Crossrail delayed further as cost could now exceed £19bn
THE central section of Crossrail between Paddington and Abbey Wood is now not expected to open until the first half of 2022.
It is also expected to cost up to £1.1 billion more than the financing package agreed in December 2018, meaning that the final cost of the new railway could top £19bn.
The announcement was made the day after a Crossrail board meeting on August 20, with the delay blamed on lower-thanexpected productivity, greater insight into the completion and handover of the ten central section stations, and restrictions imposed by COVID-19.
Crossrail Chief Executive Mark Wild said: Our focus remains on opening the Elizabeth Line as soon as possible. Now, more than ever, Londoners are relying on the capacity and connectivity that the Elizabeth Line will bring, and we are doing everything possible to deliver the railway as safely and quickly as we can.
“We have a comprehensive plan to complete the railway and we are striving to commence intensive operational testing for the Elizabeth Line, known as Trial Running, at the earliest opportunity.
“Delivery of the Elizabeth Line is now in its complex final stages and is being completed at a time of great uncertainty, due to the risks and potential impacts of further COVID-19 outbreaks.
“We are working tirelessly to complete the remaining infrastructure works so that we can fully test the railway and successfully transition the project as an operational railway to Transport for London.”
However, London’s Transport Commissioner Andy Byford responded: “It is very disappointing to receive confirmation from Crossrail Ltd that their plan for opening the Elizabeth Line now has a date of the first half of 2022.
“The line will transform travel across London and is vital to supporting jobs, homes and businesses across the capital. I will now work with my team and the Department for Transport to review Crossrail’s plans.
“I have been very clear that I am committed to getting this railway open safely and reliably as quickly as possible for the benefit of London and beyond.”
Transport for London added that Crossrail’s estimates are not confirmed, and that they are subject to review and validation by TfL and the DfT as sponsors of the project.
The London Assembly Transport Committee also weighed in, with chairwoman Dr Alison Moore saying: “The news will certainly frustrate Londoners again, because people were expecting to use the line from December 2018.
“Londoners will accept that COVID-19 has played a significant role in this delay, and that the complexity of this project and the need to complete the work safely has meant it’s had to be pushed back yet again. Understandably, that won’t take away any disappointment or any concern that costs are escalating.
“Lessons must be learned from the way Crossrail officials originally planned for this major infrastructure project. Crossrail will be a fantastic asset to London once it is finally finished and the London Assembly Transport Committee will continue to keep a close watch on developments.”
A particular problem has been the shafts and portals, with lower productivity than planned an issue. Eight of the ten shafts and portals have been handed over to TfL, with the remaining two expected to be completed in the autumn.
The handover of stations to TfL has now been phased - to reflect, says Crossrail, the “monumental task”, while a pause in working during the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing requirements means that fewer than half of the normal number of people are working on Crossrail sites.
Software testing for signalling and train systems is said to be nearing an end, and all central section stations apart from Bond Street are now certified to support trial running, which is expected to start in early 2021.
Crossrail says that it has planned a period of “intensive” construction activity in August and September to complete remaining construction works on the line of route, which will be followed by testing of the next iteration of the signalling software.