LNWR CROXLEY GREEN JN - CROXLEY GREEN (single line 1½ miles)
Opened
15.6.1912
Closed
Temp closure 25.3.1996
Official closure 30.3.2003
Stations
Watford Stadium (opened 1982); Watford West; Croxley Green.
History
Under its New Lines Act, the LNWR carried out a number of improvements in the Watford area which
included a short branch to Croxley Green from the line to Rickmansworth (see above).
It opened in 1912 and after it was electrified in 1922 the LMS ran about three trains an hour
with seven mins allowed to cover the three miles from Watford Junction. There were also direct
services to Euston via the west to south curve at Croxley Green Junction but these were withdrawn
in 1966. LNWR three-car Oerlikon EMUs were used until 1957 when they were replaced by Class 501s
which in 1985 gave way to Class 313s from the ER. The shuttle service to Watford Junction was
withdrawn in 1996 and replaced by a bus to allow a new dual carriageway road to be built. The branch
was officially closed in 2003.
Reopening proposal
About 1989 London Transport floated the idea of diverting the Metropolitan
line away from its remote west Watford terminus and, by means of less than a mile of new alignment,
link up with this branch to gain access to Watford Junction. In 2001 the SRA confirmed that it wanted
to see the branch reopened and the link constructed but in November 2002 (whilst it was stipulated that
track and formation must remain intact for five years) it was reported that the branch had been deleted
from the Network. In March 2003 the replacement bus service (in practice a taxi on demand) was
withdrawn. In the Government@lsquo;s Local Transport Plan (LTP) announced in January 2004 the DfT wants a
firmer commitment from London Underground on funding before it can establish whether the amount bid
from the LTP programme (£72m) offered value for money. In September 2005 all points, signals and
associated equipment, including the trailing connection at Watford High Street, were recovered from
the branch.
Route - when open
It diverged from the Rickmansworth branch at Croxley Green Junction (TQ106953), bridged the River
Colne and headed NW. In December 1982 a halt was opened at Watford Stadium for fans attending Watford
F.C.s home matches. West station in Tolpits Lane was located midway along the branch and from there it
bridged the River Gade and the canal to reach the Croxley Green terminus station (TQ088959) located on
Watford Road (A412).
Route - today
In 1996 Hertfordshire County Council was allowed to break through the embankment short of Croxley
Green station to build a new dual carriageway road called Ascot Road. This severed the line just east
of the bridge over the River Gade/Grand Union Canal. The branch was last walked with the third rail
track still in situ.
Stations
At Watford Stadium and Watford West retain platforms, lights, nameboards and entrances but no
buildings; Croxley Green intact complete with third rail trackwork, nameboard, lights and entrance.
Bridges
All bridges in place including twin-span lattice girder bridge over the Grand Union Canal and River
Gade at Croxley Green station; bridge carrying Tolpits lane at Watford West.
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