Watford tube station

File:Watford Tube - platform.JPG

File:Watford railways.png

The station is in the Cassiobury area, on Cassiobury Park Avenue at the junction with Metropolitan Station Approach, close to two of the entrances to Cassiobury Park. It is approximately {{convert|1|mi}} from the town centre, which is more immediately served by {{stnlnk|Watford High Street}} and {{stnlnk|Watford Junction}} stations. The station building was designed by the Metropolitan Railway's architect Charles Walter Clark in an Arts and Crafts vernacular style. It is in red brick with a clay-tiled hipped roof, tall brick chimney stacks, and timber sash and casement windows. The main entrance is covered by a polygonal metal canopy supported by twin Doric columns, and the interior, mostly unaltered from the original, is decorated with period tiling and hardwood panelling. The station building is Grade II listed.{{cite web | title=Watford Station, Watford | url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-508026-watford-station-hertfordshire | work=British Listed Buildings | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125215345/http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-508026-watford-station-hertfordshire | archive-date=25 January 2014 | url-status=live }}

According to data compiled in 2010, it is the 25th-least used station on the London Underground.{{cite web | url=http://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/document/14216/get | title=The proposed closure and discontinuance of services to and from Watford station | page=7 | publisher=London Travel Watch | date=28 August 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125215448/http://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/document/14216/get | archive-date=25 January 2014 | url-status=live }}

File:Metro-land-map.jpg

In the early 20th century, the Metropolitan Railway (MR) penetrated Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire with its suburban railway, enticing Londoners with its "Metro-Land" advertising campaign promoting the new railway as an opportunity to live in a rural location with easy transport to central London.{{cite web | title=Metro-Land | url=http://www.southbankpublishing.com/9781904915003/introduction.php | work=British Empire Exhibition booklet | year=1924 | publisher=South Bank Publishing | access-date=9 August 2013 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20080628202202/http://www.southbankpublishing.com/9781904915003/introduction.php | archive-date=28 June 2008 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }} The MR was also intent on providing a connection from Watford and planned a branch line from {{stl|LUL|Moor Park}} via {{stl|LUL|Croxley}}. The MR purchased a swathe of land from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge along the planned route, and Parliamentary approval for the branch was granted in 1912. The project was hampered by disagreements with the Watford Borough Council and by the outbreak of World War I in 1914, and construction of the {{convert|2.5|mi|adj=on}} branch did not begin until 1922. The MR experienced difficulties running the line across the River Gade and the Grand Junction Canal, and this pushed costs up to £300,000.{{cite book | last=Wolmar | first=Christian |author-link=Christian Wolmar |title=The Subterranean Railway How the London Underground Was Built and How it Changed the City Forever |orig-year=2004 |year=2005 | publisher=Atlantic Books Ltd |pages=247–48 | location=London | isbn=9781843540236 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bYG-QY-DBHkC&q=%22metropolitan+railway%22+watford+station+%22high+street%22&pg=RA1-PT137 }}

Watford MR station opened on 2 November 1925,Chronology of London Railways by H.V.Borley with MR electric trains to {{stl|LUL|Baker Street}} and LNER steam trains to {{stl|LUL|Marylebone}} for the first few months.{{cite book | last=Green | first=Oliver | title=The London Underground: An Illustrated History |year=1990 |publisher=Ian Allan |location=London |isbn=0711017204 |page=43 |edition=3. impr}}{{cite book |last=Rose |first=Douglas |title=The London Underground: A Diagrammatic History |orig-year=1980 |year=1999 |publisher=[The author] |location=London |isbn=1854142194 |edition=7th}} The Watford Observer commented on the opening that the new station was "likely to have a much greater effect on the town than is at present realised. Just as trade follows the flag, so population follows the railway". Posters published by the MR in 1925 promoting the new route "by Metro to Watford" depicted Watford High Street on market day, belying the remote location of the station.{{cite web | title=By 'Metro' to Watford | url=http://www.ltmcollection.org/posters/poster/poster.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&IXinv=2004/17512&IXsummary=results/results&IXsearch=watford&_IXFIRST_=4 | work=London Transport Museum poster collection | author=Unknown Artist | date=1925 | publisher=London Transport Museum | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809225934/http://www.ltmcollection.org/posters/poster/poster.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&IXinv=2004%2F17512&IXsummary=results%2Fresults&IXsearch=watford&_IXFIRST_=4 | archive-date=9 August 2013 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}

For many years, the MR operated a bus service from the High Street in an effort to gain more passengers,{{cite web | title=Inventory no: 1999/28830 - Photograph of Metropolitan Railway single deck coach outside Watford MR station | url=http://www.ltmcollection.org/photos/photo/photo.html?_IXSR_=rvEcJqCx0OY&_IXMAXHITS_=1&IXinv=1999/28830&IXsummary=location/location&IXlocation=watford&_IXFIRST_=3 | work=London Transport Museum photographic collection | author=Unknown photographer | year=1927 | publisher=London Transport Museum | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809225952/http://www.ltmcollection.org/photos/photo/photo.html?_IXSR_=rvEcJqCx0OY&_IXMAXHITS_=1&IXinv=1999%2F28830&IXsummary=location%2Flocation&IXlocation=watford&_IXFIRST_=3 | archive-date=9 August 2013 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }} but contrary to the Watford Observer's predictions patronage remained low. MR passenger numbers compared unfavourably with services into central London offered by the LMS and the UERL Bakerloo line from {{stnlnk|Watford Junction}} and {{stnlnk|Watford High Street}}, and after the General Strike of 1926 the LNER pulled out of the venture with the MR.{{sfn|Horne|2003|p=40}}

Watford tube station in Cassiobury Park Avenue was not originally planned to be the terminus of the Watford branch. The Metropolitan Railway Company's original plans drawn up in 1912 intended the line to continue through Cassiobury Park and beyond to Hempstead Road on an area known locally as 'The Wilderness', where West Herts College would later be built (opened in 1938).{{cite magazine |title=The Metropolitan Railway at Watford |magazine=The Railway Magazine |date=December 1961 |volume=107 |issue=728 |editor-first=B.W.C. |editor-last=Cooke |publisher=Tothill Press |location=Westminster |first=Alan A. |last=Jackson |pages=821–3, 825–8 }}

Watford Council had recently bought part of the Cassiobury Estate and objected to the proposed railway through the town park and recreation gardens, and so the last section of the route was removed and the line would end abruptly in Cassiobury Park Avenue instead.{{sfn|Horne|2003|p=39}}

An opportunity arose in 1927 for another route to extend the line into the centre of Watford. Through a third party, the Metropolitan was able to purchase an existing building at 44 Watford High Street together with two-and-a-half acres of backlands, with the intention of creating a terminus in the town centre. The possibility of a single-track extension in tunnel—either from the existing station or following a diversionary route around the station—was explored, but costs were extremely high and no Parliamentary powers were sought. The High Street building was leased out and was eventually disposed of by London Transport in 1936,{{Cite web | url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/574804.Steaming_discussion/ |title = Steaming discussion}} and today Watford station remains the terminus of the line, approximately one mile from the town centre.{{sfn|Horne|2003|p=96}}

When Travelcard zones were introduced in 1984 by London Regional Transport, the station was in Zone B; in 2004 it moved to Zone A, and in 2008 to Zone 7.

{{main|Croxley Rail Link}}

File:Croxley rail link map.png

File:Grand Union Canal, Metropolitan Line viaduct - geograph.org.uk - 1151019.jpg

The ambition to extend the Metropolitan line into Watford town centre was revived around 1994 by London Regional Transport (LRT) when proposals were put forward to run the line to Watford Junction. The projected route was shown on an adapted version of the Tube map for internal planning purposes printed in that year.{{cite book | title=Mr Beck's Underground Map | first=Ken | last=Garland | isbn=1-85414-168-6 | page=63 | oclc=32915967 | publisher=Capital Transport Publishing | location=Harrow Weald | date=5 December 1994 }} This project, known as the Croxley Rail Link, involved connecting the Metropolitan line to the disused Watford and Rickmansworth Railway line and reinstating the {{Stnlnk|Croxley Green}} branch to {{stnlnk|Watford High Street}}.{{cite web | title=Scheme Development Report | url=http://www.croxleyraillink.com/media/30031/croxley%20rail%20link%20scheme%20development%20report.pdf | publisher=Steer Davies Gleave | date=September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807205851/http://www.croxleyraillink.com/media/30031/croxley%20rail%20link%20scheme%20development%20report.pdf | archive-date=7 August 2013 | url-status=live }} The line, opened in 1912, had been closed by British Rail in 1996 owing to low passenger numbers.{{cite web | title=Watford to Croxley Green | url=http://www.westwatfordhistorygroup.org/watfordtocroxleygreen.htm | publisher=West Watford History Group | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807204919/http://www.westwatfordhistorygroup.org/watfordtocroxleygreen.htm | archive-date=7 August 2013 | url-status=live }} Although it ran very close to the Metropolitan line (at its closest point about 200 metres away), the two lines were never linked. The plan was to connect the two lines via a short viaduct. The Croxley Rail Link project would have resulted in the closure of Watford station.{{cite web | url=http://www.croxleyraillink.com/latest-news/Survey_Work_To_Start_Along_Croxley_Rail_Link_Route.htm | title=Survey works to start along Croxley Rail Link route | date=29 July 2013 | publisher=Croxley Rail Link | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902030638/http://www.croxleyraillink.com/latest-news/Survey_Work_To_Start_Along_Croxley_Rail_Link_Route.htm | archive-date=2 September 2013 | url-status=live }}{{cite news | last=Wright | first=Mike | title=Watford Met Station to close to passengers when new Croxley Rail Link opens | url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/10568528.Watford_Met_Station_to_close_to_passengers/ | newspaper=Watford Observer | date=24 July 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811002416/http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/10568528.Watford_Met_Station_to_close_to_passengers/ | archive-date=11 August 2013 | url-status=live }}

On 14 December 2011, the project was given approval by the Department for Transport at an expected cost of £115.9 million with a proposed completion date of January 2016,{{cite web|url=http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/local-authority-major-transport-schemes/scheme-decisions-december-2011.pdf |title=Local Authority Majors - Development Pool Schemes - Scheme Decisions |issue=25 |date=December 2011 |publisher=DfT |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425152758/http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/local-authority-major-transport-schemes/scheme-decisions-december-2011.pdf |archive-date=25 April 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }} later revised to 2020.{{cite web | url=http://www.croxleyraillink.com/latest-news/croxley_rail_link_update_20141217.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109010101/http://www.croxleyraillink.com/latest%2Dnews/croxley_rail_link_update_20141217.htm|title=Croxley Rail Link update|date=17 December 2014| url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-01-09}}{{cite news|author=Michael Knowles |url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/13521016.Croxley_Rail_Link_will_not_be_completed_until_2020__documents_reveal/ |title=Croxley Rail Link will not be completed until 2020, documents reveal |newspaper=Watford Observer |date=2015-07-30 |access-date=2016-09-11}} The planned closure of Watford station met with some local opposition, and campaigners lobbied for the station to remain open with a reduced shuttle service.{{cite news | last=Wright | first=Mike | title=Watford Met Station campaigners: 'There is no reason for it to close' | url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/10625060.Watford_Met_Station_campaigners___There_is_no_reason_for_it_to_close_/ | newspaper=Watford Observer | date=21 August 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901170116/http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/10625060.Watford_Met_Station_campaigners___There_is_no_reason_for_it_to_close_/ | archive-date=1 September 2013 | url-status=live }} A report compiled in 2012 by the transport watchdog London TravelWatch concluded that the opening of new stations on the route would mitigate any inconvenience caused by the closure, and that a minority of passengers would experience an increase in journey times of more than 15 minutes. It also recommended that a shuttle train service should be trialled, and that in the event of closure a bus service should be provided from Cassiobury to one of the new stations.{{cite web | last=Stops | first=Vincent | title=Transport Services Committee Secretariat memorandum: Watford station closure proposal | url=http://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/document/14234/get | date=25 September 2012 | publisher=London TravelWatch | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005023057/http://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/document/14234/get | archive-date=5 October 2013 | url-status=live }}

On 25 January 2017, the Watford Observer newspaper published an update on the Croxley Rail Link confirming work had stopped as there was an ongoing funding issue.{{cite news |last= Duggan|first= Emma|date= 25 January 2017|title= UPDATE: Met Line extension: Mayor confirms work has stopped|url= https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/15047214.UPDATE__Met_Line_extension__Mayor_confirms_work_has_stopped/|work= Watford Observer|access-date= 3 October 2018}}

{{As of|December 2011}}, the typical off-peak service was four trains per hour to Baker Street, with a limited service to Aldgate{{cite web | url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/watford-tube-guide.pdf | title=Watford Tube Guide | publisher=TfL | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112135037/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/watford-tube-guide.pdf | archive-date=12 January 2012 | url-status=live }} at peak times.

{{commons category|Watford tube station}}

• Croxley Rail Link
• Croxley tube station
• Watford Junction
• Watford High Street railway station

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book | last=Horne | first=Mike | title=The Metropolitan Line: an Illustrated History | year=2003 | publisher=Capital Transport Publishing | isbn=1854142755 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/metropolitanline00mike }}

{{Adjacent stations|system=London Underground

|line1=Metropolitan|right1=Croxley|note-mid1=Watford branch

|header2=Abandoned Watford Central Extension

|line2=Metropolitan|left2=Watford Central|to-left2=Watford Central|right2=Croxley

|to-right1=Baker Street, Aldgate, Rickmansworth or Chesham|to-right2=Baker Street, Aldgate, Rickmansworth or Chesham}}

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