The CHARTER of the Watford Group
(September 2002)

In Recognising . . .

... the renaissance of the train, rediscovering its vision, myth and emotion built on the heritage of more than 150 years of railway history,

... the growing public awareness that developments in speed, comfort and economy of train travel present opportunities for new relationships between cities, regions and countries,

... the rapidly developing institutional, technical, social, political, economical and environmental conditions of railway operation,

… the worldwide move towards sustainable development where high performance and intermodally connected public transport systems are an integrated part of many national transport schemes,

... that the relationship between the train and the city, between the rail network and its rural and urban environment are constantly redefined,

... that the creative process of dialogue between the various institutions is essential for the success of the railways,

... that "good design is good business",
 

The aim of the Watford Group is . . .

... to encourage the interchange of ideas across national bounderies, thus helping to develop and maintain the highest quality standards of co-ordinated design,

... to make available to institutions, administrations and political authorities information and advise on railway-related issues in the fields of the protection of the environment, rural or urban development, real-estate management, architecture and engineering, design of rolling-stock and design of other railway-related industrial products, as well as graphic design and art work,

... to preserve, to promote and to carry forward the richness and magic of railway to the future.