Transport for London has plugged a funding gap which delayed the start of the Croxley Rail Link.

TFL’s expected take-over of the project stalled earlier this month as £2.73million needed to be found before building work could start.

Today the rail provider announced construction would start next year and estimated it would boost the south west Hertfordshire economy by £2billion.

TFL agreed to put the extra cash forward to get the project off the ground, but trains are not due to start running until December 2019.

London Underground managing director Nick Brown said: “This new part of the Underground network will support further rapid development in the area.

“By 2020 we will have built a 400m viaduct, two completely new stations and numerous new and reconstructed bridges along the route, transforming transport links in Watford.

“With the funding package complete we’re now turning all our attention to appointing contractors, finalising designs and beginning construction in 2016.”

Revised funding arrangements were due to be assessed by the TFL board earlier this month, but the board did not agree the changes. The transport provider will now put £49million into the scheme.

In December, it emerged the government had asked London Underground to take over construction from Hertfordshire County Council because costs kept rising.

When the project was first given the go-ahead, it was expected to cost around £120m. But the funding package signed off by Chancellor George Osborne showed the project would cost £284.4m.

But today’s announcement has left groups “delighted” at having reached the agreement.

 

Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Chairman John Gourd said: “We have worked hard with our partners including Hertfordshire County Council and Watford Borough Council and are delighted to have now reached this exciting stage.

“The Metropolitan Line Extension will unlock investment in brownfield sites, revitalise existing employment areas and bring considerable job opportunities and economic benefits to Watford and the wider community.

“As the second largest funder this demonstrates the huge importance that we attach to this project which will help realise our priority to deliver at least 1,400 jobs in the M1/M25 area by 2021.”

TfL documents highlighted the final cost is forecast to be closer to £300million.

The scheme will see the Metropolitan Line routed from Croxley Station, to a new one in Ascot Road called Cassiobridge, then another new station in Vicarage Road called Watford Vicarage Road before connecting with Watford High Street Station and then terminating atWatford Junction.

It will see tube trains running to Watford Junction for the first time since 1982.

The chief executive of Three Rivers District Council Steven Halls said the council would try and limit disruptions across the area.

Watford Met station will close once the new stations have been built and trains are running.