Watford Tube Link gets go ahead

A Tube link connecting part of the London Underground with local rail services in Watford is finally set to go ahead – at more than twice its original cost. The Croxley Rail Link was originally priced in 2002 for around £60 million. Now things appear a little more expensive and the extension will cost £145 million.




"Hertfordshire County Council has received approval for the £145 million Metropolitan Line extension to Watford via Watford High Street from the East of England Regional Assembly.

The council's head of transport programmes and strategy, Mike Younghusband, said: "Construction costs have inflated and the Government now takes a different approach to risk.

"By taking on the project we're agreeing to delivering the scheme on budget, whereas before if costs went up the Government would just fund it." For more & for a timeline - as this is now supposed to be completed in 2014 - see cnplus.co.uk

Stuart Pile, the county council's executive member for transport, said the announcement was a 'significant step forward'.

He further said: 'This is good news for everyone in Watford. The proposed rail link will have a major impact on relieving congestion, as well as improving transport links between London and Watford town centre.

'We are committed to this scheme. I look forward to seeing it come to fruition.'

At times like this I wish that London Connections was still operational. Maybe London Reconnections which attempts to keep the spirit of it going will spot things like this in the future and keep an eye on them. I do wonder how long it will take to finish and if, come 2014, it will have more than the budgeted 145 million quid.