Crossrail gets official clearance

By John Hill on July 23, 2008 9:16 AM |

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LONDON'S ambitious Crossrail project has finally received the green light from MPs.

The bill detailing the plans for the £16billion rail link was given royal assent yesterday evening after clearing its third reading in the House of Lords.

The rail line - which runs from Maidenhead to Shenfield and connects destinations such as Heathrow airport, The City and Canary Wharf - is expected to be opened in phases from 2017.

Construction is set to begin in 2010.

Crossrail has been on the table since 1989, but the wheels began spinning in earnest when Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a funding strategy had been cooked up with business leaders in October last year. The Government will provide a third of the cost, with fares contributing another third and businesses plugging the remaining funding gap.

The bill - which now becomes the Crossrail Act 2008 - was agreed as politicians prepared to begin summer recess.

Once completed, 78,000 passengers per hour will be able to use the service, which can accommodate 1,500 people per train. Crossrail users will be able to reach Heathrow from the Isle of Dogs in 43 minutes, compared to the current 63 minutes. A journey to Liverpool Street would take eight minutes. The huge line will stretch 118.5km and feature 37 stations, including a station at Woolwich which will be funded by developer Berkeley Homes.

Canary Wharf Group will be responsible for fitting out the estate's own Crossrail station, which will be situated in West India Dock. Designs for the stop - which include shops and a rooftop park - were unveiled last week.