APPENDIX 7
Memorandum submitted by Crossrail
CROSSRAIL LINE 1
1. Following on from your Select Committee's recent
evidence sessions into an Olympic bid, and the House of Commons
debate on the same subject, I am writing to clarify the planned
timetable for the Crossrail project.
2. Crossrail expects the application for statutory
consent for Crossrail Line 1 to be ready in November. It is hoped
that this is the beginning of a programme and timetable that will
lead to a construction completion date that is time for 2011,
subject to obtaining powers, finance and procurement. The Line
1 train service itself would be in place by May 2012.
3. During the recent Select Committee sessions and
the Commons debate, many MPs stated that they understood that
2016 was the proposed completion date. This is in fact two years
after the scheduled completion of Crossrail Line 2; this is the
route commonly known as 'Chelsea-Hackney line' which Chris Bryant
MP discussed during the Select Committee hearing. Line 2 could
be operational by 2014 at the earliest, and may even be catalysed
further by the Line 1 process.
4. Discussion with Government has been taking place
over many months, ensuring that Crossrail Line 1 meets all strategic
consideration and requirement.
5. We have a project involving 200 people from across
industry to carry out this task and a considerable amount of research
is being applied towards submitting Crossrail for statutory approval.
Once this is granted, we will be ready and able to make this scheme
a reality.
6. As indicated by the Transport Secretary in Parliament
before Christmas, we will be presenting our detailed plans for
Crossrail Line 1 to him towards the end of February. This will
include an economic and transport case for the scheme. Given the
forthcoming public information and consultation stages, we will
be continuing to meet key stakeholders.
7. I hope that this information helps clarify the
current status and projected timetables of Crossrail Lines 1 and
2.
8. As Transport for London make clear in their evidence,
Crossrail is a project vital to the future of London—it
will transform London's transport infrastructure providing many
regenerative, economic and social benefits.
9. I am confident that we have in place a robust
scheme that will meet these challenges and we would be delighted
to provide your Committee with more evidence if that would be
helpful.
17 January 2003
| 
