Improving passenger transport - Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit

The Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit (HERT) will be a new, sustainable passenger transport network. The HERT vehicle will carry more people than a car but will be more convenient and reliable than a traditional bus.

The HERT aims to deliver an improved a passenger transport network through an accessible, reliable and affordable east-west transit system which connects people easily to where they live, work and visit. The HERT will support economic growth, minimise environmental impact and enhance our existing and new communities. It will also connect with north-south rail lines to create new sustainable journey options across the whole of Hertfordshire and beyond.

Proposed route and vehicle How we'll decide on a scheme
Including public consultations and engagements Why do we need the HERT?
Benefits over buses, impact on congestion and sustainability Corporate Plan objectives How and when we'll deliver the HERT - next steps Mobility hubs

Proposed route and vehicle

Proposed route of HERT, running from Croxley to Watford and from Hemel Hempstead to Harlow via St Albans, Hatfield, Hertford and Gilston. It also shows the Abbey Line from Watford to St Albans and a possible service connecting Welwyn Garden City to Hatfie

Proposed vehicle

After comparing all options, we've identified trackless tram as the currently preferred mode for the HERT. They offer many of the benefits of tram‑like travel, such as high capacity and a quality passenger experience, while remaining more flexible, less expensive and quicker to deliver. This approach best supports HERT’s ambition to create a fast, reliable and well‑connected transport link between town centres and existing rail routes.

Other modes assessed include bus rapid transit, heavy rail, light rail, personal rapid transit and very light rail. Each mode was reviewed for cost, practicality, infrastructure needs and how well they could support fast, reliable journeys.

How we'll decide on a scheme

We're developing scheme options using a transparent business case process. We assess a long list of potential options against Government guidance - including objectives, costs, viability, deliverability, value for money, strategic connectivity and expected demand - to produce a shortlisted set of feasible choices.

Public consultations and engagements

We'll run public consultations and engagements at key stages for each element.

Findings from our 2021 public engagement

In 2021, we held a 10-week public engagement about the HERT. We shared information about the vision, route, vehicle, aims and potential benefits of the HERT, giving local people the opportunity to share their thoughts on the proposals.

Some of the headline findings from the public engagement were:

75% of respondents supported or strongly supported the HERT vision
reliable journey times were the biggest priority for respondents, with 73% selecting this option. Service frequency was deemed to be the second mostimportant feature, with 71% of respondents selecting this.
68% of respondents to the survey suggested that they would be likely to use the HERT.

Why do we need the HERT?

Hertfordshire has great north-south transport connections, but travelling east-west is already slow and challenging. By 2040 Hertfordshire’s population is expected to increase by 300,000, with over 50,000 homes proposed along the A414 corridor.

Additional benefits compared to buses

The Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) will upgrade local bus services across Hertfordshire. However, the HERT project offers critical, additional benefits by providing a dedicated transit route, high‑quality interchanges, shorter journey times and more reliable services. Together, these deliver the necessary major improvements.

Impact on congestion

Hertfordshire is growing, and the transport network must adapt to support new homes, communities and businesses. HERT aims to support this by improving travel choices. By enhancing walking, cycling and wheeling routes, and creating integrated, reliable public transport, the scheme encourages sustainable travel for everyday journeys. This supports long‑term county objectives for accessibility, sustainability and reliable movement for residents and businesses.

Sustainability

The HERT will be a new, sustainable passenger transport network. It will carry more people than a car but will be more convenient and reliable than a traditional bus.

The HERT network:

supports access to health, education, jobs and care in a more efficient and sustainable way protecting it for the future generations
reduces emissions, improving air quality, by using fully HERT electric vehicles
reduces congestion, reducing emissions, reducing carbon, because electric mass transit vehicles move large numbers of passengers sustainably
improves road safety, by improving walking and cycling links to the hubs and reducing traffic
supports climate adaptation by providing quality facilities with shade and shelter at mobility hubs and providing people with travel choices.

Corporate Plan objectives

The HERT project is closely aligned with our corporate plan objectives to:

expand and improve public transport options to provide reliable and affordable alternatives to the car, reducing reliance on private vehicles
invest in infrastructure to enable people to walk, wheel and cycle for more journeys. Encourage them to do so by promoting active and sustainable travel.

How and when will the HERT be delivered?

How - our delivery strategy

It would be too costly and disruptive for the whole HERT system to be delivered as a single project, so it will be brought forward using a “building block” approach, where the project is delivered in smaller, manageable schemes. This allows progress to be made more flexibly and provides earlier benefits for communities, while helping to control costs and clearly demonstrate progress. Existing local bus services will be able to use new facilities, so passengers will see benefits of improved service reliability and journey times.

We'll deliver early bus intervention schemes (building blocks) with the Intalink Partnership in line with the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). The BSIP will deliver short to medium term bus priority schemes that lay the foundations for and support the eventual full HERT system.

When

HERT is a long‑term, multi‑phase project designed to transform Hertfordshire’s currently disconnected public transport network using trackless trams, improved bus services and better links to rail stations. Because the network will be delivered in stages, there is no single completion date. We'll introduce different sections as planning, design and local preparation are completed, allowing the system to grow progressively.

Next Steps

We'll test the sample Irizar ie-tram vehicle along existing highway sections throughout the HERT route between Croxley and St Albans, and between Hemel Hempstead to Harlow; alongside Future of Transport events being held throughout May 2026.

We're drawing up designs to improve bus priority on the highway and create mobility hubs at key interchange locations for current and future congestion hot spots, focussing on areas which would benefit existing local bus services along the proposed HERT route. We'll then model these interventions in the county wide COMET transport model, which predicts how people will travel by car and public transport in the future, and how new development or schemes might affect traffic and journeys, to assess their suitability. We'll then consult on and publish the results of this work, alongside our Local Transport Plan 5.

Mobility Hub

A mobility hub is a clearly recognisable place where different transport options come together, making it easier to switch between trains, buses, cycling and other sustainable ways of travelling. They bring helpful facilities into one spot—such as secure cycle parking, parcel lockers and real‑time travel information—so your journeys are smoother, quicker and more convenient.

Mobility hubs make travel simpler by improving connections between transport services, and they are designed to be accessible for everyone, including those using adapted bikes or mobility aids. By supporting greener travel choices, they help cut congestion, reduce carbon emissions and improve local air quality. They also offer safer, more comfortable waiting areas and help create people‑friendly spaces that benefit all.

Hubs will be located at major stops and key transport interchanges along the HERT route, including train stations, helping to revitalise towns and strengthen local connections.