Rail link plans get support

8:00am Saturday 9th August 2008 in News

WITH costs spiralling to more than £145 million, Hertfordshire County Council has revealed a support and funding plan while insisting that the long-delayed Croxley Rail Link will still, eventually, surface.

The proposed link between the Metropolitan tube line and Watford Junction station has gained the support of the East of England Regional Planning Panel – support which could help the project receive £119.5 million from the Department for Transport (DfT).

Stuart Pile, the county council’s executive member for transport, said the announcement was a “significant step forward”.

He added: “This is good news for everyone in Watford. The proposed rail link will have a major impact on relieving congestion, as well as improving transport links between London and Watford town centre.

“We are committed to this scheme. I look forward to seeing it come to fruition.”

The council plans to contribute up to £26 million to the project, money which it hopes to get back through ticket sales and other London Underground revenue.

Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill said: “I’m delighted that the scheme has now got regional approval.

“We have been campaigning for the Croxley Rail Link for a number of years and it should help alleviate traffic congestion by taking 300,000 car journeys from the road network.

“Clearly, the green light for the health campus project makes the rail link more viable. The link will open up the transport systems for residents living in Watford and the wider area.”

The council is still seeking the DfT’s permission to build the link.

Comments(4)

lillylurcher says...
1:11pm Sat 9 Aug 08

This rail link has been discussed for more years than I care to remember. What people don't seem to grasp is that it will make NO difference to the traffic chaos around Watford at all. If you want to use public transport to get around you already can BUT people choose not to. Their own car is far more convenient! The money this project will cost could be put to much better use by giving financial grants to householders in Hertfordshire so they can equip their homes with alternative heat and power options. That would make a much bigger impact on the environment than a re-routed train service.

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tallgreengiant says...
8:48pm Sat 9 Aug 08

DO we know exactly what Herts County council's latest rail plan is?
There was talk that it would also involve closing the existing Met station - which weould seem to be ludicrous. watford Met might not be bang in the middle of the town centre, but it serves masses from the Cassiobury Estate and Cassio Metro development.
If that is the case, then it is giving with one hand and taking away with the other...

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barbelybob says...
6:33am Sun 10 Aug 08

tallgreengiant wrote:
DO we know exactly what Herts County council's latest rail plan is?
There was talk that it would also involve closing the existing Met station - which weould seem to be ludicrous. watford Met might not be bang in the middle of the town centre, but it serves masses from the Cassiobury Estate and Cassio Metro development.
If that is the case, then it is giving with one hand and taking away with the other...
To be fair,the station on the Cassiobury Est is a fair hike from the junction and it has no parking.If its a straight choice out of having a station at the junction or on the Cassiobury Est,then the junction is the obvious choice because of the rail links and parking.The whole point is because the Met station is so inaccessable and dated.I agree that both SHOULD be used but if its a straight choice..

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Andrew1963 says...
2:12pm Sun 10 Aug 08

This rail link has taken so long simply because the business case (the return for the investment) is poor. the only reason it would stack up is nothing to do with local trips at all - It is for trips to Watford junction from Amersham and Aylesbury. The fact is that the Ascot Road station will not be very attractive to most Croxley business park users unless they live near to a station that has a direct service.

It needs a station near to the new Watford general hospital to encourage users to pick rail. but even then everyone agrees that the hospital will go ahead without a rail link BUT would be impossible without the new road linking it up to the Lower High street gyratory. The existing Watford Met services exists simply because the trains have to turn back somewhere. The existing customer usage at Watford and Croxley Met does not justify more than a 3 train an hour service. diverting the trains to watford Junction will not in itself generate lots of new journeys. the scheme needs to include trains coming from the north via Rickmansworth, a station at the new hospital and a rebuilt Watford high street station with step free access to street level. I bet none of those are in the £145M budget

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