Have your say on Crossrail 2
9 Jun 2014 03:48 PM
A further consultation
focusing on specific areas of Crossrail 2 launches
today
- Changes proposed to Crossrail 2
route following feedback from consultation last year
Transport for London (TfL) and
Network Rail have today launched a second consultation on Crossrail 2 which
will look at variations to the proposed route.
Crossrail 2 would create a new
high frequency, high capacity rail line with shorter journey times between
south west and north east London.
Its route is designed to address
capacity constraints in the south west as well as providing vital new
connections across the capital which will help to support economic growth,
providing opportunities for thousands of new jobs and homes.
The results of an earlier
consultation on Crossrail 2 carried out last year by TfL and Network Rail
demonstrated considerable support for Crossrail 2, particularly for the
Regional route.
This route, which will travel
through London and into Surrey and Hertfordshire, will provide greater benefits
through journey and congestion relief across the existing rail
network.
It will also create much needed
additional capacity on the main line network and have a greater impact on
regeneration and development particularly in outer London and the Upper Lea
Valley.
However it also raised some
issues on specific route alignments.
This second consultation will
explore these specific aspects in more depth.
Work carried out to review the
comments and proposed changes by the public consultation in 2013 identified
some potential changes to the route which may offer further passenger benefits,
better value for money and potentially better opportunities for local growth
and regeneration to increase the supply of housing and jobs.
As a result a further
consultation being launched today will look specifically at:
- Alternative route alignments in
the London borough of Hackney;
- Extending the terminal
destination for Crossrail 2 from Alexandra Palace to New Southgate;
and
- Alternative locations for the
proposed station in Chelsea.
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson,
said:
'If London and its economy
are to keep moving then it’s essential that we crack on and get Crossrail
2 delivered. It’s a vital project not just for the capital, but also for
the regions from which hordes of commuters struggle into work on packed
carriages each day. As we’ve seen with Crossrail 1, major transport
projects like this have an enormous role to play not just in boosting capacity,
but in galvanising economic development and unlocking the potential for jobs
and homes. We know there’s huge appetite from passengers and from
business to get this project off the ground and as we take the hugely important
step in fine-tuning the potential route we’re genuinely keen to hear
people’s views.'
TfL’s Managing Director of
Planning, Michèle Dix, said:
'People can clearly see the
immense value of Crossrail 2 which will create a new high frequency, high
capacity rail line with shorter journey times between southwest and northeast
London and relieve pressure on suburban rail routes and the Underground as well
as helping to spur economic growth in and beyond the capital. Crossrail 2 is a
vital addition to London’s transport system and as we move forward with
this second consultation we’re another step closer to making it a
reality.'
Network Rail’s Group
Strategy Director, Paul Plummer, said:
'London’s railways are
already the busiest and most congested in the country, with many main lines
operating at, or close to, capacity. Working jointly with TfL we must press on
with schemes such as Crossrail 2 so that public transport continues to support
and drive economic growth.'
The consultation will run for
six weeks, from 9 June to 25 July 2014.
More information can be found
at www.crossrail2.co.uk.
Local drop-in sessions for
people to find out more about the options will be held in Chelsea, Hackney and
Dalston from mid June, further details and dates of the events are available on
the website.
Even with the Tube upgrade works
and the delivery of Crossrail 1, Crossrail 2 is needed to provided additional
capacity on the transport network so that it is able to cope with London's
forecasted population growth, expected to reach 10 million by
2030.
The results of this second
consultation will inform a revision to the project safeguarding later in the
year.
More detailed design will then
be needed and an application for Powers to build could take place in 2018.
Notes to Editors:
- Last year’s consultation
received around 14,000 responses with 96 per cent supporting or strongly
supporting the principle of Crossrail 2.
- Eighty-four per cent supported
or strongly supported the Regional option (compared to 73 per cent for the
Metro option).
- The benefits of the Regional
option could reach people in Hertfordshire, Surrey and beyond by enabling more
trains to run on busy National Rail routes. This route could be a combined
underground and overground railway and could operate from New Southgate and
stations in Hertfordshire to various locations in south west London and
Surrey.
- To find out more about the
consultation and to have your say please go to: www.crossrail2.co.uk
- Maps are available on
request
- A flythrough of the Crossrail 2
route is available at www.crossrail2.co.uk