Croxley Rail Link

This article is about the authorised but cancelled Metropolitan line extension. For the history of train lines in Watford, see Watford and Rickmansworth Railway.

Croxley Rail Link
The disused line at Watford West railway station
Overview
StatusApproved for re-opening
Suspended due to funding
LocaleHertfordshire
Termini
Stations3
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemLondon Underground
Operator(s)Transport for London
History
Planned opening2020[1][2][3]
Technical
Line length3.4 mi (5.47 km)
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Croxley Rail Link
Legend
Watford Junction National Rail London Overground
West Coast Main Line
to London Euston
 Watford High Street London Overground
High Street Junction
Watford DC line
to Euston
Watford Stadium
Vicarage Road
Watford West
Croxley Green
Watford (Metropolitan Line)
Cassiobridge
River Gade
Grand Junction Canal
Croxley
Metropolitan line
to Chesham & Amersham
Metropolitan line
to Aldgate
Notes:

The Croxley Rail Link, or the Metropolitan Line Extension, is a proposed railway engineering project in the Watford and Three Rivers districts of Hertfordshire, England, that would have connected the London Overground and the London Underground's Metropolitan line at Watford Junction. If the link were to go ahead, the Metropolitan line's terminus at Watford Underground station would be closed and the line diverted and extended from Croxley to Watford Junction via a reopened section of closed line. The main proponent of the scheme was Hertfordshire County Council but it failed to win the support of Transport for London (TfL) which owns the Watford branch.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] The engineering works would have consisted of the realignment of the disused Watford and Rickmansworth Railway's line between Croxley Green and Watford High Street, with the construction of a viaduct over the Grand Union Canal, River Gade and A412 road and two new stations before branching into the London Overground line near Watford High Street and continuing to Watford Junction.[12]

The proposed route was featured in a Transport for London network map for 2016[13] and the Transport for London Indicative 2025 Transport Map on which Watford tube station does not appear.[14] Were the link to be built, direct services between Watford Junction and Amersham would be possible but were not included in the business case for the scheme.[9]

The project was approved by the government on 14 December 2011[15] and vegetation clearance started during 2013.[2][16][17] The project received final government approval through an order under the Transport and Works Act on 24 July 2013[18] and was signed off and formally given the green light by the government on 17 March 2015 when it was confirmed that Transport for London would be responsible.[2][19] Work on the extension stopped in 2016 due to anticipated cost overruns and an unresolved dispute over funding. London mayor Sadiq Khan announced in 2018 that there was no funding for the project.

  1. ^ "Croxley Rail Link update". 17 December 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Knowles, Michael (30 July 2015). "Croxley Rail Link will not be completed until 2020, documents reveal". Watford Observer. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Metropolitan line extension". Transport for London. Archived from the original on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  4. ^ Duggan, Emma (25 January 2017). "UPDATE: Met Line extension: Mayor confirms work has stopped". Watford Observer. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  5. ^ Simpson, Jack. "Metropolitan line extension's future unclear as £50 million black hole revealed". Construction News. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Metropolitan line extension - Transport for London". Archived from the original on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Metropolitan Line Extension: Everything you need to know about the project".
  8. ^ "Met Line extension BINNED".
  9. ^ a b Wood, John (March 2006). "Hertfordshire's Local Transport Plan 2006/07 – 2010/1" (PDF). Hertfordshire County Council. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007.
  10. ^ "West Watford Transport Plan" (PDF). Hertfordshire County Council. 2001. p. 46. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2005. Retrieved 28 August 2007. see section 6.3.6
  11. ^ "Croxley Rail Link". Transport for London. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008.
  12. ^ "Station Closure Process". Croxley Rail Link. 23 February 2012. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  13. ^ "A Proposed London Transport Map for 2016 featuring the Croxley Rail Link" (PDF). The Guardian. 5 July 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 September 2004.
  14. ^ "A Transport for London 2025 Indicative Transport Map showing the Croxley Rail Link". 1 June 2007. Archived from the original on 6 August 2013.
  15. ^ Binnie, Adam; Wright, Mike (13 December 2011). "Croxley Rail Link plan approved by Government". Watford Observer. Archived from the original on 5 August 2013.
  16. ^ "Best and final funding bid: Croxley Rail Link" (PDF). Croxley Rail Link. September 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 March 2012.
  17. ^ "Watford Metropolitan line Tube extension gets go-ahead". BBC News. 24 July 2013. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013.
  18. ^ "London Underground takes over Croxley Rail Link project". Railway Gazette. 27 March 2015. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.