Following a leaked TfL report which shows that is trying to delay Crossrail 2
for up to a decade, the Conservative candidate for London Mayor,
, has called on the
Department for Transport to place the infrastructure project
under special measures should it be delayed once more.
Candidate for Mayor of London said:
“Khan is responsible for the Crossrail crisis and
should be removed from the project before Crossrail 2 is delayed
as a result. It is time that the Department for Transport
formally acknowledged that the Mayor is incapable of delivering
London’s most crucial infrastructure upgrade in a
generation.
“I urge the government to step in and take the reins,
remove Khan and place the project under special measures.
Londoners who are relying on Crossrail shouldn’t be punished for
his lack of leadership. If we can’t trust him to deliver on
Crossrail, how can we trust him to run London for the next four
years?
“As Mayor, I would lead from the front, scrutinising
every step of the project and ensuring the right people were on
board to complete it on time and on budget. I would be
transparent every step of the way, communicating frequent updates
on progress to the public. I know how much Londoners are relying
on it.”
At a time when scrutiny of Crossrail was needed, Khan was
cutting staff at TfL to pay for the ‘fares freeze’. As a
result, TfL’s workforce has been cut by a third since 2016 and
its finances are in disarray. Leaving TfL understaffed,
under-resourced and demoralised and unable to properly oversee or
fund Crossrail.
Furthermore, on Khan’s watch there has been a distinct lack
of transparency or accountability with repeated warning and
delays wilfully ignored by City Hall.
The Elizabeth Line, otherwise known as Crossrail 1, was on
time and on budget when Khan first came into office. The line was
scheduled to open in 2018 and it is on Khan’s watch that the
opening has repeatedly been delayed until 2021, with costs
spiralling towards £20bn.
The Crossrail programme is London’s largest infrastructure
upgrade in a generation. The programme will add an estimated
£42bn to the economy of the UK, dramatically improving transport
links in London and the South East, driving house-building,
supporting wider regeneration and creating jobs and business
opportunities right around the UK.
There are clauses in the contract between DfT and TfL that
allow for DfT to take sole ownership of the project.
ENDS
Notes to editors
-
Special measures means that the current mayor will be
locked out of the process as a consequence of four years of
poor substandard, no project management and distinct lack of
oversight
-
The Elizabeth line/Crossrail was due to start carrying
commuters in December 2018. It’s now not due to open until the
end of 2021.
-
Extract from FT
article Dec 2018: Politicians
meanwhile had taken their eyes off the ball. When Mr Khan
became mayor two years ago he dismissed TfL’s representative on
the Crossrail board, Daniel Moylan, a Conservative politician
who had kept a close eye on costs, and asked all “the difficult
questions” according to one individual close to the
board.
-
Costs for Crossrail are heading towards £20bn, more
than one third than the original estimate of £14.8bn.
-
The Crossrail programme is essential and will add
an estimated £42bn to the economy of the UK, dramatically
improving transport links in London and the South East, driving
house-building, supporting wider regeneration and creating jobs
and business opportunities right around the UK.
-
There are clauses in the contract between DfT and TfL
that allow for DfT to take ownership of the
project.
-
The election for London Mayor takes place on
7th May
2020.
