Roland Perry wrote:
In message
, at 03:00:30 on Thu, 7 Aug 2014, Recliner remarked:
From http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-28680186

Proposals to extend Crossrail to Hertfordshire are being considered by the
government, the transport secretary is expected to announce later.

Extending the service would reduce journey times between London and
Hertfordshire by up to 16 minutes.

At the Crossrail site at Farringdon in central London, Patrick McLoughlin
is expected to outline the benefits of extending the link.

Business groups in the area said an extension would drive economic growth.

'Long-term regeneration'

Mr McLoughlin is expected to say the proposals would take the pressure off
the Tube's busiest sections and make it easier to improve Euston, which
will have 11 new platforms built under proposals for the HS2 high-speed
rail project between London and the West Midlands.

Under the plans, stations likely to get Crossrail services will include
Tring, Hemel Hempstead, Watford Junction, Berkhamsted and Harrow and
Wealdstone.

Yolanda Rugg, chief executive officer at the Hertfordshire Chamber of
Commerce, said the announcement would be "a catalyst to drive economic
growth" in the area.

"It will provide vital high-speed transport connectivity from London to the
new Watford Health Campus, and to the financial and creative services
sectors," she said.

Journey times if Crossrail is extended to Hertfordshire

• Tring to Liverpool Street - 57 minutes (a reduction of 13 minutes)

• Watford Junction to Canary Wharf - 43 minutes (a reduction of 12 minutes)

• Tring to Bond Street - 55 minutes - (a reduction of 16 minutes)

• Watford Junction to Liverpool Street - 37 minutes (a reduction of 13
minutes)

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I must admit I'm surprised that this long-suggested idea hasn't been
adopted much earlier. Instead of having some Crossrail services wastefully
reverse at Paddington, it makes much more sense for them to take over some
of the paths of LM stoppers into Euston. That will be good for many
passengers and businesses and as the article states, take some of the
pressure of Euston during the HS2 rebuild.

What route will they take west of Paddington, and does it involve any
flat-crossings with the busy main line?

I guess there will be grade-separated junctions near OOC and Willesden
Junction. The link will be between the GWR relief and slow WCML lines.
Maybe more will be revealed later today?