Watford Station
Redevelopment Plans and Consultations
Given the plethora
and overlap of consultations and considerations, I am writing on behalf of this
association to give our general views and further information may be found on
our website: https://ertarail.com/watford-and-hertfordshire-rail-public-transport/.
Our main wish and
desire is for a new direct North-East curve be installed off the slow lines of
the West Coast Main Line to link and allow direct running into and out of the
Abbey Line from the North.
This would require a
new single or double track off the slow lines north of A412 St Albans Road a
new underpass to allow the lines to curve round and link with the Abbey Line.
Our vision for the
Abbey Line is for a double track twin platform station at Abbey with a new
booking hall and coffee shop and public conveniences and for doubling track
loop at Bricket Wood and a new link line east of that station to a new station
on the Midland Main Line (MML) south of St Albans City Station/North of M25
whereby the Abbey lines would go under the MML and link to the slow London
bound lines.
This would enable
the following:
a. Trains from
Bedford-Bletchley to run into Watford and on to the Abbey Station off the West
Coast Main Line
b. Specials to visit
the area off the main lines
c. waitover for
stock
d. Thameslink to
Watford Junction from North London MML Stations like Hendon and Radlett
e. More use,
patronage and diversity turning the Abbey Branch into a through route dynamic again.
Rarely used
platforms adjacent to current Abbey Branch platform at Watford Junction could
also be linked to the north via these new lines, making more platform
flexibility for more services.
A footbridge linking
the Retail Park with platforms and a new booking hall above ground level with
lift/escalator access to ground level could give more capacity to the crowded
tunnel and stair arrangement from platforms.
Could the office
tower at the station be relocated to spare office locations and knocked down
for more railway access? Given we have on the west side of Watford Junction the
Croxley Link as well as metro lines to Euston more baying capacity is required.
If the tower was gone the footbridge could extend across and the current bay
line knocked through to the north side of the tower making a 12 coach through
platform for interface with fast trains going north. The current bus
interchange could be made a multi-storey car park and accommodate an extra bay
for extra trains.
We need to encourage
people to walk, cycle and use public transport to and from Watford Junction and
safer off road cycle and walking facilities with the main High street and
radial parks, estates and linking conurbations should also be progressively
networked, mapped and promoted. Cycling on busy main roads is draconian for
many cyclists and cycling on pedestrian space is also a problem. A off road
cycle space, akin to Utrecht in Holland is the incremental way forward so
optimising these non car methods more to greater numbers. They will require
more lock up space accommodation and the link to the retail park will be useful
capacity for this as well as at the front of the station.
We would encourage a
study to consider incremental phased extension of the underground from Stanmore
and possibly Edgware to Watford and that the Watford Metropolitan Station is
not lost to railway use but retained for more services including use of the
Amersham north to east curve for a Watford-Aylesbury service without a need to
change. This could be a Chiltern Railway diesel service and link to the
East-West Rail Network.
A possible heritage
centre and some preservation/museum could also be developed around the site
adding another attraction and boosting footfall and spend across the vicinity.
The north to east
curve at Watford would have a triangle platform with the said footbridge (see
diagram) so trains from the north bound for either the Abbey or Thameslink
could call at Watford and again save changing trains. From tourism to sport,
commuting to further afield travel, this would give more options for local and
regional rail.
For more information please see:
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