 Posters published by the MR in 1925 promoting the new route "by Metro to Watford" depicted Watford High Street on market day, belying the remote location of the station.For many years, the MR operated a bus service from the High Street in an effort to gain more passengers, but contrary to the "Watford Observer"'s predictions patronage remained low.MR passenger numbers compared unfavourably with services into central London offered by the LMS and the UERL Bakerloo line from and , and after the General Strike of 1926 the LNER pulled out of the venture with the MR.

Watford tube station in Cassiobury Park Avenue was not originally planned to be the terminus of the Watford branch.