Memorandum by the Muswell Hill Metro Group
(RT 16)
The Muswell Hill Metro Group proposes the reinstatement,
by means of a light railway, of a rail link between Finsbury Park,
Highgate and Muswell Hill using the way of an abandoned branch
railway line.
The object of this is to provide a rail link
for areas at present without such a link and to provide access
to the Underground at Highgate and Finsbury Park and to national
railways at Finsbury Park.
In the areas at both ends of the proposed line
there is constant traffic congestion and the main Local Authority
(Haringey) has as an aim the reduction of road vehicle movements
in the Borough. The proposed line would assist in alleviating
congestion and reducing vehicle movements.
The development of Alexandra Palace as a leisure
and events venue will need a public transport service and the
proposed line would meet this need; reducing road movements and
the use of local residential roads for parking by visitors to
events.
The bus routes used by people who might use
the rail line are subject to considerable traffic congestion with
consequent extended journey times.
Apart from two locations where the way of the
line has been built on, the formation (bridges, embankments) remains
in being so it is felt constructing a light rail line would not
present major problems.
It is, therefore, difficult to understand the
refusal of the Local Authorities to conduct any inquiry into the
transport value of the proposed line. Despite prolonged correspondence
with the Leader of Haringey Council (then Lord Harris) the Council
could not be persuaded to conduct either a study into the feasibility
of the proposal or surveys to discover whether local people would
use the proposed line.
There are concrete proposals for the extension
of the East London Line and if this Line was to reach Finsbury
Park the line to Muswell Hill would complement it.
The Docklands Light Railway is said to want
to extend and it is believed it is practical to join the DLR.
to the large diameter tube line to Finsbury Park at present used
by the WAGN. trains. The proposed light rail line could complement
the DLR. or even be part of this extension.
The refusal of the Local Authority (Haringey)
to investigate the value of the proposed line has meant that others
who might take an interest in it such as London Transport do not
do so. The way of the line is in the ownership in the main of
Haringey Council.
An adjoining Local Authority (Islington), with
a smaller connection with the route of the line has likewise shown
no inclination to investigate its value in reducing traffic congestion.
October 1999
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