Plans to finally build the Croxley Rail Link have again hit the skids after the Department for Transport dismissed the latest bid as "non-compliant" with its funding criteria.
However, the government has rejected the business case because it has still not received financial backing from Transport for London (TfL).
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TfL said in 2005 that it would commit up to £18 million to the project. However, because TfL will not guarantee how much cash it will provide for the £95 million project the Government will not commit any money to it either.
The Department for Transport has, however, agreed to meet with the county council to discuss the project.
The bid was backed by a letter signed by Mayor Dorothy Thornhill, Ms Ward and Robert Gordon, leader of the county council.
And Mayor Thornhill says if the three can continue to show the same level of cross party solidarity the case can still be won.
She said: "Somebody actually wants to talk to us about this and I'm sure that if we show the same level of solidarity we can prove the rail link is important.
"The Croxley Rail Link is not just the icing on the cake for the people of West Watford, it is the cherry on the icing of the cake."
Thank heavens for that - the amount of disruption during construstion and then sound pollution in our back gardens afterwarsds would be intolerable - and who's going to use it anyway? Dig a tunnel under the park if you want to link Watford Junction with Watford Met!!
Thank heavens for that - the amount of disruption during construstion and then sound pollution in our back gardens afterwarsds would be intolerable - and who's going to use it anyway? Dig a tunnel under the park if you want to link Watford Junction with Watford Met!!
and if you want to quieten down West Watford build the West watford relief road and take all the traffic for Watford Business Park and Tolpits Lane off our residential streets - but then Watford Fib Dems have campaigned against that ever since it was suggested and in the District Plan years ago
and if you want to quieten down West Watford build the West watford relief road and take all the traffic for Watford Business Park and Tolpits Lane off our residential streets - but then Watford Fib Dems have campaigned against that ever since it was suggested and in the District Plan years ago
Posted by: tallgreengiant, watford on 6:09pm Sat 29 Mar 08
Perhaps it's just as well the funding bid for the Croxley rail link has stalled.
TfL have indicated the scheme, which diverts trains from the present Watford Met terminus, could involve the closure of the station altogether.
To date, strategists have not been candid either way as to whether or not this is the case.
the benefits of yet another connection to the already busy Watford Junction station - which is bustling to breaking point - are questionable.
But when the flip side of the coin is to rip up a hub serving hundreds if not thousands of commuters in the heart of not only the Cassiobury Estate but now amongst sprawling Cassio Executive homes - is utter madness.
Perhaps it's just as well the funding bid for the Croxley rail link has stalled.
TfL have indicated the scheme, which diverts trains from the present Watford Met terminus, could involve the closure of the station altogether.
To date, strategists have not been candid either way as to whether or not this is the case.
the benefits of yet another connection to the already busy Watford Junction station - which is bustling to breaking point - are questionable.
But when the flip side of the coin is to rip up a hub serving hundreds if not thousands of commuters in the heart of not only the Cassiobury Estate but now amongst sprawling Cassio Executive homes - is utter madness.
[quote][bold]Kombat[/bold] wrote:
Yippee!
Another badly thought out plan looks set to bite the dust!
I wouldn't want all those trains rattling past my house till late at night.
Let's hope that the private equity groups feel the same and avoid this white elephant like the plague.
To Dorothy Thornhill Sharpe:
Use the old Railway line as a bypass road for buses and emergency services. There is a drop down at the hospital where the old "stadium" platform used to be.
Building a road solely for public transport and Fire/ ambulances/ police would be a lot cheaper and ease congestion through West Watford.
I will not charge consultants fees for this advice.....[/quote] You talk total sense my friend, a very good idea, upon the times I have to visit both tolpits lane and greenhill crescent business's it beggars belief that you've got to travel a couple of miles to get to both of them, when you look over the fence in Caxton Way and see the place you want to get to!
Madness utter madness!
A job beckons for you and you'll get my vote!!
Kombat wrote:
Yippee!
Another badly thought out plan looks set to bite the dust!
I wouldn't want all those trains rattling past my house till late at night.
Let's hope that the private equity groups feel the same and avoid this white elephant like the plague.
To Dorothy Thornhill Sharpe:
Use the old Railway line as a bypass road for buses and emergency services. There is a drop down at the hospital where the old "stadium" platform used to be.
Building a road solely for public transport and Fire/ ambulances/ police would be a lot cheaper and ease congestion through West Watford.
I will not charge consultants fees for this advice.....
You talk total sense my friend, a very good idea, upon the times I have to visit both tolpits lane and greenhill crescent business's it beggars belief that you've got to travel a couple of miles to get to both of them, when you look over the fence in Caxton Way and see the place you want to get to!
Madness utter madness!
A job beckons for you and you'll get my vote!!
Posted by: John Howard Norfolk, Tiverton, Devon (formerly Oxhey Village) on 8:01pm Sat 29 Mar 08
I am sorry to read comments by so many "Luddites".
Surely the point about the Croxley Link is that the Met line would connect with Watford High Street. It is simply coincidental that the trains would run on to Watford Junction where they turn round for the return journey.
I am sorry to read comments by so many "Luddites".
Surely the point about the Croxley Link is that the Met line would connect with Watford High Street. It is simply coincidental that the trains would run on to Watford Junction where they turn round for the return journey.
Posted by: Auntie, Watford on 8:42pm Sat 29 Mar 08
I was told a few years ago by someone who had been invited to a planning consultation meeting at the Town Hall that there is a station underground somewhere around the area of the Town Hall pedestrian underpass. It was apparently constructed with the intention that it would be the terminus for the Met line, ie one stop on from the current Watford Met station and very convenient for the Town Centre. However, it was never opened; the reasons don't seem to be clear.
I would be very interested if anyone has further information about this. If true, surely it means that the link must be half built already???
I was told a few years ago by someone who had been invited to a planning consultation meeting at the Town Hall that there is a station underground somewhere around the area of the Town Hall pedestrian underpass. It was apparently constructed with the intention that it would be the terminus for the Met line, ie one stop on from the current Watford Met station and very convenient for the Town Centre. However, it was never opened; the reasons don't seem to be clear.
I would be very interested if anyone has further information about this. If true, surely it means that the link must be half built already???
[quote][bold]Auntie[/bold] wrote:
I was told a few years ago by someone who had been invited to a planning consultation meeting at the Town Hall that there is a station underground somewhere around the area of the Town Hall pedestrian underpass. It was apparently constructed with the intention that it would be the terminus for the Met line, ie one stop on from the current Watford Met station and very convenient for the Town Centre. However, it was never opened; the reasons don't seem to be clear. I would be very interested if anyone has further information about this. If true, surely it means that the link must be half built already???[/quote] There isn't the original Metropolitan Line High Street Station was going to be sited next to the Moon under Water. The building was orginally constructed to be the booking hall. The original plan, vetoed by the Earl of Essex was for a tunnel under Cassiobury Park but he objected to the ventilation shafts necesary for the steam trains of that era. If you look carefully at Watford Met station you can see how it was constructed at a lower level ready for a cut and cover tunnel across the park.
I researched all this information when the Croxley Link was proposed 15 years ago - it should still be available in the Watford Museum - they have a document coverning the early history of the Met line. The whole idea of the Croxley link had little to do with serving Watford it was to provide a link from watford Junction to Rickmansworth and then Heathrow. The con was that they promited the idea of better transport links to Watford by utilising the old DC line going to ascot Road. This would entail massive engineering works to strengthen all the embankments and trains every 6 minutes past many Central and Vicarage ward residents houses (Roughly 1500 home)
Auntie wrote:
I was told a few years ago by someone who had been invited to a planning consultation meeting at the Town Hall that there is a station underground somewhere around the area of the Town Hall pedestrian underpass. It was apparently constructed with the intention that it would be the terminus for the Met line, ie one stop on from the current Watford Met station and very convenient for the Town Centre. However, it was never opened; the reasons don't seem to be clear. I would be very interested if anyone has further information about this. If true, surely it means that the link must be half built already???
There isn't the original Metropolitan Line High Street Station was going to be sited next to the Moon under Water. The building was orginally constructed to be the booking hall. The original plan, vetoed by the Earl of Essex was for a tunnel under Cassiobury Park but he objected to the ventilation shafts necesary for the steam trains of that era. If you look carefully at Watford Met station you can see how it was constructed at a lower level ready for a cut and cover tunnel across the park.
I researched all this information when the Croxley Link was proposed 15 years ago - it should still be available in the Watford Museum - they have a document coverning the early history of the Met line. The whole idea of the Croxley link had little to do with serving Watford it was to provide a link from watford Junction to Rickmansworth and then Heathrow. The con was that they promited the idea of better transport links to Watford by utilising the old DC line going to ascot Road. This would entail massive engineering works to strengthen all the embankments and trains every 6 minutes past many Central and Vicarage ward residents houses (Roughly 1500 home)
Posted by: Auntie, Watford on 9:54pm Sun 30 Mar 08
Thank you for the info Igloo. That's very intereseting.
Wonder whether our great grandchildren will be having the same discussions in a hundred years time with nothing happening in the meantime!
Thank you for the info Igloo. That's very intereseting.
Wonder whether our great grandchildren will be having the same discussions in a hundred years time with nothing happening in the meantime!
Croxley rail link - Have to say for something that is said to be a quick, easy and commonsense enhancement to the local rail network, it seems very unlikely to happen. The more likely plan is for the Bakerloo line to be extended from Harrow over the existing tracks to Watford Junction - 6 to 8 trains in each direction. This would mean no slow trains into Euston to free up a platform. with the Bakerloo going via Paddington and Marylebone to central London. Perhaps what we need is Watford and Herts Councils now agreeing that they tried to get this going, but unless they put up the £100 M it aint going to happen. With the new road to the hospital on its way , perhaps a bus and seperate cycle route should be built from the new hospital link road along the track bed to Ascot Road and along Ebury Way to Rickmansworth Town centre and the Ricky Met Station. This at least could provide a bus link from Rickmansworth to Croxley business park, Tolpits lane business parks, Holywell & Westfield School, the new Hospital and the town centre. Park and Ride at junction 5 of M1 anyone to provide a ' bus and ride ' network between Rickmansworth and major centres of employment in Watford. To make it work we would need a proper bus operator who accepts Oyster card tickets. It would be an alternative to the rush hour queues with cars sitting in queues on Watford ring road, and the roads through West watford?
Croxley rail link - Have to say for something that is said to be a quick, easy and commonsense enhancement to the local rail network, it seems very unlikely to happen. The more likely plan is for the Bakerloo line to be extended from Harrow over the existing tracks to Watford Junction - 6 to 8 trains in each direction. This would mean no slow trains into Euston to free up a platform. with the Bakerloo going via Paddington and Marylebone to central London. Perhaps what we need is Watford and Herts Councils now agreeing that they tried to get this going, but unless they put up the £100 M it aint going to happen. With the new road to the hospital on its way , perhaps a bus and seperate cycle route should be built from the new hospital link road along the track bed to Ascot Road and along Ebury Way to Rickmansworth Town centre and the Ricky Met Station. This at least could provide a bus link from Rickmansworth to Croxley business park, Tolpits lane business parks, Holywell & Westfield School, the new Hospital and the town centre. Park and Ride at junction 5 of M1 anyone to provide a ' bus and ride ' network between Rickmansworth and major centres of employment in Watford. To make it work we would need a proper bus operator who accepts Oyster card tickets. It would be an alternative to the rush hour queues with cars sitting in queues on Watford ring road, and the roads through West watford?
Posted by: users.co.uk, Watford on 11:07am Sat 5 Apr 08
I'd rather see a tram link running over the route. From Rickmansworth via Croxley, Ascot Road, Tolpits Lane, Cardiff Road (Watford General Hospital), Watford High Street, Watford Junction and continue on to Bricket Wood and St. Albans.
Have trams that can elevate on their bogies to match the height of existing platforms and drop down again during transit and for any new stops.
I'd rather see a tram link running over the route. From Rickmansworth via Croxley, Ascot Road, Tolpits Lane, Cardiff Road (Watford General Hospital), Watford High Street, Watford Junction and continue on to Bricket Wood and St. Albans.
Have trams that can elevate on their bogies to match the height of existing platforms and drop down again during transit and for any new stops.
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