Crossrail

The Government is to spend £4.85 million on exploring the possibility of extending Crossrail from its current eastern terminus at Abbey Wood to Ebbsfleet International.

Should the Elizabeth Line be extended to the Kent station, it will connect the new east-west rail link with HS1 and Eurostar services.

The announcement was made on March 25 in a written ministerial statement by James Brokenshire, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. However, he warned the funding would only be made available “subject to suitable housing ambition”.

Teresa O’Neill OBE, leader of the London Borough of Bexley, said: “This funding means that we can get on with work to realise Crossrail’s true potential for our borough and the whole Thames Gateway.

“We will waste no time in moving forwards. We have worked hard to explain the value of finishing the job on Crossrail, which will create thousands of new jobs and homes around three new Crossrail stations in the north of Bexley and into Kent.”

Paul Moore, chairman of the C2E Campaign alliance, added: “Extending Crossrail to Ebbsfleet is at the heart of the Thames Gateway’s future prosperity. The funding moves us closer to unlocking ten miles of unmatched growth potential on the edge of London and the next stage in transforming connectivity for the area. The Government has firmly recognised the vast potential of Bexley and North West Kent.”