On Dec 13, 6:00*pm, burkey wrote:
Croxley Rail Link plan approved by Government

5:35pm Tuesday 13th December 2011 – Watford observer

By Adam Binnie and Mike Wright »

Work on a £120m rail project that will change the face of Watford and
Croxley Green has been approved by the Government.

An official announcement that the long-running Croxley Rail Link
project has been approved is due to take place tomorrow, the Watford
Observer understands.

The new link will connect Croxley Station on the Metropolitan Line
with currently disused track between Croxley Green and Watford High
Street overground station.

A colossal rail bridge will run from Baldwins Lane in Croxley Green,
past the Harvester restaurant and over the dual carriageway.

The new railway will then run along Watford Road, the Grand Union
canal, and through west Watford, where two new stations will be built
in Ascot Road and Vicarage Road.

Both MP for Watford Richard Harrington and mayor Dorothy Thornhill,
who have lobbied heavily for the project to go ahead, welcomed the
news.

Mr Harrington “I am delighted that this Government has taken this
decision and invested in the future of Watford.

“This development will be crucial in regenerating Watford and bringing
much-needed investment in the town.

“Over the last few weeks I have spoken to the Transport Secretary and
the Chancellor to push for Government support as I believe it will be
a pivotal boost for Watford and the start of an exciting new chapter
for the town.”

Mayor Thornhill added: “I have a huge grin on my face. This is
something I have wanted for the town for many years. I can't pretend
that I am not proud that it is my government that has granted it.”

Speaking before the announcement, Mr Harrington described the project
as “a major urban regeneration scheme for the poorest parts of
Watford”.

A three dimensional video shows the scale of new route, which is hoped
to be finished by 2016, as it winds its way from Croxley Green, along
the railway bridge and into Watford.

GREAT NEWS!

However, approved does not mean funded?

What do we know about funding?

"77002" wrote in message
...

However, approved does not mean funded?

What do we know about funding?

It was one of a number of local authority development pool schemes, and
included on the second part of a list published last month by DfT, for which
a funding decision was to be made in mid December. The first part of the
document was the projects awarded funding last month in the Autumn
Statement.

http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/local-authority-major-schemes-development-pools/lams-development-pools-update.pdf

Paul S

On Dec 13, 9:04*pm, "Paul Scott"
wrote:
"77002" wrote in message

...

However, approved does not mean funded?

What do we know about funding?

It was one of a number of local authority development pool schemes, and
included on the second part of a list published last month by DfT, for which
a funding decision was to be made in mid December. *The first part of the
document was the projects awarded funding last month in the Autumn
Statement.

http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/local-authority-major-schemes-d...

Excellent. The may actually happen.

On Dec 14, 6:26*am, 77002 wrote:

http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/local-authority-major-schemes-d....

Excellent. *The may actually happen.

A local authority funded piece of transport infrastructure?
Excellent: the success of Edinburgh replicated in Watford.

ian

On Dec 13, 9:04*pm, "Paul Scott"
wrote:
"77002" wrote in message

...

However, approved does not mean funded?

What do we know about funding?

It was one of a number of local authority development pool schemes, and
included on the second part of a list published last month by DfT, for which
a funding decision was to be made in mid December. *The first part of the
document was the projects awarded funding last month in the Autumn
Statement.

http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/local-authority-major-schemes-d...

Paul S

It will be interesting to see what today's announcement says about how
much funding will come from Watford and Herts councils. I hope we
won't still be reading posts copied from the Watford Observer in a few
years time, describing arguments over funding between local
councillors.

Dominic

"Dominic" wrote in message
...

It will be interesting to see what today's announcement says about how
much funding will come from Watford and Herts councils. I hope we
won't still be reading posts copied from the Watford Observer in a few
years time, describing arguments over funding between local
councillors.

You don't get the DfT contribution to these type of projects confirmed
until/unless the local authority portion is guaranteed AFAICT...

Paul S

On Dec 14, 8:47*am, Dominic wrote:
On Dec 13, 9:04*pm, "Paul Scott"
wrote:





"77002" wrote in message

....

However, approved does not mean funded?

What do we know about funding?

It was one of a number of local authority development pool schemes, and
included on the second part of a list published last month by DfT, for which
a funding decision was to be made in mid December. *The first part of the
document was the projects awarded funding last month in the Autumn
Statement.

http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/local-authority-major-schemes-d....

Paul S

It will be interesting to see what today's announcement says about how
much funding will come from Watford and Herts councils. I hope we
won't still be reading posts copied from the Watford Observer in a few
years time, describing arguments over funding between local
councillors.

Lest's hope for the best. It would be a pitty to lose this project
because of local squabes now.

"burkey" wrote:

Croxley Rail Link plan approved by Government

5:35pm Tuesday 13th December 2011 – Watford observer

By Adam Binnie and Mike Wright »

Work on a £120m rail project that will change the face of Watford and
Croxley Green has been approved by the Government.

An official announcement that the long-running Croxley Rail Link
project has been approved is due to take place tomorrow, the Watford
Observer understands.
[...]

And here is the DfT announcement:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press20111214

Relevant bullet point:
---quote---
Croxley Rail Link (Watford). Extension of the Metropolitan line from Croxley
to Watford Junction mainline station plus two new stations (inc closure of
current Watford Met line station). (£76.2m DfT contribution towards a total
cost of £115.9m).
---/quote---

"Mizter T" wrote in message
...

And here is the DfT announcement:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press20111214

Relevant bullet point:
---quote---
Croxley Rail Link (Watford). Extension of the Metropolitan line from
Croxley to Watford Junction mainline station plus two new stations (inc
closure of current Watford Met line station). (£76.2m DfT contribution
towards a total cost of £115.9m).
---/quote---

So - despite all the handwringing when these 45 projects were supposedly put
on the back burner by the current lot, 45 of 45 have eventually been
approved, after various cost estimates have been whittled down. Is there a
positive story here after all?

Paul S

In article ,
(Paul Corfield) wrote:

On Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:13:47 -0000, "Paul Scott"
wrote:

"Mizter T" wrote in message
...

And here is the DfT announcement:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press20111214

Relevant bullet point:
---quote---
Croxley Rail Link (Watford). Extension of the Metropolitan line from
Croxley to Watford Junction mainline station plus two new stations (inc
closure of current Watford Met line station). (£76.2m DfT contribution
towards a total cost of £115.9m).
---/quote---

So - despite all the handwringing when these 45 projects were supposedly
put on the back burner by the current lot, 45 of 45 have eventually been
approved, after various cost estimates have been whittled down. Is there
a positive story here after all?

There probably is good news but many of these schemes still require
local funding and I wonder if that money can actually be found. Can
HCC find £40m for the Croxley Link? It's good it has got approval
and a large wodge of money but given overall spending pressures on
local authorities I remain a bit dubious.

It is also worth noting that 4 schemes were not approved - one being
the Leeds Trolleybus scheme and another being a bus based scheme in
South Essex. They have one more chance to get their numbers right /
convince the DfT but I expect Metro (in West Yorks) are pretty fed up
today. How many times do they have to try to get some sort of decent
public transport investment in that part of the country?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-16182932

"I am mystified as to why the DfT now wants to delay the project another
five months, particularly when every month lost means inflation and other
factors add £1m to the overall cost of the scheme."

I don't know why he is mystified and going on about delay. The DfT press
release makes their reason for the delay clear enough:

"Leeds New Generation Transport. The Department has not yet been provided
with sufficient evidence with which to assess the value for money of this
scheme, as some of the data is relatively new and cannot yet be verified.
However, the Department recognises that a strong strategic case has been
made and so has given the promoters until 31 March 2012 to update their
business case. A decision will be made within two months of that."

The Leeds & West Yorks ITA councillor at a meeting I was at today was indeed
pretty fed up.

--
Colin Rosenstiel