Steps to Croxley Green Station

Image: © Stephen McKay Taken: 12 Jan 2022

A casual passer-by might wonder where these steps once led to, but tightly secured Heras fencing prevents any exploration. There is no indication on site, but the peeled Network SouthEast (NSE) red paint on the lampposts is a clue; at the top of the embankment was the site of Croxley Green station. The Croxley Green branch was opened in 1912, becoming an outpost of the DC electrified system running out of Euston and Broad Street. For much of the line's existence the service consisted of a peak hours shuttle to and from Watford Junction although in NSE days an attempt was made to increase patronage with an all-day service. This was not successful; the stations were not ideally located and the frequent bus services that passed closer to Watford's amenities were a better option for most potential customers. In the end the trains were 'temporarily' withdrawn in 1996 with a purely nominal road replacement. The trains were never reinstated and permanent withdrawal came in 2003 - a rare example of a railway closure in the post-privatisation period.

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