West Coast Main Line Trains at Watford Junction on December 14th 2023

2nd visit to Watford Junction on the West Coast Main Line as well as being the terminus for the Abbey Line to St Albans Abbey and Watford DC Lines via Watford High Street
Featuring services from Avanti West Coast, London Northwestern Railway, London Overground, Southern and freight.
Watford Junction was first opened as just plain Watford in 1837 although located 200 metres of the north of today's station. It was renamed in 1858 when Watford became Watford Junction and was re-sited to today's location and was rebuilt in 1909.
The station is also a busy bus interchange which include bus connections to the Warner Bro's Studio in Leavesden.
The location of the station sits between Watford South Tunnel to the North of the station whilst south is a viaduct which the WCML crosses over the Colne Valley.
The Watford DC Lines head away from the WCML between here and Bushey via Watford High Street which is located which opened in 1862.
From 1st October 1917 the Baker Street & Waterloo Railway now known as the Bakerloo Line began running beyond Queens Park from Elephant and Castle however overtime passenger numbers did begin to decline. In 1964 Bakerloo services to Watford were cut back to 4 trains Monday to Friday Morning and Evening Peak Hours.
in September 1982 all Bakerloo Line services were withdrawn north of Stonebridge Park and it wasn't until June 1984 when a Weekday service got restored to Harrow & Wealdstone although it would be 5 years later when a full 7 day a week service was restored.
When Bakerloo line trains did run to Watford they along with the DC lines trains were maintained at Croxley Green Depot which closed on September 2nd 1985 with the branch itself closing in 1996.
Nowadays Bakerloo Line's main depot is at Stonebridge Park opened in April 1979 whilst London Overground's fleet are maintained at Willesden TMD or Ilford E.M.U.D with the latter being for Lea Valley, Upminster services.
The Watford DC Lines are operated mainly Class 710s and occasionally Class 378s although the latter's main stay is nowadays on the North and East London Lines.
There been plans to extend the Metropolitan line from Croxley to Watford Junction however spiralling costs meant nothing has come to fruition.
Avanti West Coast mostly formed of Class 221 Voyagers and Class 390 Pendolinos mostly run non stop through here although occasional services throughout the day call either on Platform 6 to Pick up passengers only or Platform 7 for set down only. Although Class 390s are undergoing major overhauls at Longsight Depot in Widnes with it being carried out by Alstom.
The Class 221 Voyagers retain the tilting system although they are due to be moved elsewhere in a few years being replaced by Class 805 and 807s built by Hitachi at Newton Aycliffe, Durham which at the time of filming the 805s were undergoing testing
According to Avanti West Coast entry into service won't likely be until Summer 2024.
The 805s will be used for North Wales services to Chester, Llaunduno, Goborwen, Wrexham General and Holyhead
The Class 807s will share operations with the Class 390s for services to Liverpool Lime Street, Birmingham New Street and Blackpool North.
London Northwestern Railway at present majority operate Class 350s with most stopping services to Tring, Milton Keynes Central, Northampton and hourly Birmingham New Street call here with the exception being Crewe services
Hourly service is provided on the Abbey line to St Albans Abbey to and from Watford Junction
The Class 730s were slowly beginning to enter service replacing the Class 319s and some of the Class 350/2s with the latter going off lease whilst the Class 319s will be scrapped.
Hourly Southern services are provided by Class 377/7s to and from East Croydon terminate at Watford Junction with occasional services extended to Hemel Hempstead which are maintained at Selhurst T&R.S.M.D.
On the day of filming St Albans Abbey services were cancelled due to a track faults
Music used:
JJD - Adventure
Music provided by NCS
Video link:
NoCopyrightSounds
• JJD - Adventure | Glit...
Filmed on Thursday December 14th 2023 on iPhone 14 Pro and edited on iMovie
#avantiwestcoast #londonnorthwesternrailway #londonoverground #watfordjunctionstation #watford #westcoastmainline