Tram for Hertfordshire getting 'closer'

Date: 30/10/2009

Watford and St Albans are close to getting a tram service linking the two destinations.

Transport secretary Andrew Adonis and Hertfordshire City Council announced today that the proposed service would encourage more people to use public transport on a suitable service.

Currently, "spotty" service is only available linking the two cities, with an estimated 450,000 passengers a year.

Proposed plans would run a regular half-hourly tram, with the potential to run every 20 minutes if needed.

"The improvements would offer travellers the prospect of a better and more flexible service," he said.

The plans are now subject to 12 week DfT consultation and rail responsibility would transfer to Hertfordshire County Council, which would take responsibility for contracting out the work to be completed.

Mr Adonis added the tram service could be up and running as early as 2011, provided the consultation stage goes well.