New Mobile Site
We have just launched a new mobile version of this site - m.trainspots. This page will use your smart device's GPS to loctate you and guide you to locations that are close to your present location.
Location notes
This is a very large station almost in the centre of Watford. Watford is North West of London and has about 4 stations! Watford Junction being the largest and most interesting.
West Coast Mainline and suburban services from London Euston to Milton Keynes, Northampton, Birmingham and beyond to the North.
Southern trains services from Milton Keynes to Brighton.
London Overground services to Euston and Kensington Olympia to Shepherds Bush (for Westfields shopping centre).
Quite a bit of heavy freight and charters have passed here and the station has been a pick up set down point too.
West Coast Mainline and suburban services from London Euston to Milton Keynes, Northampton, Birmingham and beyond to the North.
Southern trains services from Milton Keynes to Brighton.
London Overground services to Euston and Kensington Olympia to Shepherds Bush (for Westfields shopping centre).
Quite a bit of heavy freight and charters have passed here and the station has been a pick up set down point too.
Railway type and traffic
West Coast Mainline and suburban services from London Euston to Milton Keynes, Northampton, Birmingham and beyond to the North.
Southern trains services from Milton Keynes to Brighton.
London Overground services to Euston and Kensington Olympia to Shepherds Bush (for Westfields shopping centre).
Quite a bit of heavy freight and several steam charters have passed here and the station has been a pick up set down point too.
Southern trains services from Milton Keynes to Brighton.
London Overground services to Euston and Kensington Olympia to Shepherds Bush (for Westfields shopping centre).
Quite a bit of heavy freight and several steam charters have passed here and the station has been a pick up set down point too.
Environment
The station is staffed 24-7 and the staff are generally friendly.
The station is near central Watford and is a busy spot.
I always feel safe there, but of course there are alleyways and tunnels here so when carrying expensive camera gear one needs to be aware of potential thieves.
The station is near central Watford and is a busy spot.
I always feel safe there, but of course there are alleyways and tunnels here so when carrying expensive camera gear one needs to be aware of potential thieves.
Road directions
Access to the station is along the A412 Rickmansworth Road/St. Albans Road from the west, and along St Albans Road (still A412) from the east.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Watford Junction map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Watford Junction map co-ordinates
Parking
There is limited free parking at the station for only 20 minutes. Also there is a pay and display car park.
Locally the streets are permit parking only but there is pay parking in the following streets:Nascot Road Malden Road Essex Roads (bottom end).
Permit parking operates between 08-30 and 18-30. Parking here is generally safe.
The local "Homebase" has a large cap park and threatens long-stayers with fines, but in reality this doesn't happen often.
Locally the streets are permit parking only but there is pay parking in the following streets:
Permit parking operates between 08-30 and 18-30. Parking here is generally safe.
The local "Homebase" has a large cap park and threatens long-stayers with fines, but in reality this doesn't happen often.
Public transport
London Euston - Watford Junction Silverlink County about a 20-30 minute ride. Stopping at either Harrow and Wealdstone and Bushey then Watford or No stops before primarily however some leave out Bushey or Harrow and Wealdstone.
Southern services terminate here from either Gatwick or Brighton.
The main Watford bus routes all pass through Watford Junction.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Southern services terminate here from either Gatwick or Brighton.
The main Watford bus routes all pass through Watford Junction.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
There are toilets on platform 6.
There are several food kiosks on the station and in the foyer. A cafe, sandwich bar, chip shop, Lebanese, Chinese and pizza restaurants near the junction of Station Road and St. Albans Road.
There are several food kiosks on the station and in the foyer. A cafe, sandwich bar, chip shop, Lebanese, Chinese and pizza restaurants near the junction of Station Road and St. Albans Road.
Accommodation
There is a Holiay Inn Express adjacent to the station and the Wellington Arms in Woodford Road adjacent to the bus station offers budget accommodation if needed.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Watford Junction
Streetmap links
Watford Junction general view map
Watford Junction close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Watford Junction
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Watford Junction
Googly map
Watford Junction general view map
Watford Junction close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Watford Junction
Who likes this location on facebook
Photographic notes
One of the best locations is at the southern end of platform 9 as this has a good sight line under the catenary. A couple of signal towers make a nice frame for trains as the enter the platform. Steam specials and freights run through here. (NB freights travel VERY fast through and one needs to be sure to be behind the yellow lines).
Light becomes an issue by mid morning. On the other side of the lines the northern end of platform 8 gives a straight view all the way to the entrance of the Watford Tunnels a mile away. Modern loco headlamps compromise photography of trains approaching straight on. It is always best to ask at the gate to be let through and some staff request that you visit the station managers office which is in the main building on the way to the Overground platforms.
Light becomes an issue by mid morning. On the other side of the lines the northern end of platform 8 gives a straight view all the way to the entrance of the Watford Tunnels a mile away. Modern loco headlamps compromise photography of trains approaching straight on. It is always best to ask at the gate to be let through and some staff request that you visit the station managers office which is in the main building on the way to the Overground platforms.
General views - All photographs © Robert Keith unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
The Abbey line platforms.
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
