay when I get on the train!

[@HatterDave]

Used this line a couple of times to get from Luton to Watford (via St Albans, and then walking to Abbey) as it's a lot cheaper than going through London