Transport for London has launched a new public consultation on the proposed £27bn Crossrail 2 scheme which will link south-west and north-east London.
Previous consultations have already helped to inform TfL’s work on the project which looks increasingly likely to be given the go-ahead by ministers who have already safeguarded its core route.
The scheme, which could open in 2030, has the backing of all four parties currently represented at City Hall and could be worth up to £100bn to London’s economy and help deliver thousands of new homes and jobs.
TfL, City Hall and many London businesses see Crossrail 2 as essential if the capital is to continue serving the needs of its growing population and remain an attractive place for firms to set up and expand in.
With research suggesting that more than half of the scheme’s cost could be met through local funding, including a levy on business rates and local construction projects, the scheme is likely to cost the Westminster government significantly less than it generates in tax income.
Today’s consultation comes after TfL unveiled plans to replace a proposed station at Tooting Broadway with one at Balham and drop plans for stations at Turnpike Lane and Alexandra Palace for one in Wood Green.
Mayor Boris Johnson said: “Crossrail 2 is a major infrastructure project and so it’s vital that we get it right from the start. This consultation is key to helping us to fine tune the proposals and to ensure that everyone with a view on Crossrail 2 can have their say and is listened to.”
Michele Dix, TfL’s Managing Director of Crossrail 2, added: “ As development of this vital railway continues, we will be taking on board feedback from the consultation to progress the designs for the project, so that we can open the railway by 2030.”
The consultation runs until Friday 8 January 2016 and can be accessed at www.crossrail2.co.uk
