Crossrail has announced that the completion of the new Elizabeth line may be delayed until March 2021, with the line launching without a functioning station at Bond Street.
In a recent statement, Crossrail Ltd outlined a revised plan to open the Elizabeth line between October 2020 and March 2021. This follows a comprehensive audit aimed at resolving past issues but acknowledges significant risks and uncertainties, particularly in train and signalling system development and testing.
The central section of the line remains the main challenge, but Crossrail expects this portion to be delivered within the funding package agreed upon by the mayor, the government, and Transport for London (TfL) in December 2018. However, Bond Street station will face further delays due to ongoing design and delivery challenges. Crossrail is working with the Costain Skanska joint venture to expedite its completion.
Crossrail CEO Mark Wild acknowledged public frustration, stating, “I share the frustration of Londoners that the huge benefits of the Elizabeth line are not yet with us. But this plan allows Crossrail Ltd and its contractors to put the project back on track to deliver the Elizabeth line. Crossrail is an immensely complex project and there will be challenges ahead, particularly with the testing of the train and signalling systems, but the Elizabeth line is going to be incredible for London and really will be worth the wait.”
This announcement follows reports suggesting the Elizabeth line might not be fully operational until spring 2021 in a “worst-case” scenario. Once completed, the line will run from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east.
Initially scheduled for completion in December 2018, the project has faced multiple delays. The opening was first postponed to late 2019, then to spring 2020, and now potentially to March 2021. Additionally, the project is running nearly £3 billion over budget.
MPs have called on the Department for Transport to identify those responsible for the project’s failures, while the London Assembly’s Transport Committee has questioned the suitability of TfL commissioner Mike Brown continuing in his role.
Caroline Pidgeon MBE, Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, commented, “We welcome this announcement with cautionary relief. However, the project has been pushed back twice already, so the question has to be asked – is the ‘six-month window’ a hedge-betting exercise to avoid disappointing passengers once more? It is also incredibly frustrating that no senior executives will accept any responsibility for the litany of failures that have led to this delay. Londoners are forking out £30 million a week to bring Crossrail to completion. Further delays and doubtful dates are simply not an option.”
Pidgeon emphasized the importance of Crossrail for Londoners and urged all involved parties to expedite the project’s completion, stating, “Crossrail will be a huge benefit to Londoners when it eventually opens. However, Transport for London, Crossrail and the mayor all need to get their acts together to finish this project. We will be watching closely to ensure Londoners are not disappointed once more.”