Transport for London (TfL) says it is continuing to protect the route of Crossrail 2 even thought the project has been paused and is awaiting funding. Officials describe the successor to the Elizabeth line - which would provide services between the north and south of the capital - as a 'dormant company'.
However, bosses say the project could be restarted in the future, and they are working with stakeholders to continue to safeguard to proposed route of the railway. In 2019, it was estimated that it would cost more than £41 billion to deliver Crossrail 2.
TfL says that more money from the Government is needed if the 'paused' infrastructure proposal is to go ahead. Documents published by the authority this summer stated: "The proposed railway linking the National Rail networks in Surrey and Hertfordshire via an underground tunnel through railway.
READ MORE: Small South London town set to be transformed by Crossrail 2 but people fear Croydon-like high rises
"This new railway would improve access across London and the wider South East with communities on the corridor gaining new direct, faster and less-crowded connections into London, leading to transformative changes in jobs and homes opportunities. Crossrail 2 could support 200,000 jobs, spur the development of 200,000 new homes across the region and increase London’s rail capacity by 10 per cent.
"Its impact would be felt across the wider South East and beyond, cutting journey times in an area from the South Coast and stretching up to East Anglia and the Midlands. In October 2020, as part of the TfL Funding Agreement, a decision was made to pause further work on the design and development of Crossrail 2.
"The work done so far was fully documented so that we could restart the project in the future. We continue to manage the Crossrail 2 Safeguarding Directions on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport and work with stakeholders whose developments are affected by the Safeguarding. This is to ensure we can continue to protect the route until the railway can be progressed."
Chancellor: 'Growth must come before funding'
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, told MyLondon in April: "Of course I want to see the investment in infrastructure our country needs to grow after 14 years of mismanagement. But we have to always show where the money is going to come from, and we need to grow the economy to be able to release funds for crucial infrastructure investment."
The Government told said in July that it is working with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, on 'funding plans' for TfL. A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson said: “The success of the London transport network is critical for both the capital’s and the UK’s economy.
"We’re working with the Mayor of London on funding plans for transport in the capital, providing value for money and lasting benefits for the public.”
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