please empty your brain below
Thank goodness ... "It still has a door to the ladies toilets"

Caroline | 03.11.25 - 8:12 a.m. | #

A very interesting session of historical in-filling.

cau1khead | 03.11.25 - 9:54 a.m. | #

Watford Met station serves its own part of Watford very well. I assume most people using the Underground here are Watford people commuting into London rather than people travelling TO Watford, many of which will live in that western part of Watford. 1.65m a year are decent enough numbers.

And it's still near enough to be useful for accessing the football ground also.

Mikey C | 03.11.25 - 10:11 a.m. | #

I think I tried all the Watford stations on the way to Saracens rugby games when they were based at Vicarage Road in the 2000s.

It's good to know which land owner to blame for such a complex situation!

TomH | 03.11.25 - 10:14 a.m. | #

Calling the station Watford is a little misleading as it is not in the centre of the town. West Watford is more accurate. Reminds me of Epping on the Central Line where the station is south of the town centre and surrounded by housing.

Scientist | 03.11.25 - 11:35 a.m. | #

Very handy for the Bonfire Night Fireworks in Cassiobury Park!

Cornish Cockney | 03.11.25 - 12:35 p.m. | #

The Metropolitan did quite a bit of expansion in the interwar years, presumably partly because of the Government financial support for railway investment during this period- as well as the Watford line, Watford, there was the Stanmore line as well.

Does anyone know what other plans were considered, whether either Watford or Stanmore were considered for further extension, and whether any other branch lines were assessed for construction?

Something equivalent to Mike Horne's "The District Railway" volumes on the extensions that railway considered would be great!

Morden Man | 03.11.25 - 1:31 p.m. | #

I seem to remember the Wetherspoons in the high Street that might have been Watford Central was the place where we ordered and bought our much prized Ercol furniture before we were married. The round table, 4 chairs, sideboard and set of 4 small nesting tables are still in daily use.

DGD | 03.11.25 - 4:39 p.m. | #

I use that 'Spoons as a comfort break location in between driving a bus service which plugs into the existing Met at Northwood, so there is a connection to the line, however tenuous.

Nico | 03.11.25 - 4:41 p.m. | #

A delightfully concise and personal commentary.

Apuldram | 03.11.25 - 5:22 p.m. | #

Most people using the Underground here are indeed Watford people commuting into London rather than people travelling TO Watford", except for events such as the fireworks last weekend and also regular traffic to Watford Boys School, which is almost next-door.

Having used this station for nigh on 20 years, I have never properly appreciated the tiling on the stairs before, just passed by with my eyes fixed on either which platform the train is on, or to get the barrier before the hordes.

I did pop by on Sunday to take a look at the celebrations but one had to sign up and wait for the guided tour, there were quite a few waiting already and I had other things to do.

Not mentioned: there is often classical music playing over the tannoy in the ticket hall and stairs. I believe it's meant to be some sort of teenager-deterrent rather than high culture.

Graham | 03.11.25 - 8:30 p.m. | #

Occasional ins to Watford include to Cassiobury parkrun and to West Herts hockey matches the other side of the park at the Watford Grammar School New Field playing grounds.

Robert Butlin | 04.11.25 - 1:38 p.m. | #

The Metropolitan Railway was expansive in the early part of the 20th Century (and fiercely independent; it did not become part of the 'Underground' until 1933 when the newly-formed London Transport used its powers to effect a compulsory purchase).

Buoyed by the success of its electrified Uxbridge Line and the suburban development that followed in its wake, The Met. sought to electrify its main line as far as Rickmansworth. The Watford branch was an essential part of this as Rickmansworth on its own would not have been able to cope with the enhanced timetable that was planned, being in a very constrained location. Ideally the new branch would have terminated at the planned 'Watford Central' in the town centre but due to the objections The Met. had to make do with an out-of-town site that had originally been earmarked as a goods depot.

Julian Walker | 07.11.25 - 8:48 a.m. | #











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