Crossrail is a major programme to run new, direct rail services between Reading and all passenger terminals of Heathrow Airport at the western ends of the railway, through a new underground section beneath central London to Shenfield in Essex and Abbey Wood in south east London at the eastern ends. The project currently has a total funding envelope of £17.6 billion in its entirety. The Department for Transport (DfT) provides £4.9 billion, Network Rail provides £2.3 billion, and Transport for London and the Greater London Authority (GLA) jointly provide £7.1 billion, with the remainder coming from private sector contributions. The railway was due to open fully by the end of 2018, with works commencing in 2009. The final cost, however, remains uncertain, and there is currently no exact date for when the railway will be fully operational.
In August 2018, Crossrail Ltd announced a delay to the project with an estimated opening date in Autumn 2019. In December 2018, the Mayor of London, the Greater London Authority (GLA), and Transport for London (TfL) confirmed an additional financing package with the Government to deliver the final stages of the Crossrail project. Emerging findings by KPMG, which did a review into Crossrail Ltd's finances, show that the likely cost impact of this delay could be between £1.6bn and £2bn. This includes the £300m already contributed by the DfT and TfL in July 2018, which leaves an estimated £1.3bn to £1.7bn to complete the project.
Members will use this hearing to review the project’s overall progress, and examine the cost impact of the latest delay , as well as potential future delays.