Strategic Rail Authority

SRA acts to protect Croxley Link project
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date 22 March 2001
source Strategic Rail Authority
type Press release

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) today stepped in to protect the route of the future Croxley link, which could bring London Underground's Metropolitan line trains to serve Watford High Street and Watford Junction Stations.
Railtrack's Croxley Green branch has not seen passenger trains since March 1996 and, under current legislation, this means that the route would automatically be deemed to be closed after five years, with no requirement to
protect any part of the route.

The SRA has initiated, with the support of Hertfordshire County Council, a formal proposal to discontinue passenger services on the Croxley Green branch to allow any formal consent to provide for the protection of that part of the route that would form part of the link with the Metropolitan line.

The SRA proposal also protects passengers' interests. It will trigger a formal process that allows passengers to make representation to the London Transport Users Committee (LTUC) which will consider whether any hardship
could arise from the proposed withdrawal of service.

Notes to Editors
1. The Croxley Link proposes a short connecting link from the
Metropolitan line between Croxley and Watford (Met) to Railtrack's
Croxley Green Branch between Croxley Green and Watford West. This
would allow Metropolitan line services from Baker Street and the City to
run direct to Watford High Street and Watford Junction for direct
connections with Virgin Trains, Silverlink and Connex South Central
services.
2. The Croxley Green branch was closed in March 1996 and the line was
severed to allow the construction of a new road, Ascot Road, for the
highway authority (Hertfordshire County Council.)
3. The line currently has only one service daily each way, provided by bus
or taxi. Frequent buses run all day between Croxle y Green and Watford.
4. The London Transport Users Committee is the statutory users group
for the London area, and forms part of the Rail Passengers Committee
Network. They can be contacted at the following address: The LTUC,
Clements House, 14 - 18 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7PR.
Telephone 020 7505 9000
5. The Croxley link project would require part of the branch line.
Hertfordshire County Council is now preparing proposals for delivering
the project and a revised appraisal which takes account of these. If in
the light of this work and other relevant considerations the Department
concludes that the scheme still passes the economic appraisal tests,
the Council will take forward an application under the Transport and
Works Act 1992

Railhub Archive ::: 2001-03-22 SRA-001