Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions

Government to move forward on Crossrail – Spellar
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date 12 Oct 2001 00:00
source Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions
type Press release

John Spellar, Transport Minister, has agreed to move forward on plans for a Crossrail scheme for London which could generate significant benefits for Londoners, commuters and businesses.

Mr Spellar has asked the Strategic Rail Authority and Transport for London to produce a report early in 2002 on the feasibility, costs and financing options of an east-west cross London rail scheme - generally known as Crossrail - to provide a new mainline railway link between East and West London. The project definition work will look at a wide range of route and service pattern options.

John Spellar said

''The Government is determined to improve rail links into and within London and that will not be affected by the placing of Railtrack plc into railway administration. This week we announced that plans for two southerly extensions to the East London Line had been approved and today I can announce the way forward on Crossrail.

''Crossrail would support the continuing development of London as a World City, and its role as the key financial centre of the UK and Europe, support London''s economic growth and its regeneration areas, tackle the lack of capacity and congestion on the existing network, and provide improved east-west rail access into and across London from the East and South East regions.

''The project development work on an east-west cross London rail link is looking at a wide range of route and service pattern options, and early next year we shall be consulting on the results of that work. A feature of this development work is the willingness of the Government, the Mayor and the Strategic Rail Authority to work together to deliver the best results for London and its surrounding areas.''

Sir Alastair Morton added:

''I welcome this new report as the next important step forward in moving this vital London project ahead. Cross London Rail Links Ltd is now evaluating the proposed Crossrail service patterns prior to finalising details of the project''s final alignment.''

The development of rail projects into and within London is co-ordinated by the High-Level Group made up of the Minister for Transport, John Spellar, the Mayor, Ken Livingstone, the Commissioner of Transport for London, Bob Kiley, and the Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority, Sir Alastair Morton.

A new joint company, owned by the SRA and TfL - Cross London Rail Links Ltd (CLRL) - has been set up to undertake project definition work on a Crossrail link and also a feasibility study of a possible Hackney - South West London scheme. The company, which will report to the High-Level Group, has been given a budget of #154m, evidencing the Government''s commitment to delivery of an east-west London rail scheme. The Chair of the company will be announced soon.

The company will evaluate a wide range of routes and service pattern options. On the basis of this work, extensive consultation will be undertaken early in 2002 on a number of the most viable options identified for more detailed consideration.

The evaluation will include routes and service pattern options linking into the national rail network, including an examination of the engineering and operational issues involved in a possible extension to Heathrow.

Notes for Editors

1. A Crossrail scheme has been debated for many years, and a route between Paddington and Liverpool Street has been the subject of Safeguarding Directions. The go-ahead to evaluate a wide range of route and service pattern options, leading to a shortlist of options for consultation, is an important step in the development of a scheme that will bring major transport and economic benefits to London and the South East region.



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Railhub Archive ::: 2001-10-12 DTR-001