Crossrail 2 Is Needed To Support London's Growing Population - Mayor

Crossrail 2 is needed to provide vital new capacity on the transport network to cope with London's forecast population growth, according to the Mayor of London.

In a keynote speech, Mr Boris Johnson, said by 2050 demand for public transport will have increased by 60 per cent.

The Mayor said he was confident that, as with Crossrail 1, London could in the right circumstances contribute well over half the cost of Crossrail 2, reducing the demand on the UK taxpayer as a whole. And, if the pattern of Crossrail 1 were followed, over 60% of the contracts would be with suppliers outside London, many of them small and medium-sized businesses.

The new rail line is unique in its ability to relieve overcrowding on the Tube and national rail networks. It will slash journey times across London; a journey from Kingston to Tottenham Court Road could be completed in just 29 minutes, 17 minutes faster than today. Those travelling between Dalston and Tottenham Court Road would have just an 8 minute journey, 19 minutes faster than today. Its benefits will also be felt far beyond the capital. Passengers on mainline trains travelling in to Waterloo from as far afield as Portsmouth, Southampton and Basingstoke will also benefit from the new rail line, which will relieve congestion at Waterloo by diverting suburban services into a new tunnel under London.

Mr Johnson, said: "Crossrail 2 is a vital project not just for the capital, but also for the regions from which people travel in to London on packed trains each day of the week. With London's population soon to surpass its previous 1939 peak of 8.6m, and with more people travelling by Tube and rail than ever before, we need additional rail capacity to support future growth. For the capital to remain globally competitive there needs to be continued investment in our transport network and that's why we have to get cracking on planning for Crossrail 2. It's an essential infrastructure project that will deliver thousands of new homes and jobs, as well as helping to keep our great city moving."

Crossrail 2 will support the delivery of up to 200,000 new homes across London by introducing vital new capacity and allowing new residential suburbs and districts to be created.

(CD/IT)