Public feedback on Crossrail 2, the proposed north–south cross London rail link – shows 95 per cent of the 14,000 respondents ‘strongly supporting’ or ‘supporting’ the principle of the scheme.
Transport for London (TfL) and Network Rail both back the project. Local leaders see Crossrail 2 as vital to boosting capacity on the suburban rail network and supporting economic growth.
Even with the upgrade works to the London Underground and the delivery of Crossrail 1, additional capacity on the transport network is essential to cope with London’s forecasted population growth. Crossrail 2 would create a new high frequency, high capacity rail line with shorter journey times between southwest and northeast London.
The project was given a boost in the summer when the Chancellor George Osborne said the Government would pay £2m for a feasibility study. The new high capacity railway could see trains running at a rate of between 30 to 40 trains an hour.
Says Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, ‘This consultation reveals that there’s a very clear stamp of approval for Crossrail 2 from Londoners and from business. People can clearly see the immense value of a project that will relieve pressure on suburban rail routes and on the Underground, as well as helping to spur economic growth in a key quadrant of the capital.
‘In addition, if HS2 goes ahead, Crossrail 2 would provide a vital interchange at Euston which would be under significant strain from greater passenger numbers. The key question now is not whether Crossrail 2 should happen, but how quickly can we get it built.’
