Crossrail programme could be jeopardised by schedule pressures and cost hikes at four stations

摘要

Schedule pressures and cost increases at four of Crossrail's central London stations threaten to jeopardise the project's entire programme, according to project representative Jacobs. In Prep 12, the latest publicly available report on the project's progress, Jacobs warns that delays to work at Bond Street, Whitechapel, Paddington and Canary Wharf threaten to disrupt Crossrail's efforts to get the Elizabeth line open by mid-2022. In particular, Jacobs warns that "effective mitigations" will be required at the four stations to avoid a delay in entering trial operations. These involve tests and trials to demonstrate that TfL [Transport for London] is capable of operating the railway. Trial operations cannot begin until all nine Central London stations are handed over to TfL. Farringdon, Custom House and Tottenham Court Road have already been handed over, with Woolwich and Liverpool Street expected to follow in the coming months.