Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has announced that plans for a spur connecting Crossrail to the West Coast main line are being developed by the Department for Transport (DfT).
The feasibility study – conducted in-house – should be ready by the end of the year.
The rail link will connect Crossrail, at its  Old Oak Common interchange, with the  Dudding Hill freight line. This will give Crossrail trains access to the West Coast main line at Brent Sidings – between Willesden Junction and Stonebridge Park. Crossrail will then be able to connect Hemel Hempstead, Tring, Watford and Harrow with new stations in the City and the West End.
“We are investing record amounts to build a world-class railway, so it is vital we seize every opportunity to make the most of these once in a generation schemes,’ said McLoughlin.
“I have asked HS2 Limited to work closely with the Crossrail sponsors to look at extending Crossrail services to key destinations in Hertfordshire. 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.”
The move will obviate the constrictions at Euston while HS2 is built. If authorised ‘High Speed Hertfordshire’ Crossrail services could be operational by 2020.
Analysis of commuter travel patterns suggests 40 per cent of passengers travelling in to central London from Hertfordshire finish their journeys within 1,000 metres of a Crossrail station. This compares to just 10 per cent working within 1,000 metres of Euston.
The new link would have the added benefit of reducing congestion at the station and help passengers who have to complete their journey to work on the London Underground.
Crossrail to be extended North to Milton Keynes, Watford Junction and Bletchley. What about Crossrail to be extended to Chelmsford, Southend Victoria, Dartford, Gravesend and Oxford.