MoreCrossrail delaysascosts . increaseagain

FUR TH Ed Relays along with additionaland substantiacl ost rises have been confirmed by Crossraitlh, e projectto connect east and west London with a new railline.

Delaysin the completionof the construction phase of the Elizabeth Line areas a result of the corona virus pan de mi cw, hich hasnow pushedthe openingof the section under central London to connect Padding ton with S hen field and Abbey Wood back to the first halfof 2022.

Coststo completethe project could be £1.1 billion above the financing package agreed back in Decembe2r 018.

Delaysrelatedto reduced productivityfor the shaftsand portals stem ming from sites being closed andre opened with fewer workers under social distancing rules.

Thecomplexityof station construction under central London has delayed hand over to Tfl, andin turn isdelaying the startof testingof trainsand signallinguntil 2021T. hisinvolves ghostrunning,but testswill also take place using passengers.

Dr Alison Moore AM, chairman of the London Assembly Transport Committeec, alledthe additional delay" ext re mel dy is appointing '; adding Londoners who were expectingto usethe linefrom Decembe2r 018will befrustrated.

CrossraCil EOMarkWildsaid: "Deliveryof the ElizabethLineis now in its complex final stages and is being complete data time of great uncertainty and the risks of furtherCovid-19outbreaks.

''Wearestrivingto commence operation at le sting forth eli neat the earliesot pportunity'.'