article on Croxley Rail Link in Railo Magazine December 2011

Croxley Link awaits funding decision after cutting costs
Pg. 22-23 Rail magazine edition number 685 and updated by reference to www.croxleyraillink.com

What is Croxley Rail Link?
The Croxley Rail Link scheme involves the diversion of London Underground Metropolitan Line from its current Watford Terminus (watford Met / Cassiobury Park), via a new viaduct over the Grand Union Canal and then along the disused since 1996 National Rail line to Watford High St which will be reopened and dual tracked through to the junction with The London Overground Euston - Watford Junction service.

The existing line from Croxley to Watford Met will be retained for stabling trains overnight but it is anticipated that it will close for passenger trains in 2016 when the new line opens. However in the public consultation 80% (611 people) were in favour of the new line but their was concern at the closure of the old station.

As such a more frequent bus service from Watford Junction to Cassiobury Park and then terminating at Ascot Road or Croxley / Rickmansworth Met stations (the last of which to attract demand for travel journeys from Aylesbury / Amersham and Chesham) or combined with working ex LUL A stock running a heritage line service in comnjunction with the Quainton Road railway centre.

Key figures on 2011 bid that has been submitted to the Secretary of State for approval and refferral for Transport And Works Act approval
(including price cuts and efficiency savings in a period of low inflation from 2010 initial scheme by Mouchel)

Local Authority Contribution £33.7million
Third party contribution £6.86m
Dft Funding Contribution £76.24m

Total contribution £116.8m

Cost benefit ration: 3:3:1 'say the promoters, led by Hertfordshire County Council' as funding costs drop from 2010 £170.8 million to 2011 £116.8million.

however due financial diligence is shown by pricing up the more expensive and difficult to build sections (the Watford Hospital and Ascot Road stations and the viaduct over the Canal) and staffing costs for two of the stations on the line

Funding was approved on the 14/12/2011 and refferal for Transport and Works Act approval will start from winter 2011. the author of the artcile (Broadbent, S) indi9cates that to determine the Transport and works Act order until 2013, with construction beginning in 2014 (see www.croxleyraillink.com) and finishing in 2016.

For the Line closure notice to go ahead for Cassiobury Park Watford Met station after DfT approval, the Mayor of London in his capacity asd Chair of the TfL board will have to give the goahead.

The transport secretary has also given the go ahead for other rail schemes from the development pool. one is eeds area uipgrade and four additional vehicles for the Sheffield Tram network.

This development pool is the democratic approval mechanism with the cancellation of the previous governments Regional Development Agencies and their Regional Funding Allocation process. At present English Rail policy is under UK direct rule through the DfT

Herts CC are also developing a tram train service for the St Albans Abbey - Watford Junction rail service which is presently single track with one passing loop. As part of the upgrade more passing loops are needed to achieve either a two or three tram service in each direction per hour.

To receive their emails contact lightrail@hertscc.gov.uk

www.hertsdirect.org/abbeyline

Croxley Rail link is in the current issue of Rail magazine. I'll type up the details on that and other rail proposals in Modern Railways on Wednesday.

Rail link gains ministerial approval

Croxley rail link has been approved by the secretary of state (Railways minister).

It now goes to enquiry and after that Transport anhd works act approval as in England there is no devolution for railway matters (unlike Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland). Transport for London has to find 20-30 million Pounds. This is either from capital it holds, farebox revenue increases or the development of the part of railway line from Croxley - cassiobury that is going to be surplus to use. It may be restricted in the amount it can fund from its Greater London subsidy as the proposed extension is solely outside Greater London.

However Bucks could fund a Aylesbury / Chesham service to Watford Junction using the North curve of Watford Met junction between Moor Park and Rickmansworth. That could generate extra usage for the railway line.

every cloud has a silver lining?

If virgin bank can buy back northern Rock then perhaps if council tax revenues fall the operating rail company can fund the corxley Rail line for its voyager trains to run into Marylebone via Moor Park and Harrow on the Hill and new platforms at Wembley Park station. Either way the consultation response looks pretty comprehensive for the rail line.

www.croxleyraillink.com

For the consultation feedback and environmental assessment handouts as of 14th November 2011.

BId for Croxley Rail link at Dft

Croxley Rail Link Best and Final Funding Bid Submitted to Department for Transport
Friday, September 09, 2011
http://www.croxleyraillink.com/

Hertfordshire County Council, with support from London Underground and Network Rail, have submitted to the Department for Transport a Best and Final Bid (BAFB) marking the next stage in the funding process.
The BAFB follows the successful Expression of Interest, submitted to the DfT in January 2011 which moved Croxley Rail Link into the development pool of projects competing for funding. An interim submission was issued in June 2011 as a precursor to the BAFB.
Click here to view these documents.
It is expected that a decision will be made by the DfT in December 2011 whether to fund Croxley Rail Link.
In the meantime the project is continuing to develop the Transport and Works Act Order application which will be submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport to gain the powers necessary to construct and operate the rail link.
A further information release is planned in the next few months to provide more details on the scheme.
The Department for Transport (DfT) welcome comments from external parties on the bids that they have received.
The comment period will run from 9th September to October 14th and will be open to anyone who wishes to submit a relevant comment on the proposals.
A dedicated email address has been established for comments:
development.pool@dft.gsi.gov.uk
(This email should only be used to provide comments on the BAFB to the DfT, please continue to use info@croxleyraillink.com should you wish to get in contact with the project team directly.)

The alternative options that have been ruled out as unworkable

excerpt from the consultation brochure
As part of the ongoing Croxley rail link consultation leading to Transport and works act submission the following alternative options have been assessed:
Retention of existing Watford terminus and running a split service to Watford Junction.
Reopening the Croxley Green Branch Line and not connecting to the Metropolitan Line
Conversion of the Croxley Green Branch Line to a segregated bus way
Improvements to the existing local bus network
Connecting the rail link to the St Albans Abbey Line and Amersham branch if the Metropolitan Line
Construction of a watford relief road
Tunnelling under Cassionury Park
The preferred scheme continues to offer the greatest benefits whilst remaining financially and operationally viable

Croxley Rail Link is in public consultation

Croxley Rail link is the proposal for the diversion and extension of the Metropolitan Line from Croxley Met station along the disused Croxley Green rail link branch to Watford Junction mainline station.

The public consultation is ongoing prior to transport and works act submission.

The website for information on it is www.croxleyraillink.com

The consultation booklet explains how all other options have been examined and that this one has the best economic case.