Crossrail 2 needs more work… but can capitalise on Crossrail’s success

Simon Adams, head of commercial at Crossrail 2, told delegates at the National Infrastructure Forum that more work was needed in order to secure approval for the project from the new Government.

Transport for London has submitted a business case for the proposed £31 billion line to Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling, while the NIC has already recommended that a bill should pass through Parliament by 2019, so that the line can open by 2033. The line would run southwest to northeast beneath London, from Surrey to Hertfordshire.

Adams said that the success of Crossrail, which is currently being delivered on time and within budget, would greatly help the argument to give construction the green light, while the economic case for Crossrail 2 remained a highly persuasive one to politicians.

However, finding the right funding formula remained an open question that the new Government will continue to scrutinise. Adams said that confirmation would need to be sought, before more confidence could be placed in the passage of the Hybrid Bill meeting the NIC’s’ deadline.

He said: “Ten years ago it was questionable, but Crossrail has clearly proven the deliverability of it. For Crossrail, we were focused on a transport scheme and realised the economic benefits along the way. Now we have put the economic benefits first - a part of the solution is Crossrail 2 infrastructure investment.

“Without a strategic intervention, London will become an uncomfortable place to live in the 2030s. There’s also a productivity challenge and the need for more homes.

“It’s possible for London to fund 50% through a number of sources, in the same way as Crossrail, and Government contributions would be less than 50%. There’s still a lot to do here, but it’s clear that there is a proposition [to consider].

“The business case is well understood, but what is a challenge is affordability and funding. And what we might need to look at is the timing of funding.

“The 2019 date is something we need to reconfirm with the new Government, but it is a planning assumption. At the moment, we plan to complete the project by the early 2030s, so construction must start by the mid-2020s. At the moment that is not looking too bad, but we need to do some more work.”

Crossrail chairman Sir Terry Morgan also threw his backing behind proposals to build Crossrail 2.

Speaking exclusively to RAIL at the National Infrastructure Forum, he said that approval should be granted by the new Government in order to re-engage the supply chain, but also to capitalise on the legacy left from Crossrail’s successful delivery, and the best practice that has been gleaned.

“We’ve proven we can do it, and now we will get on with the argument to build Crossrail 2. Now is the time to up our game and marshal all of London’s’ capabilities,” he said.

“The best way to transfer knowledge is to move the people. We’re starting to demobilise, which is why getting Crossrail 2 going is so important.”

“Don’t you think that the message of Crossrail is the best way to demonstrate why this should be done? It would be a crying shame not to build on that. We know how to do it well, and we can do it even better the next time around.”