From the river to the railway

The railway today

‘The train service provided by the Metro is unrivalled for frequency and speed…’

Railway Yearbook, 1933

The railway remains a vital connection to the capital for many local people, as a mean of connecting with culture and retail offers, as well as commuting to work. People continue to be captivated by the rural idyll promoted in Metro-land advertising, moving to Chesham for the beauty of the Chilterns, the warmth of a bustling market town and more affordable housing.

The move to Chesham from the capital, from other parts of the country and the wider world, has resulted in a larger, more diverse population of over 23,000 people. There is now an established British Pakistani community as well as people from other parts of the Asian sub-continent
and Europe.

But, like the river, the railway faces challenges of its own today too. With more people working at home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important that the railway is used by local people, to remain viable.

The Chesham & District Transport Users’ Group (CDTUG) was set up in 2010 to discuss and highlight issues around local transport. The group’s efforts have helped to ensure that the line remains open and that direct through trains to London continue. These now make up 50% of the service from Amersham and Chesham rather than the shuttle service to Chalfont.