06 November 2008

BAA stumps up Ã&#pound;230 million for Crossrail project

BAA has agreed to contribute Ã&#pound;230 million to the Crossrail project, which will provide direct services from Heathrow Airport through central London, the City and Canary Wharf and out to Shenfield and Abbey Wood.

Crossrail, due to be operational by 2017, will guarantee a fast train service four times an hour for the majority of the day.

Transport Minister Andrew Adonis and BAAââ¬â¢s strategy director Mike Forster said Crossrail will boost the UK economy by at least Ã&#pound;20 billion and create an extra 30,000 jobs.

Forster said: ââ¬ÅâœThis vital new link will directly connect the City and Canary Wharf to the airport, complementing our existing Heathrow Express service and taking thousands of cars off the roads. Crossrail will be crucial in keeping London and the UK globally competitive.ââ¬~

Mayor of London Boris Johnson added: ââ¬ÅâœThis is another significant step forward in preparing for the construction of this landmark new railway.

ââ¬ÅâœWorks have already begun at Tottenham Court Road station and the contracts to design and build the multi-billion pound project are all on track to be awarded by spring 2009. All parties are committed to Crossrail's success, and together we will deliver it on time and on budget.ââ¬~

The new line will run from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west through new tunnels under central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.

New stations will be created at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel and the Isle of Dogs (Canary Wharf).

The Ã&#pound;16 billion project will be funded by both Government and the businesses that are set to benefit from it.

BAAââ¬â¢s contribution will be paid by Heathrow Airport Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of BAA which owns and operates Heathrow.

It is subject to the approval of the Civil Aviation Authority, BAAââ¬â¢s economic regulator.


By Bev Fearis

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• Sadly we still suffer from the underground's Victorian heritage
  
  

  It's especially ironic that the station at which most LGW arriving passengers will use, Victoria, is also the busiest station on the tube network and also the least accessible, having neither lifts nor escalators.

  By Richard English, Thursday, November 6, 2008
• Passenger Baggage Friendly?
  
  

  Let's hope that the planners and designers of this new rail line eliminate all obstacles for baggage toting passengers such as the dreaded 19 step stairs that seem to be a feature on most of London's subway/tube system stations. Unlike many subway systems in other countries, the London system makes it totally impracticable to transport bags between termini serving different regions.

  By Jon Hewson, Thursday, November 6, 2008