Croxley Rail link signed off

[snoggle]

It seems the Treasury have signed off the Croxley Rail link project with LU taking over the project management. Is there a general election soon and is Watford a marginal seat?

www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/11860562.Croxley_Rail_Link__signed_off__by_the_Government/

[snoggle]

TfL press release has landed in my Inbox.

London Underground given go ahead to deliver Croxley Rail Link

· Agreement reached with DfT and HCC over funding of the scheme
· Work due to commence by the end of this year
· The extension will see Metropolitan line trains serving Watford Junction and Watford High Street stations, as well as two new stations on the route
· Rail link will provide Metropolitan line customers access to West Coast mainline National Rail services from Watford Junction station

London Underground (LU) today confirmed that it will take over delivery of the Croxley Rail Link after an agreement was reached with the Department for Transport (DfT) and Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) over funding.

Construction work to re-route and extend the Metropolitan line to Watford Junction is planned to start later this year. The plan, which is part of a major investment designed to support the growth and regeneration in the area, includes creating new links to Watford General Hospital, Croxley Business Park and Cardiff Road Industrial Estate - increasing employment opportunities.

Two new stations will be created at Cassiobridge and Watford Vicarage Road, served by new walk-through air-conditioned trains every ten minutes to and from central London during peak hours. The existing Watford station will close following the opening of the new stations, and the first trains are expected to run on the extended line by 2019.

David Hughes, LU’s Director of Major Programme Sponsorship, said: “We have a track record for successfully delivering major projects - the recent signalling upgrade of the Northern line, which has boosted capacity by 20 per cent, being the latest example. Until now the Croxley Rail link project has been managed by Hertfordshire County Council, who along with Government are providing the bulk of the project funding. Late last year, faced with significant project slippage and cost escalation, the Government asked us to consider stepping in and taking over responsibility for delivery of the scheme. We were clear that a suitable funding package needed to be in place before we would be prepared to take this on.

“As announced in the Budget, those discussions have now concluded, and the Mayor has confirmed that LU should take on overall delivery responsibility for the project. We have agreed to contribute £16m, which is the approximate cost of the additional train services required to support the link when it opens in 2019.”

The link has therefore survived by virtue of the General Election and the associated bribing of voters.

[vjaska]

Mar 27, 2015 17:18:54 GMT snoggle said:

TfL press release has landed in my Inbox.

London Underground given go ahead to deliver Croxley Rail Link

· Agreement reached with DfT and HCC over funding of the scheme
· Work due to commence by the end of this year
· The extension will see Metropolitan line trains serving Watford Junction and Watford High Street stations, as well as two new stations on the route
· Rail link will provide Metropolitan line customers access to West Coast mainline National Rail services from Watford Junction station

London Underground (LU) today confirmed that it will take over delivery of the Croxley Rail Link after an agreement was reached with the Department for Transport (DfT) and Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) over funding.

Construction work to re-route and extend the Metropolitan line to Watford Junction is planned to start later this year. The plan, which is part of a major investment designed to support the growth and regeneration in the area, includes creating new links to Watford General Hospital, Croxley Business Park and Cardiff Road Industrial Estate - increasing employment opportunities.

Two new stations will be created at Cassiobridge and Watford Vicarage Road, served by new walk-through air-conditioned trains every ten minutes to and from central London during peak hours. The existing Watford station will close following the opening of the new stations, and the first trains are expected to run on the extended line by 2019.

David Hughes, LU’s Director of Major Programme Sponsorship, said: “We have a track record for successfully delivering major projects - the recent signalling upgrade of the Northern line, which has boosted capacity by 20 per cent, being the latest example. Until now the Croxley Rail link project has been managed by Hertfordshire County Council, who along with Government are providing the bulk of the project funding. Late last year, faced with significant project slippage and cost escalation, the Government asked us to consider stepping in and taking over responsibility for delivery of the scheme. We were clear that a suitable funding package needed to be in place before we would be prepared to take this on.

“As announced in the Budget, those discussions have now concluded, and the Mayor has confirmed that LU should take on overall delivery responsibility for the project. We have agreed to contribute £16m, which is the approximate cost of the additional train services required to support the link when it opens in 2019.”

The link has therefore survived by virtue of the General Election and the associated bribing of voters.

It will be a handy link as Metropolitan Line passengers wanting Watford Junction or Watford Town Centre won't be left in the middle of a residential area with a lengthy walk to either destination.

I do think there is a flaw with closing the existing station however - surely a shuttle service like along the Chesham line could of operated from the existing Watford station?

[snoggle]

Mar 27, 2015 17:54:09 GMT vjaska said:

Mar 27, 2015 17:18:54 GMT snoggle said:

TfL press release has landed in my Inbox.

The link has therefore survived by virtue of the General Election and the associated bribing of voters.

It will be a handy link as Metropolitan Line passengers wanting Watford Junction or Watford Town Centre won't be left in the middle of a residential area with a lengthy walk to either destination.

I do think there is a flaw with closing the existing station however - surely a shuttle service like along the Chesham line could of operated from the existing Watford station?

The local MP has said he will keep lobbying to retain a service to Watford Met. I've also seen a comment from a LU insider which suggests that a limited service might still run but I think it's years before we will know exactly what will operate. It's worth remembering that part of the cost savings on the project was to use equipment currently at Watford Met (e.g ticket machines and gates) at one of the new stations on the line. I do think there are some things that have not been revealed about the scope changes that have pushed the cost up to nearly £300m and it's possible retaining Watford Met as a served part of the network is part of that. We shall see.

[T.R.]

(Insert crayon wish for Chiltern Aylesbury - Watford service)