Mizter T wrote:


On May 28, 10:19*pm, wrote:

Works application set to be submitted in May next year. A public
inquiry is proposed for February 2011.

Thats excellent news! Does that mean the current Watford station will
close?

Yes

All this pre-supposes such an enquiry will rule in favour.

If a public enquiry goes against, it won't happen. And the Cassiobury
Park area - where Watford Met. lies - strikes me as an area that might
have quite a lot of nimbies in it.


Er, "imbies" surely - the problem for Cassiobury Park residents is
that they'd be *losing* their Met line station altogether, and instead
they'd have to troop south to either the new Ascot Road or the re-
opened Watford West stations.

The new construction would be relatively minimal - a link from the
existing line near Baldwins Lane across Watford Road to reach the
existing alignment across the Grand Union Canal (the bridge still
being existent) and on east. I'm not au fait with the exact proposals
for this link, and I'm sure some people would complain (particularly
so if the pub on the roundabout gets it), but the new link is of such
a small distance that I don't think it would lead to any particularly
orchestrated campaign against it. There might be some complaints from
people along the course of the existing alignment opposing it being
reopened, but that would weigh against the convenience of a new
station nearby so I wouldn't expect this to be a problem.


A thorough analysis, Mizter T.

I'm finding it difficult to disagree. ;-)


I'd think the only potential for people getting really upset would be
caused by the loss of Watford Met station - and said people are indeed
likely to be the Cassiobury Park folk.


Friends who live close to the existing line and within a five minute
walk of the station will be only too pleased to see it go. It is both
noisy and visually intrusive. Their walk to the new station will still
be fairly short, but they will be pleased not to hear the trains. I
have no idea whether their views are representative, though.

What is it about Underground trains and permanent way that makes them so
noisy? The traction motors are loud, the brake compressors are loud and
the noise of the rail joints and thumps over the pointwork are also
loud. Is it just me, or are they intrinsically louder than on main line
railways?