Back on home turf this time, to sample some more of the new and altered routes in Hertfordshire, following various changes introduced earlier in 2025.

In my report, “Hearts & Minds in Herts & Beds” of 16/10/25, I concentrated mainly on UNO plus L&D Busway operations, this time I focus mostly on Arriva Herts.

Arriva Enviro400 MMC 4569 of Luton Garage on the 321 at Luton Interchange before my long trip on it through to Watford. Whilst not a new route, it did receive a substantial frequency increase as part of changes from 31st August 2025.

*This was the only vehicle of this type on the route when I travelled.*

DAY 1

Arriva 321: Luton - Watford

I began my odyssey over the border in Luton at the Interchange by the station. The first target was the long trunk route 321, which winds its way through Herts down to Watford. A well known route, but one I had not been on for many moons. From 31st August, this service regained some of its former glory, when its frequency was doubled to every 15 mins M-S daytimes and 30 mins M-S eves & Sun daytimes, remaining Hourly early Sun mornings and evenings. This replaced the 721 between Luton & St Albans, which was withdrawn after less than 2 years in operation, but gave a significant boost over the previous frequency between St Albans & Watford.

Arriva operate the 321 out of Luton Garage with a PVR of 16, comprising about one third double deck and two thirds single deck. The double deckers are mainly the Volvo B9TLs with Optare Olympus bodies, but there was one Enviro400 MMC out to play when I visited, fleet no 4569, and this was the bus I joined for its next southbound trip.

A reasonable number of users as we made our way out of Luton, passing close to the site of the long closed Luton (LS) Garage. Approaching Stockwood Park, our progress was retarded by a long queue up to temporary lights, but on finally passing these, we made better time with a speedy run through the countryside past the grounds of Luton Hoo. From Kinsbourne Green, there was another slow moving line of traffic through to Harpenden Town Centre, which seems particularly blighted by congestion these days at peak times. After serving the various stops in the town, with passengers on and off in small numbers, we continued at greater pace through more countryside to St Albans, where we reached the site of another former London Country Garage, St Albans (SA), sadly now turned over to housing.

Most passengers alighted in St Peter’s Street, which acts as the effective Bus Station for the town. By now, we were more than 10 mins late, but a 5 min “hesitation” built into the schedule here which we didn’t take helped us to recoup some of this. Unusually quiet from here on, with not that many passengers and traffic flowing freely. Through Chiswell Green and on to the M25 Roundabout, taking the outside lane to avoid the traffic queue waiting to get onto the M1, leaving a couple of passengers waiting at the adjacent stop to board a 724 which was just behind us. Turning left at the lights into Garston, the former GR Garage has also been replaced by a new development of apartments.

By now, we had caught up the 321 in front, which had also been affected by the traffic and swept past it in North Watford. This section can also be congested at peak times, but we sailed through past yet another closed garage, Watford Leavesden Road (WT), which closed as long ago as 1952 when it was replaced by Garston (GR), but is the only one where the frontage is still there, incorporated into a commercial building. After calling at Watford Junction Interchange, we made our way along Clarendon Road into the Town Centre, by now bang on time again. Everyone else alighted at the central stops, with only me and the driver continuing on under Bushey Arches and round to the terminus at Watford General Hospital. 1h45m in total for the trip, not bad considering all the intervening traffic hazards and illustrating that delays encountered early on a long route can sometimes be made up on the latter stages.

***The main double deck element of the 321 is represented by Arriva Volvo B9TL Optare Olympus 4105, seen in St Albans (St Peter’s Street) heading for Watford.***

*Double deckers provide around a third of the allocation on the 321 at the time of writing.*

Part Arriva 321: Watford - St Albans

During the 15 min layover, the bus in front arrived behind us and left only 5 mins down on schedule, whilst a third bus then appeared, with the driver saying she was 45 mins late! However, I rejoined 4569, which departed at the allotted time. Two hesitations are built into the schedule, with 4 or 5 mins at both Watford Town Centre and St Albans St Peter’s Street, which help with late running, but which we were forced to take on this part of the journey. A run of about 1 hour back the way I had come to St Albans, where I alighted, encountering one of the Volvo double deckers proceeding in the opposite direction.

The 321 was once an even longer route, running from Luton to Uxbridge in London Transport and London Country days, although the through service was supplemented by a multiplicity of short workings over parts of it. It was converted from RT to OPO with AN types in 1972 and passed through operation by London Country North West, Luton & District and Arriva. Cut backs at the southern end saw Watford becoming the eventual terminus from the north.

***The 321 frequency increase plus new route 300 between St Albans & Hemel Hempstead from 31st August 2025 replaced Route 721.*** ***Volvo B7RLE Wright 3944 of Luton Garage recalls the old order at Luton Interchange back in January 2024.***

*This route was only introduced in November 2023 via parts of the 321 & 302 to provide a new direct service between Luton & Hemel Hempstead, so was very short-lived.*

Arriva 300: St Albans - Hemel Hempstead

After a well needed coffee and comfort break, I resumed my rides with a trip on new Route 300, which was introduced with the August changes to replace the St Albans - Hemel section of the 721. Arriva operate this out of Hemel Hempstead Garage, the three buses out on this occasion being a single decker (Volvo B7RLE) plus two doubles (an Enviro400 MMC and a “classic” Enviro 400). I caught the latter, fleet no 5462, one of two of the type remaining at the garage. The timetable is a little odd, with a 30 min service for most of the day M-S except evenings, but with longer gaps of an hour or more at peak times - presumably due to the buses being required on school services - but hardly conducive to usage!

Nevertheless, we had a good few takers, although mostly short-riders from the City Centre to the outer estates. The 300 proceeds down the hill past the magnificent edifice of St Alban’s Cathedral to Abbey Station, then up to the King Harry junction, where we hung a right along King Harry Lane, depositing a number at the Verulam Estate. Turning left onto Hemel Hempstead Road, we had a great rip-roaring run through the countryside to Leverstock Green, with its quaint little church, the “Leather Bottle” pub and village green. We picked up a couple more here for Hemel, before carrying on via the direct main road route down the hill to Hemel Hempstead Town Centre, terminating at Riverside a touch under 30 mins after leaving St Albans. Certainly the quickest route between the two places.

***Arriva has a couple of Enviro400s at Hemel Hempstead Garage. One of the duo, 5462, with a very flickering blindbox, is seen on Hemel Town Service 2 at Bennetts End Shops during my rounder on it.***

*I also rode the other example, 5461, on the 300 from St Albans to Hemel earlier in the day.*

Arriva 2: Hemel Hempstead Town Service

Whilst in Hemel, there was time to fit in a quick spin on one of the Town Services, so I opted for Arriva’s Route 2, on which 3 of the 4 buses were deckers, consisting of 2 Enviro400 MMCs plus 1 “classic” Enviro400, fleet no 5462. This was next to arrive at Riverside on a trip to Bennetts End, so I boarded with a good crowd. A 20 min frequency operates M-F Schooldays during the day, dropping to 30 mins M-F Non Schooldays and Saturdays. An Hourly service runs late evenings and all day Sunday.

A busy run out to the Nash Mills area of town, before turning up to Bennetts End, where we terminated at the shops. A 7 min break and then I continued on the same bus around the short terminal loop and back to town. Another well filled trip, with most alighting at Marlowes in the Town Centre, the former Bus Station now long gone. I stayed on with a fresh bunch of punters for the second part of the trip, proceeding via the Highfield and Grove Hill areas to Woodhall Farm, a newish estate near Cupid Green. A long terminal loop here with no stand time, before returning to town the way we had come. I alighted back at Riverside having completed the “rounder” after a total trip of 1h20m.

Hemel Town Services are a bit of a mish-mash in my view, with various operators, some routes having an “H” prefix and some not, unlike somewhere like Stevenage, where at least the town network runs under uniform “SB” numbers regardless of operator.

***Arriva VDL SB200 Wright 3759 of Hemel Garage on the 302 to Welwyn Garden City in St Peter’s Street, St Albans.***

*Seen after I had ridden aboard to this point from Hemel Hempstead Town Centre. The vehicle is in de-branded “Max” livery.*

Part Arriva 302: Hemel Hempstead - St Albans

To return to St Albans, I boarded the next bus to arrive on the 302, Arriva VDL SB200 Wright Eclipse Gemini 3759 in faded “Max” livery with branding removed. This was running about 15 mins late, presumably delayed on the previous trip, receiving some comments in Marlowes from passengers like “I thought you weren’t coming!”, which elicited a sarky response from the driver and various remarks from others aboard about how rude he was.

The 302 runs from Hemel to Welwyn Garden City via a different intermediate route to St Albans and we continued uphill out of town, passing the Midland Hotel, which stands opposite the site of the former Hemel Hempstead Station on the “Nicky Line” to Harpenden, a disused railway that is now a walking route. After ambling around the Adeyfield area, we rejoined the 300 at Leverstock Green, for another fast trip through the woods and fields to St Albans. However, unlike the 300, the 302 travels via the City Hospital, arriving in St Peter’s Street from the opposite end, where I left the bus after a 35 min run.

***The majority single deck allocation on Arriva 321 is represented here by Volvo B7RLE Wright 3892, seen picking up in St Peter’s Street, St Albans.***

*This is the vehicle I rode later in the day from here back to Luton.*

Part Arriva 321: St Albans - Luton

To end the day, I rejoined the 321 northbound to Luton, this time riding one of the single deck contingent, Volvo B7RLE fleet no 3892. We left St Albans already almost full and around 10 mins late. After picking up a crowd of home-going school students on the outskirts of the city, we had a good run to Harpenden, where most alighted. However, we then hit a wall of traffic through the town, which at least enabled a good appreciation of the local Christmas lights and decorations, as it was getting dark.

After a crawl at walking pace for the next mile or so, the traffic suddenly dissipated and we were at last up to a decent rate through Kinsbourne Green and back to Luton. However, the delay had cost us another 20 mins and we finally reached Luton Interchange half an hour down on schedule, a run of 1h5m from St Albans, rather than the 45 mins allowed. A slow end to the day, which tempered the reasonable runs I had experienced up to that point.

Arriva Wright StreetLite 4276 of Stevenage Garage loads on the 400 to WGC and Panshanger at Stevenage Bus Interchange. This was a new route from 2nd November 2025, replacing the former 908 and part of the 401.

*The proximity of the new Bus Station to the Railway Station is evident, enabling easy interchange.*

DAY 2

Arriva 400: Stevenage - Welwyn Garden City (Panshanger)

The following morning, I began the second part of my adventure at Stevenage Interchange. First item on the agenda was another new route, the 400. This was introduced by Arriva on 2nd November 2025, replacing the 908 between Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City, which was withdrawn, then continuing over WGC Town Service 401 to Panshanger. The service operates Hourly M-S not evenings. Additional shorts operate between WGC Bus Station & Panshanger as 401, providing a joint 30 min service over this section with the 400 on M-S daytimes. On Sundays, the 401 operates alone on a 60 min frequency between 0930 and 1830.

Wright StreetLites are the typical fare on the 400/401, with each bus generally operating in a cycle as 400 Stevenage - Panshanger, then 401 Panshanger - WGC - Panshanger, then 400 Panshanger - Stevenage. However, the day I travelled, there was an unusual bus out on the route, Enviro200 fleet no 4009, a former First and Tower Transit vehicle previously on TfL work as DM44269. The usual First interior was somewhat tarnished by a few of the purple seat cushions having been replaced with Arriva blue ones in a somewhat haphazard manner, which looked most odd!

Due to late arrival of the inbound bus, which had been delayed on its previous working on Stevenage Town Service SB18, together with a protracted driver change, we left the Interchange some 10 mins late with a load just into double figures. Down through the Stevenage Retail Parks, then on to the “Roebuck”, before the country section through to Knebworth. After this, we continued via Woolmer Green and Mardley Hill to Welwyn Church, where the village centre was snarled up due to parked cars in the narrow streets.

Thus far, we had run in parallel with the 301 (Stevenage - St Albans), but after Welwyn, we parted company with it, turning right at the Petrol Station on the edge of the village rather than left as per the 301. Then, a fast run along part of the old Great North Road through Ayot Green to Lemsford Corner on the edge of WGC. This was followed by a ride through the estates to the town centre, where everyone else alighted at the Bus Station. I stayed aboard, joined by a handful of others, for the continuation to Panshanger, via Bridge Road, Bessemer Road and Black Fan Road. At Sir Frederic Osborn School begins a lengthy terminal loop around the Panshanger area, with our outbound 400 changing to a 401 at this point (conversely, 401s change to 400s here). A 50 min run from Stevenage.

Arriva Enviro200 4009 of Stevenage Garage has arrived at WGC Bus Station after my ride aboard it from Panshanger on the 401. This route is a short working of the new 400 which operates through to Stevenage.

*The bus is former First London & Tower Transit DM44269 and the only one of its type at Stevenage Garage.*

Arriva 401: Panshanger - Welwyn Garden City

Now as a 401, we continued from Herns Lane in a loop around Daniells and on to Panshanger Shops in Moors Walk. Another loop followed, via the newer estate roads of Bericot Way, Lysander Way, Shackleton Way & Sylvan Way, back to Panshanger Drive and the Morrisons store. Shortly after, we rejoined the outward route in Black Fan Road and returned to WGC Bus Station. Just a 20 min trip, but quite well used.

***Arriva’s Optare Versa 2404 of Ware Garage is on the 323 at Hertford Bus Station on route to WGC and Haldens after my ride on it.***

*The 323 was diverted via Sele Farm and extended from Hertford to Ware Fanham Common as part of the changes from 31st August 2025 to absorb the former Route 395, which was withdrawn.*

Arriva 323: Welwyn Garden City - Ware (& back to Hertford)

Back at WGC Bus Station again, a short break before I moved on to my next route, Arriva 323. This existing service between WGC & Hertford was altered from 31st August 2025, when it was extended to Ware to absorb the 395, which was withdrawn. The loss of the latter is significant, as the 395 has provided the local service between the estates in Hertford and Ware for many decades.

Ware Garage provide the rolling stock for the 323, which normally comprises a mix of Wright StreetLites and Optare Versas. I had one of two Versas out, fleet no 2404, in traditional Arriva livery, which I boarded on its outbound trip to Haldens with a few others. After leaving WGC Bus Station, we proceeded from the town centre along Digswell Road to Knightsfield, before continuing to Haldens Shops and around the one way terminal loop. The return to town is via Bessemer Road, under the East Coast Main Line and back down Digswell Road to the Bus Station again, all through typical “garden city” suburbia.

A 5 min “hesitation” at the Bus Station, before we set off once again, proceeding via Bridge Road and Broadwater Road to the Peartree area of town, followed by Chequers and Howlands to the QE2 Hospital. After this, along Beehive Lane, where the once attractive pub is now closed and boarded up, before reaching Cole Green Lane and the outskirts of the garden city at Great Ganett. Suddenly, we left the housing behind and were into wooded country, passing the start of the “Cole Green Way”, a walking and cycle route over the disused railway line between WGC & Hertford, which closed to passengers in 1951. A fast non-stop run ensued over the A414 dual carriageway, with Panshanger Park on our left, before turning up Thieves Lane to serve new housing on the edge of Hertford.

Since the changes in August, the 323 has been rerouted via Welwyn Road and Bentley Road to the former 395 terminus at Sele Farm Estate, from which point it follows exactly the latter route. With a number on board, we made our way down into the county town via Windsor Drive Shops and North Station, reaching Hertford Bus Station which includes a few minutes hesitation. After collecting some returning shoppers, we continued along Ware Road past the site of the former London Country Hertford (HG) Garage at Fairfax Road, closed in 1989 and redeveloped for residential purposes. Passing under the A10 Viaduct, we progressed down into Ware, turning left over the level crossing by the station and into the town.

We picked up a good load at the start of New Road before making our way up Musley Hill and right into Homefield Road and Fanhams Road on the time-honoured loop around this area. Sadly, the large “Jolly Bargeman” pub at Fanham Common is now another to be closed and boarded up. Continuing around the loop via Cromwell Road and Musley Lane, we re-emerged in the town at Star Street. I stayed on the bus as we looped around Viaduct Road, then round the roundabout onto Hertford Road and back past Ware College towards Hertford. I finally alighted at the Bus Station after a total trip of 1h40m since I had boarded.

I am not sure whether the fusing of the 323 and 395 routes is a particularly good move - the previous operation was understood locally and worked reasonably well. Traffic congestion can affect Hertford at peak times, which may have an adverse effect on reliability. One small advantage of the new set up is that 323s now pass close to their operational garage at Ware, making driver changes a bit easier.

***Vectare / Central Connect Mercedes Benz Sprinter minibus 222 on the 38A Hertford to Stevenage, seen in Hertford Bus Station before my spin on the route.***

This route comprises just 2 trips a day in each direction on M-S, which are essentially positioning journeys for the 38, which operates between the same points but via a longer route through the villages. The 38/38A were previously numbered 384/383.

Vectare Central Connect 38A: Hertford - Stevenage

After lunch, I decided to return to my start point at Stevenage, which is linked to Hertford by various services, the most obvious being the long-established 390 (direct via Watton) or the fairly new 907 (via Ware and the A602). In addition, there are a number of infrequent village links, the 38 (Via Ware, Dane End & Benington) and the 378/379 (via Datchworth & Knebworth).

However, I plumped for the 38A, a variant which operates just twice a day M-S, departing Hertford at 1025 & 1425 and Stevenage at 1120 & 1420. These are really positioning journeys for the main(!) 38 service, itself just 5 or 6 trips each way per day. Vectare are the operator, normally using a couple of Mercedes Sprinter minibuses, although a larger bus occasionally subs. Fleet no 222 duly arrived at Hertford Bus Station and deposited 4 passengers from its previous 38 journey, before turning into a 38A for the return run to Stevenage.

I was the sole passenger boarding and we departed around 5 mins late, although I guessed that we would easily make this up, which we did! I am not a lover of minibuses, but it made a change to sample this most rural and unusual of operations on a 16 seater, 2 seats per row on the offside and 1 on the nearside, plus a back row of 5. For the first part of the route, we ran in parallel with the plain 38, along the main road to Ware Crossing, where we picked up a second (and only other) passenger bound for Watton-At-Stone. No-one else joined us as we made our way through the town and we flew up Wadesmill Road to Kingsway and then looped around the Old Vicarage Estate with no takers.

Turning into Westmill Road, we left Ware over the A10 Roundabout and along the A602 before turning off to serve the small village of Tonwell (pronounced “Tunnell”). Once again, a complete waste of time, and we resumed our journey along the main road again. Unlike the 38, which turns off to serve Dane End, Benington and Walkern, the 38A continues on to Watton-At-Stone, where we dropped our other passenger at Great Innings. No-one picked up here for Stevenage, although the more frequent 390 may have swept up any potential users.

Back to the A602, which we followed to Bragbury End, before diving off down a very narrow and winding lane a mile or so to serve the pretty village of Aston, with pub, green and cottages. Circling around the village centre, again the locals shunned us and we retraced our steps up the lane to Bragbury End. A hairy section of route with lots of blind corners, with oncoming cars and vans encountered a couple of times in each direction, necessitating a move almost into the hedge!

Once back on the main road, a straight run via Stevenage Football Club and Roaring Meg Retail Park to Stevenage Interchange, where we finished bang on time after a 50 min fairground type ride, in an unusual end to my 2 days riding around Herts.

The 38A and 38 were previously numbered 383 and 384, the latter being the traditional numbers which were changed somewhat gratuitously by Central Connect as part of an attempt to replace 3 digit numbers with lower numbers in recent times. The 384 can trace its origins back through London Country and London Transport Country Bus days, always being an infrequent link between Hertford & Stevenage via the villages and once continuing further on to Letchworth. There was once a 384A (Hertford - Great Munden) and 384B (Stevenage - Letchworth via Letchworth Gate), which disappeared many years ago, although I did manage to recreate a trip on the 384A one time aboard an RF during a Hertford Running Day a while back!

Watton

New & Changed Routes in Herts

Edging into New Year in Edgware

Another String to my Bow