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40-751: The Croxley Rail Link , or the Metropolitan Line Extension , is a proposed railway engineering project in the Watford and Three Rivers districts of Hertfordshire , England, that would have connected the London Overground and the London Underground 's Metropolitan line at Watford Junction . If the link were to go ahead, the Metropolitan line's terminus at Watford Underground station would be closed and

80-596: A Greengauge 21 report "Capturing the Benefits of HS2 on Existing Lines"." The report proposed that High Speed Two would increase capacity on the West Coast Mainline , increasing the benefits of an "Amersham Link" to the Croxley Link. These benefits would be further increased by the planned substantial increase in service to Watford Junction and London Euston . It was claimed that this could support

120-402: A cost overrun. It was noted that at the budgeted cost of £284.4 million, the cost-benefit ratio of the project was only 0.4, so funding a cost overrun now estimated at £73.4 million on top of the £49.2 million Transport for London were already contributing, would not give value for money. It stated that Transport for London's sunk expenditure on the project was £71.2 million, of which £15.5 million

160-472: A new service from Aylesbury and other London to Aylesbury Line destinations to Watford Junction." Following the cancellation of the London Underground extension scheme, Hertfordshire County Council, Watford Borough Council and Three Rivers District Council are evaluating alternative proposals to re-open the former Watford and Rickmansworth Railway line for public transport use, under the name of

200-631: A proposal to link the Metropolitan line to the BR Croxley Green branch line. A similar proposal was put forward by London Regional Transport (LRT) around 1994. Because the line lay entirely within Hertfordshire, it was championed by the county council who lobbied for funding from LRT (later TfL) and the Department for Transport for 16 years. In 2005 Transport for London (TfL) tentatively committed to providing up to £18 million of

240-532: A rapid bus transit scheme and light rail. In late 2020, Three Rivers District Council announced that it was seeking to revive the link, citing it as a "shovel ready" project. Discussing the bid, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Croxley Green Peter Getkahn cited Boris Johnson's pledge to "build back better" after the COVID-19 pandemic , mentioning that the extension to the Metropolitan line would be

280-470: A reduced shuttle service to be operated on the branch. Ending services on part of the line and closing a station require a formal closure process involving London TravelWatch . The London TravelWatch Board set up a Watford Station Closure Panel; the panel held a public meeting in Watford on 14 June 2012 to present arguments to TfL against the station closure. There was a further suggestion that with use of

320-412: A second station, Watford Vicarage Road , would have replaced Watford West and the football specials halt, Watford Stadium Halt . The new stations would have had ticket machines instead of staffed ticket offices. The name Ascot Road was initially chosen by consultants for the first of the two new stations; however, many local people and councillors felt that this name would not reflect the identity of

360-403: A suitable target for this. A key part of the project was the construction of a short section of track that would have connected the existing Metropolitan line to the former British Rail Croxley Green branch line at their closest point; this would have been achieved by a new junction near Baldwins Lane, about 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) northeast of Croxley station and a viaduct and a bridge to carry

400-688: Is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom . It is responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland that have not been devolved . The department is run by the Secretary of State for Transport , currently (since 5 July 2024) Louise Haigh . The expenditure, administration, and policy of

440-594: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Department for Transport King Charles III [REDACTED] William, Prince of Wales [REDACTED] Charles III ( King-in-Council ) [REDACTED] Starmer ministry ( L ) Keir Starmer ( L ) Angela Rayner ( L ) ( King-in-Parliament ) [REDACTED] Charles III [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The Lord Reed The Lord Hodge Andrew Bailey Monetary Policy Committee The Department for Transport ( DfT )

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480-770: The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG, formerly WebTAG). The DfT maintains datasets including the National Trip End Model and traffic counts on major roads. The devolution of transport policy varies around the UK; most aspects in Great Britain are decided at Westminster. Key reserved transport matters (i.e., not devolved) are as follows: Scotland Reserved matters: Scotland's comparability factor (the proportion of spending in this area devolved to

520-531: The Department of Transport are scrutinised by the Transport Committee . The Department for Transport has six strategic objectives: The department "creates the strategic framework" for transport services, which are delivered through a wide range of public and private sector bodies including its own executive agencies. The DfT sponsors the following public bodies: DfT publications include

560-506: The Metropolitan line from Croxley to Watford would cease when the Croxley Rail Link opened; Watford station would close, although the short branch might remain in operation as a reversing siding. Following closure, the nearest new station to Watford Met would have been Cassiobridge , about 3 ⁄ 4 mile (1.2 km) away. The plan to close the station had been the subject of some local opposition, and campaigners argued for

600-573: The Metropolitan line over the A412 Watford Road dual carriageway and the Grand Union Canal to the former BR line. Double track would have been laid along the disused trackbed, reinstating the line as far as Watford High Street. None of the former BR stations that closed in 1996 would reopen. Two new stations were to be built: Croxley Green station replaced by Cassiobridge (previously intended to be called "Ascot Road") and

640-774: The Rickmansworth branch in 1952 and ran a skeleton service on the Croxley Green branch until 1996. Over the years, various schemes were considered to extend the Metropolitan line into the centre of Watford, including an abandoned plan in 1927 to open a Metropolitan Railway station on the High Street, Watford Central . In 1948, the London Transport Executive (LTE), part of the British Transport Commission , considered

680-837: The Scottish Government) was 91.7% for 2021/22. Northern Ireland Reserved matters: The department's devolved counterparts in Northern Ireland are: Northern Ireland's comparability factor (the proportion of spending in this area devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive) was 95.4% for 2021/22. Wales Reserved matters: The department's devolved counterpart in Wales is the Minister for Climate Change. Wales' comparability factor (the proportion of spending in this area devolved to

720-520: The Watford To Croxley Link (W2CL). The possible schemes include: The W2CL proposals are currently unfunded, and Hertfordshire County Council have invited competitive tenders for conceptual design submissions. Railway engineering With the advent of the railways in the early nineteenth century, a need arose for a specialized group of engineers capable of dealing with the unique problems associated with railway engineering. As

760-754: The Welsh Government) was 36.6% for 2021/22. This represents a significant reduction (e.g. it was 80.9% in 2015) due to the controversial classification of HS2 as an 'England and Wales' project. The Ministry of Transport was established by the Ministry of Transport Act 1919 ( 9 & 10 Geo. 5 . c. 50) which provided for the transfer to the new ministry of powers and duties of any government department in respect of railways , light railways , tramways , canals and inland waterways , roads , bridges and ferries , and vehicles and traffic thereon, harbours , docks and piers . In September 1919, all

800-580: The area. Transport planners also expressed concern that the new station may be too easily confused with Ascot station in Berkshire . The name Cassiobridge was suggested due to historical connections with the area and because of a bridge over the Grand Union Canal , and after some consultation, it was confirmed in August 2013 that the Cassiobridge name would be used instead. The proposed route of

840-541: The construction of a viaduct over the Grand Union Canal , River Gade and A412 road and two new stations before branching into the London Overground line near Watford High Street and continuing to Watford Junction . The proposed route was featured in a Transport for London network map for 2016 and the Transport for London Indicative 2025 Transport Map on which Watford tube station does not appear. Were

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880-659: The department was reorganised into three major sections: Secretarial, Finance and Roads. The ministry's functions were exercised initially throughout the United Kingdom. An Irish Branch was established in 1920, but then was taken over by the government of the Irish Free State on the transfer of functions in 1922. The department took over transport functions of Scottish departments in the same year, though certain functions relating to local government, loan sanction, byelaws and housing were excepted. In May 1937, power to make provisional orders for harbour, pier and ferry works

920-515: The estimated cost of £65 million, predicting that the link would be operational by 2010. Difficulties arose in securing the remaining funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) and a revised project submission, under new guidelines, was prepared, with a view to obtaining Programme Entry status. A business case was submitted to the DfT in February 2008, with revised costs of £95 million. The proposal

960-400: The existing, but seldom-used, Metropolitan line chord which allows trains to run from Watford towards Amersham via Rickmansworth in conjunction with this rail link, direct services between Watford Junction and Amersham might have been possible some time in the future. London Regional Transport 's adapted internal planning Tube map of 1994 illustrated this idea. The proposal was included in

1000-439: The green light by the government on 17 March 2015 when it was confirmed that Transport for London would be responsible. Work on the extension stopped in 2016 due to anticipated cost overruns and an unresolved dispute over funding. London mayor Sadiq Khan announced in 2018 that there was no funding for the project. The present-day London Underground Watford station is situated close to Cassiobury Park and somewhat peripheral to

1040-444: The line diverted and extended from Croxley to Watford Junction via a reopened section of closed line. The main proponent of the scheme was Hertfordshire County Council but it failed to win the support of Transport for London (TfL) which owns the Watford branch. The engineering works would have consisted of the realignment of the disused Watford and Rickmansworth Railway 's line between Croxley Green and Watford High Street , with

1080-460: The line would have passed close to Watford General Hospital , where a major business, retail and residential development has been planned. A station named Watford Hospital was planned to serve the development, but its name was changed to Watford Vicarage Road because it was felt that the association with Vicarage Road football stadium would ensure wider recognition outside the local area. Transport for London had stated that passenger services on

1120-475: The link to be built, direct services between Watford Junction and Amersham would be possible but were not included in the business case for the scheme. The project was approved by the government on 14 December 2011 and vegetation clearance started during 2013. The project received final government approval through an order under the Transport and Works Act on 24 July 2013 and was signed off and formally given

1160-580: The powers of the Road Board, the Ministry of Health, and the Board of Trade in respect of transport, were transferred to the new ministry. Initially, the department was organised to carry out supervisory, development and executive functions, but the end of railway and canal control by 1921, and the settlement of financial agreements relating to the wartime operations of the railways reduced its role. In 1923,

1200-527: The project into a qualification pool of works that would be subjected to further assessments in order to bid for funding. A Best and Final Funding Bid was submitted to the Department in September 2011. On 14 December 2011, the Department for Transport agreed to fund £76.2 million of the £115.9 million cost, with the remainder from the local authorities (£33.7 million) and third parties (£6.86 million). In December 2014, Hertfordshire County Council announced that

1240-513: The project, subject to a suitable funding package. Hertfordshire County Council would now contribute £230 million, £34 million would be provided by central government, and LU was to contribute £16 million. On 25 January 2017, the Watford Observer newspaper confirmed that work which had been ongoing since 2014 had stopped as there was an ongoing funding issue; Transport for London were stating that more than £50 million additional funding

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1280-444: The projected cost of the scheme would rise to £230 million. It was also reported that London Underground could take over construction of the link from Network Rail. According to TfL, HCC had significantly underestimated the costs and the project was faced with "significant project slippage and cost escalation", and for this reason, an agreement was reached with the DfT and HCC whereby London Underground would assume full responsibility for

1320-499: The railways expanded and became a major economic force, a great many engineers became involved in the field, probably the most notable in Britain being Richard Trevithick , George Stephenson and Isambard Kingdom Brunel . Today, railway systems engineering continues to be a vibrant field of engineering. This rail-transport related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This engineering-related article

1360-469: The responsibility of: The name "Ministry of Transport" lives on in the annual MOT test , a test of vehicle safety , roadworthiness , and exhaust emissions , which most vehicles used on public roads in the UK are required to pass annually once they reach three years old (four years for vehicles in Northern Ireland ). Following a series of strikes, poor performance, concerns over access for

1400-475: The town centre. Watford Urban District Council objected to the proposal to drive a railway across the park, resulting in the terminus of the Watford branch being a mile (1.6 km.) from the High Street . Also in the area was the single-track Watford and Rickmansworth Railway that opened in 1862 between Watford Junction and Rickmansworth (Church Street) . British Rail withdrew passenger services from

1440-504: Was for buying an additional train, which has been delivered and put into service. In 2018, the government offered Transport for London the £73.4 million additional funding it was apparently asking for, taking total funding available to £357.8 million, subject to Transport for London accepting cost overrun risk again. This arrangement was turned down by the Mayor. The parties were later reported to be examining cheaper alternative schemes such as

1480-526: Was predicted that the link could be operational within seven years. A revised business case was produced in autumn 2009 and the costs and scope reviewed. Following the Cameron–Clegg coalition 's Comprehensive Spending Review the project was placed in the pre-qualification pool and a further submission made to the Department for Transport in January 2011. In February 2011 the Department for Transport placed

1520-533: Was rejected in March on the basis that no guarantee of financial backing had been received from TfL. In July 2008 the East of England Regional Assembly declared the scheme a "priority" and agreed to contribute £119.5 million towards the estimated cost, now £150 million. Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) agreed to allocate £25.8 million which it hoped to recover through ticket sales and other London Underground revenue. It

1560-479: Was required. A Freedom of Information request revealed that £130 million of the £284 million funding had already been spent, but the only works that had actually been delivered were some utility diversions and route clearance. In September 2017, Sadiq Khan , the Mayor of London , gave more clarity to the issue, relieving Transport for London of any obligation imposed on it by the previous Mayor, Boris Johnson , to fund

1600-490: Was transferred to the Secretary of State for Scotland. The growth of road transport increased the responsibilities of the ministry, and in the 1930s, and especially with defence preparations preceding the outbreak of war, government responsibilities for all means of transport increased significantly. Government control of transport and diverse associated matters has been reorganised a number of times in modern history, being

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