News

Proposed Crossrail extension to Herts underpins case for revised Euston rebuild

New consultation adds to calls to reduce future passenger congestion at key terminal.

Crossrail

Government has launched plans to extend the Crossrail service north west into Hertfordshire in a bid to ease future pressure from the new High Speed 2 railway on Euston Station.

A feasibility study will assess the benefit to passengers from key commuter towns such as Tring, Hemel Hempstead, Harrow and Watford from constructing a new rail link between Old Oak Common and the West Coast Main Line so removing the volume of regional trains that terminate at Euston.

“It is such an obvious thing to do. I am very glad that the Department has now put the idea out to consultation,” Lord Tony Berkeley.

It estimates that up to 15 minutes could be saved on commuter journey times with the new link.

But according to Lord Tony Berkeley, promoter of the Euston Express alternative to HS2’s enlarged and lowered Euston station solution, the scheme also demonstrates that reducing the traffic unnecessarily arriving at Euston is the most sensible and cost effective solution.

“It is such an obvious thing to do. I am very glad that the Department has now put the (Crossrail to Hertfordshire) idea out to consultation,” said Berkeley. “We will probably still need to build Crossrail 2 to cope eventually but this scheme would help to take pressure off of Euston and means that High Speed 2 and Virgin trains will all be able to fit into Euston – albeit with lengthened platforms.”

Berkeley pointed out that the benefits for commuters in avoiding the overcrowded Underground at Euston were immense.  

“In our design for Euston Express, we already assume that this new link to Crossrail would be completed, since it frees up around eight trains an hour from terminating at Euston,” he said. “It provides even more justification for diverting HS2 trains onto the WCML near Queens Park Station and using the existing Euston Station as their terminus alongside the remaining West Coast Main Line services.”

“We have got a meeting with officials at the Department for Transport in September to discuss the proposal. Then we have really got to get into some meaningful discussion with HS2.” Lord Tony Berkeley

The plan, he added, was achievable within the existing Euston station footprint, other than some lengthening southwards towards Euston Road ans so would cost considerably less and create much less disruption to locals during construction compared to current HS2 plans to lower the entire station and approach tracks. 

“We still look at our scheme as an option against dropping all of the track at Euston,” he said pointing out that while a petition had been lodged with the HS2 Bill Committee, it was unlikely to be heard for at least another year.

“We have got a meeting with officials at the Department for Transport in September to discuss the proposal,” he added. “Then we have really got to get into some meaningful discussion with HS2.”

The government’s proposed changes would see Crossrail providing direct journeys into the City and the West End and would mean passengers would no longer have to change at Euston, easing the task of rebuilding the station.

“It is vital we seize every opportunity to make the most of these once in a generation schemes,” said Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin. 

“That is why I have asked HS2 Limited to work closely with the Crossrail sponsors to look at extending Crossrail services to key destinations in Hertfordshire,” he added. “Not only would this be a huge boost to passengers and the local economy, it would also provide flexibility when building HS2 into Euston, making sure we create a lasting legacy for the station.”

Government said that its initial analysis found 40% of passengers travelling into London from Tring, Hemel Hempstead, Watford Junction, Berkhamsted and Harrow and Wealdstone finished their journeys within 1 kilometre of a Crossrail station, compared to just 10% within 1km of Euston. 

If you would like to contact Antony Oliver about this, or any other story, please email antony.oliver@infrastructure-intelligence.com.