This is outside of London but as the Abbey flyer is discussed I am sure this
can be. The Government has just announced an additional £50 m on top of the
£130 m already agreed. Ten years ago I was staggered at the £60 m estimate
and now the project cost is £180 m. This can only be about a mile or
railway, 2 stations and a viaduct. I don't think even HS2 is that much per
mile and they will have to cost in the trains. Does anybody know why this
project is so expensive?

Kevin

This week, the Government announced an extra £50million to take the Croxley
Rail Link to its next phase. The funding is in addition to the £130million
already committed to the project.

The new funding was awarded after I met with officials in the Department for
Transport, Communities Minister Greg Clark MP and TfL to make sure the
project was kept on schedule. After campaigning in Parliament, I can now
confirm that the rail link is completely financed and will move forward to
the construction phase with work soon starting on the two new stations.

The Croxley Rail Link is one of my key priorities for Watford and after
decades of slow progress, I am delighted that it is finally to become a
reality. The project will link Watford Junction to the Metropolitan Line,
with new train stations being built at Vicarage Road and Ascot Road. This
will improve access to Watford General Hospital, the football club, local
business parks and thousands of homes.

Watford Junction Redevelopment Campaign

This week in Parliament, I called for the complete redevelopment of Watford
Junction Station to become a priority for the Government and Network Rail.
This will ensure the station is ready for increased passenger numbers and
new services.

Watford is a significant transport hub and we need the infrastructure to
match this. Rail use has doubled in the last decade and with the Government
investing so heavily in Watford transport by backing the Croxley Rail Link,
this rise looks set to continue. We now need to look at what we can do to
improve capacity at the stations as well as on the lines and this means
completely redeveloping Watford Junction.

The Station forecourt was re-designed less than two years ago, but has been
plagued with problems with drop off and pick up of passengers, arrangements
for taxis and pedestrian safety. I have pushed for these issues to be
tackled as soon as possible, but feel a long-term plan for the station is
needed.

I am meeting with the Communities Minister, the Department of Transport,
Network Rail and other key stakeholders to look at the redevelopment of the
station. I hope to report back soon and would like to hear your views so
please get in touch.

Kind regards,

Richard Harrington MP