The Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick Mcloughlin MP, visited Watford yesterday to meet Richard Harrington MP to discuss progress on the Croxley Rail Link.
Richard Harrington MP invited the Secretary of State to Watford to see firsthand the progress that has been made at the site following the Government’s commitment to fund the project just over two years ago.
After years of delay and concerns from local residents about the project ever being realised, the Watford MP secured funding at the end of 2011 having lobbied heavily for the project in Parliament. Since then the scheme has moved forward and track clearance has progressed significantly in West Watford, as have drainage investigations, surveys of electrical cables and communications cabling, and geological investigations ready for construction to begin later this year. Earlier this month the planning applications for the station designs were passed unanimously, and trains look set to be operational on the new Rail Link in 2017. The Croxley Rail Link will link Watford Junction up to the Metropolitan Line, with trains travelling via Watford High Street Station and through two new train stations which will be built at Vicarage Road and Ascot Road. Richard Harrington said: “This is an incredibly important scheme for Watford as a whole in terms of our local economy and improved transport links. Whilst this will of course hugely benefit residents in Central and West Watford, residents of areas such as Oxhey, Tudor and Garston will also benefit as the Metropolitan Line will in future link with Watford Junction and Watford High Street where people can change from overground services – making London much more accessible for those residents too and giving them an alternative to London Midland services when they need it.” Read more in May’s My Croxley News
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