A development brief for the Watford Junction site has been issued for consultation by Watford Borough Council. This presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve things for Abbey Line passengers.
What we need to be calling for to support the future prosperity of the branch is:
- For the Abbey Line platform to be brought much closer to, and more accessible from, the rest of the station. Ideally providing a ‘cross-platform interchange’ with the main line Platform 9.
- Retain ability to run though Abbey Line trains in the London direction if required.
- Much wider thoroughfares to relieve congestion
- Ticket-buying facilities on the new eastern-accessible side of the station
The consultation website is here: http://watford.jdi-consult.net/localplan/readdoc.php?docid=20
To respond you must sign in. But please don’t let that put you off. A little bit of effort now, could make all the difference.
It’s a very simple form. Suggested wording if you want to copy and paste:
I support this providing that the Abbey Line platform is brought much closer to, and accessible from, the rest of the station. Ideally if the branch was re-routed to join up with the present platform 10 ‘bay’ (dead end), a cross-platform interchange with mainline London-bound services could be created. Ability to run through-trains from the Abbey Line to the main line in the London-bound direction should be retained. Much wider thoroughfares to relieve congestion are also required as well as the ability to buy tickets on the new eastern-accessible side of the station.