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The
Nicky Line Foldout map with information on lots of history and wildlife along the way. Extract: The Nicky Line had two main stations in Hemel Hempstead and Redbourn and a number of halts and sidings. In its early days the line transported both local passengers and commuters traveling to London. However, as road transport increased the number of railway passengers declined and the last passenger train ran on 16th June 1947. Commercial traffic also declined, the straw plaiting trade had long since died out and the new local industries were served by road transport. The railway had a brief revival when industrial areas were developed in the north-east of Hemel Hempstead. However, few of the new companies used the railway line. 'In 1968, what was left of the line was sold to to the Hemelite Company, which had been using it since 1959 to transport ash from power stations to their yards in Cupid Green for use in the manufacture of building blocks. By 1979, two years after the railway's centenary, traffic ceased completely and the line was closed. 'Opened to the public in 1985 as a footpath and cycleway, many improvements have been undertaken along the line including surfacing and the construction of steps and access points. Today the Nicky Line provides a hedgelined peaceful haven for walkers, cyclists and wildlife.'
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