"Kevin" wrote:
"Recliner" wrote in message
...

"Kevin" wrote:
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?

There may only be a mile or so of all-new railway, but altogether it's
nearer to 3.5 miles, including the reopened section and two new stations.
But, yes, it does sound like a lot for what is really quite a simple
project. Maybe it wouldn't have taken so long to get approval had it been
more affordable?

Obviously some of the cost will be for upgrading the DC line that's shared
with the Overground, including work at the existing High St and Junction
stations.

According to this the new Lea Bridge station will cost £6.5 million. Lets
be generous and say the 2 new stations will £15 million. That will put
re-instating the line, the viaduct, upgrading High St to Watford Junc at
£165 million. I also understand that Watford Met will be retained as
sidings so add a junction with the deviation. Anybody know how long phase
1 of the East London Line was and that came in at £1 billion. Something
doesn't add up in my mind.

Please could you use a proper newsreader, so your comments don't get mixed
with the ones you're responding to?

The Lea Bridge station is a reopening, using the existing platforms. A
better comparison might be the all-new station at Southend Airport, which
cost £16m in 2011. Allowing for inflation, the new stations for 8-car
trains might cost £20m apiece, plus a few million each to upgrade two
existing stations, so the stations probably account for ~£50m.

As for the line, the new non-electrified Bacon Factory chord cost £59 for a
1.2km line, while the 2km, electrified single track Hitchin flyover cost
£47m. By those standards, building the new 4.5km Croxley line, and
upgrading the shared DC line to Watford Junction could be expected to cost
upwards of £100m. According to table 3.2 in this document
http://www.croxleyraillink.com/media...n%20report.pdf

The works are described as:

• 4.5km of new railway track, signalling and structures;
• 0.4km embankment and viaduct over Watford Road, Grand Union Canal and
River Gade linking the Metropolitan Line and the Croxley Green Branch;
• New stations at Ascot Road and Watford General Hospital;
• Refurbishment of station at Watford High Street;
• Refurbishment of Cardiff Road, Ascot Road and River Colne underbridges;
and
• Maintenance of Tolpits Lane, Vicarage Road and Wiggenhall Road
overbridges.

- Construction and engineering costs: £133m
- Land, additional vehicles, public enquiry: £19.1m
- Risk allowance: £19.9m
- TOTAL £172m