Another £2bn for Crossrail as the North is neglected
CRISIS-HIT Crossrail needs a bailout of up to £2billion, it was revealed.
Spending on the project has fuelled anger the North of England is losing out.
The £15billion line across London had been due to open this week.
But the opening was put back to autumn 2019 after a £350million cash-injection in the summer.
Now that target also seems unlikely. Crossrail CEO Mark Wild said there was “a huge amount still to do” and he was unable to “commit to an autumn 2019 opening date”.
A new financial package has been agreed for the Greater London Authority to borrow up to £1.3billion from the Department for Transport, with the option of an extra £750million.
But auditor KPMG said the cost “could be between £1.6billion and £2billion”.
Think tank IPPR North has said transport investment in London is two and a half times higher per person than in the North.
It said in 2016-17 alone it would have got £9billion more if it was funded to the same level as London.
The DFT has said it disputes the figures.