Abbey Line campaigners say the "key moment" for improving the Watford-St Albans branch has come as the Department of Transport launches a consultation on the service.

The Abbey Flyer Users Group (ABFLY) has called for a complete refurbishment of the "tatty" trains, a crackdown on fare-dodgers, direct trains into London and services to be extended to midnight.

But the group says any improvements will hinge on the sheer number of individual responses to the consultation, which was sparked by the forthcoming letting of Abbey Line operators West Midlands Direct Award franchise.

Campaigner Dave Horton said: "This is a key moment: the more responses we can generate, the greater our chances of achieving a real step-change in service on the Abbey Line."

The consultation, which closes on January 16, asks people to consider the current franchise service and say what they would wish to see preserved and what changed or improved. 

Responding, ABFLY condemned current fare collection as "poor" and tantamount to a £200,000 loss each year.

The letter stated: "Passengers are expected to buy a ticket on the train. However, the presence of conductors is at best patchy - and ticketless travel is rife.

"The Abbey Flyer Users’ Group (ABFLY) recently estimated that it may account for up to £200,000 per annum in lost revenue. 

"This is not only bad for the economics and future prospects of the line, but it also inconveniences passengers when they cannot buy a ticket for onward travel."

The group also pointed out that the train interiors date back to the late 1980s and need to be brought up to modern standards of comfort and cleanliness, while calling for a London Overground style operation which keep services running to midnight Monday to Saturday.

The letter added: "As part of the Watford resignalling project, the track layout at Watford Junction has recently been upgraded to allow regular through-running of the train from the branch to the main line. I would like to see the train operator making a commitment to capitalise on this taxpayer-funded connection, by running through trains at peak hours between St Albans Abbey, London Euston and return."

ABFLY is urging anyone who wants improvement to the service to respond to the consultation.

Mr Horton continued: "As with all government consultations, the number of individual responses received holds a lot of weight. Therefore, the Group has put together a template letter which puts forward our aspirations. Abbey Line users and supporters are invited to adopt this template for their own individual responses."

The ABFLY template letter can be accessed via http://www.jotformeu.com/form/43503148195353.