The origin of the phrase “lies, damned lies and statistics” is variously attributed to Mark Twain, Benjamin Disraeli amongst others, but has been taken up enthusiastically by Ernie MacKenzie in his hilarious misuse of them in defence of Watford Met station and attacking the schemes to try to make its line of some use.

The claim that 1.8 million commuters use the station is risible. In fact there were 1.92 million entries and exits at the station for the last pre-pandemic year, which over 12 months averages out at 5260 per day. Assuming that most of those people will be both leaving and then returning that means just 2,630 passengers a day. In case anyone thinks that it sounds like a lot, it isn’t - of the 275 Underground stations TFL has, Watford Met is the 244th least used and Croxley is even worse by being the 265th least used and a rather sad 1534 passengers a day using it on average.

The reality is that the Watford branch has never been a commercial success since it was opened and ended up with its accidental terminus. As TfL struggles with a post-pandemic collapse in passenger numbers and the Tory government’s instinctive dislike of subsidising the transport system, the Watford branch looks increasingly like a liability. One of the reasons for its existence was the need to send the stopping trains north of Harrow on the Hill to somewhere, but now that the Amersham and Chesham trains are “all stations” off-peak then the poor Watford trains look increasingly expensive to run - and with TfL desperate to make savings, who knows if the branch is safe?

Regarding the possible diversion of the line into Watford Junction, the reality is that all transport infrastructure schemes are seriously expensive, but if modern schemes are built then they both last a lifetime and become well-used. At a time of climate crisis, anything that moves the public away from an addiction to cars and on to environmentally-friendly alternatives is an improvement. The problem with the former MLX scheme was that it simply sent its passengers on to Moor Park, Northwood and Pinner, where I dare say relatively few people want to travel. If the mooted cross-Herts tram scheme could link Rickmansworth instead and go on across the county in the other direction then it looks like a much more attractive scheme and one that is more likely to get people out of their cars. Parochial interest in defending the indefensible will no longer do.

Ian Davis

Capel Road, Watford