Local developments

Crossrail 2 - Update February 2018

Whilst the Crossrail 2 project team continue to liaise with our Raynes Park community, in reality, not much new information has been forthcoming since the last round of consultation in 2015/16. As yet, we still have no real detail about how Raynes Park might be affected, apart from what might be implied from the broad brush information from over two years ago. 

In 2017, Crossrail 2 prepared its strategic business case and submitted it to the Transport Secretary. While this showed that London could pay for half of the scheme over its life, ‎the Mayor for London and Transport Secretary agreed to see how London might fund half of the scheme during construction. This would seem to imply that London’s 50% share of the funding was partly predicated on income streams generated by the new railway and associated developments along its route.

In February 2018, it was announced that the government has called for an independent financial review to look at the project’s overall financial viability and whether or not the costs might be reduced. What the outcome will be remains to be seen. However, it may affect the overall scope and its phasing.

Therefore, no further formal public consultation is anticipated until this new assessment has been completed and reviewed by the Department for Transport. This whole process is expected to take another year, putting back any further public consultation at least until early 2019.

Whilst this is news, in reality, it heralds further delays and continued uncertainty for the project. How the Gordian Knot of funding the construction of Crossrail 2 might be untangled, remains to be seen. 

Jerry Cuthbert 22/02/2018