It was a real blow when plans to extend the Metropolitan Line (MLX) to Watford Junction were abandoned in 2017.

Despite millions of pounds already being spent and new Government funding being secured, Transport for London (TfL) was not prepared to invest more into the scheme.

Just over five years to the day since MLX was officially pulled, the prospect of any revival of that scheme is virtually impossible particularly because of TfL's finances, which have only worsened thanks to the pandemic. In fact, Hertfordshire County Council describes MLX as "defunct".

Instead, it will be down to local authorities in Hertfordshire to reignite the dream for a new transport link connecting Croxley Green and West Watford with the town centre.

And papers published this month show behind the scenes, the county council has been - and continues - to work on an alternative scheme.

'W2CL'

Rebranded 'Watford to Croxley Link' - or 'W2CL' for short - this alternative project aims to provide a viable sustainable transport link between Watford Junction and Croxley.

It would make use of the safeguarded and disused Croxley Rail Link - which the rejigged and extended Met Line intended to take - that would improve connectivity between growing local communities in Watford.

Watford Observer: This shows what the Met Line Extension could have looked like on a map. Watford Met station would have closed.This shows what the Met Line Extension could have looked like on a map. Watford Met station would have closed.

The county council says it has been leading on work to find an alternative scheme and that it has now reached the stage where it is looking to develop "creative and feasible" conceptual designs for a mode of transport that could be deemed appropriate to bring this line back to life.

Council documents say funding of £300,000 is to be given to suppliers successfully awarded contracts to come up with a design - with a target completion time of autumn 2022. Funding could come via the county council and Watford Borough Council and Three Rivers District Council.

If the scheme progresses beyond the concept stage, it will need to be developed in line with Department for Transport (DfT) business case requirements, and funding would be required for that case.

Sources of funding could include local councils, the DfT, developers, and through the private sector.

The W2CL would be delivered in a partnership between Hertfordshire County Council, Watford Borough Council, Three Rivers District Council, Network Rail and supported by Transport for London.

A need for a new transport link has grown particularly as planned developments such as in Ascot Road and Sydney Road have gone ahead, along with Watford Riverwell.

The W2CL could tie in with the Hertfordshire & Essex Rapid Transit Scheme (HERT) which aims to provide a new transport link along the A414 corridor in Hertfordshire.

There are plans to connect West Watford with the HERT as well, potentially making use of the existing Abbey Line that connects Watford with St Albans.

Related: Next step taken on plan for £2.5bn HERT transport system in Hertfordshire