Watford to St Albans Tram link to 'go ahead' says MP
On Jun 25, 9:27*am, burkey wrote:
Watford to St Albans Tram link to 'go ahead', says MP
From eWatford Observer - Friday 25th June 2010
By Neil Skinner
The Watford to St Albans Tram Link, a feared casualty of swingeing
cuts to public spending, will go ahead, the town’s new MP said this
morning.
Richard Harrington, who came to power in May, said he was assured this
morning that the project would definitely go ahead by the Department
for Transport.
The project, announced in October, will convert the existing Watford
to St Albans rail link into a tram system, possibly by the end of
2011.
As reported by the Watford Observer today it was feared that the
project could have fallen victim to cuts in public spending – along
with the Croxley Rail Link and Watford Junction Interchange.
Mr Harrington, however, says he obtained a guarantee from the
department this morning that the project would get the green light.
He said: “I have been assured by the ministry [Department for
Transport] this morning that the project is going to go through.
“I am very pleased about that because it shows that the Government in
listening and is keen to further these important investment schemes
for Watford.”
If all goes to plan the two carriage trams will be able to run two or
three services an hour along the six-and-a-half mile line, depending
on which of two proposed passing loop systems is adopted. That would
represent a big improvement on the current 45 minute intervals.
When formal approval is given, Hertfordshire County Council, which
will adopt the line, can begin a tendering process to find a private
operator for the line.
The Department for Transport has not yet confirmed the announcement.
IMHO The Croxley Link would have been a much better investment.
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