The Corporation of London today publishes the results of an independent report from engineering group Halcrow, which could keep the long awaited CrossRail project on track thanks to a proposal based on the original route but which would also provide the option of a link which could be built to serve Canary Wharf and beyond.
The original CrossRail route, which has been subject to extensive planning, design and costing studies, would provide a high speed link between Central London and areas to the east and west of the capital. A central tunnel would link Liverpool Street and Paddington, providing connections to Aylesbury, Reading and Heathrow in the west and Stratford and Shenfield in the east.
By carrying an estimated 150 million passengers a year, CrossRail would make a major contribution to relieving chronic overcrowding through Central London, as well as providing a much needed east-west link to areas poorly served by direct Underground connections.
In response to an alternative proposal from Canary Wharf Group Ltd for a "Supermetro" scheme to serve Docklands, Thames Gateway, north Kent and Stansted, the Corporation of London has commissioned a study. This study has shown that the Supermetro scheme would involve extensive extra cost and delay, which could jeopardise the whole project, but it does also accept the value of a link between the City and Canary Wharf.
The study shows that for a small amendment to the original proposal, including relatively modest additions to cost and construction time, provision could be made for a future link to serve Canary Wharf and Docklands.
In contrast to Supermetro, the estimated cost for construction of the CrossRail project is around £3 billion. Independent studies have also shown that the economic benefits of CrossRail would be more than 2½ times its cost - an exceptional cost benefit ratio for a rail project.
Earlier this year the Cross London Rail Links Company was set up by the Strategic Rail Authority and Transport for London to examine proposals for both CrossRail and the Hackney-South West tube link. The Corporation has submitted the Halcrow findings to the Company for their consideration.
Peter Derrick, Chamberlain and Finance Director of the Corporation of London commented on the findings:
"London desperately needs CrossRail. Congestion and overcrowding are increasing year on year with passenger journeys having increased by 33% over the last five years. London's future as an international capital city demands that this problem is tackled as soon as possible. The current network is stretched to the limit in dealing with the existing numbers, let alone the 15% increase in peak time passengers predicted over the next 20 years.
"CrossRail will bring a major increase in rail capacity, carrying an extra 150 million passengers a year, relieving congestion and offering greater access to employment opportunities right across the capital.
"The Corporation of London's consultants have proposed a modification to the original route which would allow for the easy construction of a future link to Canary Wharf and Docklands, but would also still mean that the project could be built quickly and funded.
"CrossRail now needs unified support across London, so that we can get firm Government backing and make progress. There is a real risk that other proposals for the route will simply derail the whole project and London will never gain the new railway it vitally needs."
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