Transport secretary Alistair Darling has introduced a bill giving the go-ahead to the long-awaited Crossrail scheme.

The much delayed legislation, introduced to the House of Commons on Tuesday, would provide a fast cross-London rail link extending from Maidenhead, Berkshire to the west of the capital, out to Shenfield, Essex to the east.

It will also link Heathrow Airport to Canary Wharf via the City, with a journey time of just 40 minutes.

Darling said: "The case for Crossrail is clear and the government has long said that it is committed to the scheme.

"Last July, when I gave the go ahead for Crossrail, I said that we would be introducing a Bill for the project, and today sees that vital next stage."

Funding

Crossrail has the support of the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and business groups. However, there has been three years of arguments over how it should be funded.

It is expected to cost around £10 billion and will be financed through both public and private funds.

But the transport secretary was confident it would be money well spent.

He estimated Crossrail would bring in nearly twice as many financial benefits to the UK as it costs to build the project.

And he said the scheme would support the economic growth and regeneration of London by tackling congestion on the transport network and easing pressures in the future.

"Crossrail will significantly improve travel into and across the centre of the capital," Darling said.

"It will bring huge benefits to the British economy as a whole and be a catalyst for regeneration in the east of London.

"It is also another example of the government taking decisions now, not just for today but for generations to come.

Mayoral backing

The implementation of the project may eventually be handed to Livingstone's office or Transport for London, if appropriate risk transfer can be agreed.

Livingstone said: "I congratulate the government on today's Crossrail announcement.

"Crossrail is the capital's most important transport development for 40 years and would create the backbone of a 21st century transport system giving London essential additional capacity, underpinning hundreds of thousands of jobs in London's financial district, and sustaining the capital's position as the world's leading international financial centre.

"We are continuing to work with the government to agree a funding package based on a combination of government grant, additional fare revenues arising from the scheme, and a contribution from London businesses," he added.