Proper planning essential to realise Crossrail 2 benefits

Crossrail 2 needs to be properly planned, otherwise the scheme’s benefits will not be felt, a group of companies and agencies involved in the project have been told.

On September 14 Transport for London and Network Rail brought together companies that could be involved in the project, which is designed to create new capacity across London running north to south (it is planned to link Broxbourne, Epsom, Chessington South, Hampton Court and Shepperton).

Crossrail 2 will enable an additional 270,000 people to enter central London at morning peak. It is believed that the railway could drive the development of 200,000 homes and support a further 200,000 new jobs.

TfL Managing Director for Crossrail 2 Michele Dix, Network Rail Head of Crossrail 2 Mike Brown, TfL Commissioner Mike Brown and Transport Minister Lord Ahmad all attended. They were told that up to 60,000 full-time jobs could be supported across the UK in the engineering, construction and manufacturing supply chains.

Dix said: “We must plan properly for Crossrail 2 to ensure it is the right scheme to help make London’s transport network fit for the future. This is why it is vital to work with businesses and all interested partners as early as possible, to make sure we collectively make Crossrail 2 a success.”

Last March Government committed £80 million (along with matched funding from TfL) to take the project to the next development stage. It is planned to deposit a Hybrid Bill in 2019, subject to an updated business