Crossrail Review

The Crossrail scheme currently promoted by Cross London Rail Links Ltd (CLRL) is a way of connecting major London rail terminals, so that trains can run across the centre of London. It is based on a scheme that was submitted to Parliament in 1991. That project was rejected on value-for-money grounds, as the then recession temporarily depressed passenger journeys into and through the capital. Since then, traffic on public transport in London has increased significantly, and the Tube network is reaching capacity.

In January 2003, CLRL recommended a "benchmark scheme" based around a central East-West tunnel across London via Paddington and Liverpool Street. The benchmark scheme contained two eastern branches to serve the Thames Gateway - one going to Shenfield, the other going through the Isle of Dogs to Abbey Wood and Ebbsfleet. In the west, a branch would go to Richmond and Kingston, and another to Heathrow.

The Secretary of State, in his statement to Parliament of 14 July 2003, expressed his support in principle for the development of a Crossrail scheme across London. However, the Government is determined that the mistakes of the previous venture are not repeated. He appointed Adrian Montague to lead an expert team to look carefully at CLRL's proposals for value for money and affordability. This team included financial, engineering, economics and project management experts. The Secretary of State published Adrian Montague's findings on 20 July 2004. To download the review of the Crossrail business case, click on the link in the 'Downloads' section on the right.

In his statement, on 20 July 2004, the Secretary of State confirmed the Government's support for the building a new East-West Crossrail link. He also made clear that the Government intends to seek appropriate powers for its construction by means of a hybrid bill to be introduced to Parliament at the earliest opportunity. The route would follow CLRL's final proposals for a central tunnel, with western branches to Maidenhead and Heathrow, and eastern branches to Shenfield and to Abbey Wood and ultimately Ebbsfleet.

For related documents, pages and internet links, see the column on the right.