Crossrail
Crossrail, the largest addition to the transport network in London and the South East for more than 50 years, completed its Parliamentary process with the Crossrail Bill receiving Royal Assent on 22 July 2008. It is now a Parliamentary Act.
Following the Prime Minister's announcement in October 2007 that a £15.9bn funding package had been secured for the construction of Crossrail, Parliamentary approval of the Bill means that the project is on track to be operational for passengers in 2017. It will mean more capacity and faster journey times, as well as at least a £20bn boost to the wider UK economy.
As nominated undertaker the Crossrail Act grants Crossrail Ltd (CRL) the powers to acquire land and for Crossrail to be built and maintained.
At Paddington, the enabling works began in 2009, with main construction works set to begin in 2011. The Crossrail Station at Paddington will be constructed under Eastbourne Terrace and Departures Road. There will be subsurface links to the concourse of Paddington mainline Station, the District and Circle and the Bakerloo Lines.
In order to construct the Crossrail station under Eastbourne Terrace it is necessary to permanently moves taxis from Departures Road prior to starting the main works. The taxis will be relocated to a permanent taxi facility to be constructed on the existing Red Star Deck. This facility will provide a dedicated means of taxi access from the existing station to the road network via the new Bishops Bridge.
Recent Developments
As part of the transformation into a delivery organisation Crossrail has made the following appointments: Rob Holden CBE, has become Crossrail's Chief Executive. Tony Gregory has been appointed as the Crossrail Independent Complaints Commissioner.
Transend has been confirmed as Crossrail's Programme Partner. The Programme Partner role is one of strategic programme management. Transcend will help Crossrail to deliver safely the overall programme to time, to the desired standard and within budget.
Bechtel Ltd has been confirmed as Crossrail's Project Delivery Partner. They will be responsible for overseeing delivery of the core central tunnelled section of the Crossrail route and will also manage the design process.
The appointment of the Programme Partner and Project Delivery Partner means that Crossrail remains on schedule. It will be Europe's largest construction project and add ten per cent to the capacity of public transport in the capital.
Crossrail: Tel 0345 602 3813
