Crossrail ‘costing £30m a week’

London Assembly members have reacted with fury after the latest report by audit firm KPMG on Crossrail finances claims the project is costing £30m a week.

Gareth Bacon, chair of the assembly’s budget and performance committee, described the figure as “eye-watering, especially as Londoners are likely to be footing the bill”.

He added: “The report also finds that Crossrail did not intend to prepare a business plan for 2019/2020 and that its finance department does not have enough resource to take financial control until the end of the project.

“Crossrail must get a grip on its finances and be transparent in the process. We have called for Crossrail to hold board meetings in public. There is not an endless supply of money to keep bailing Crossrail out.”

Transport committee chair Caroline Pidgeon added: “Given the evidence of past management failings, the lack of transparency across the Crossrail project needs to be addressed urgently. Londoners need to be reassured that public money is being spent wisely.

“We are in no doubt that this will be a fantastic piece of engineering that will benefit passengers once up and running. But the constant bad news coming from the Crossrail camp on how it’s being run has become a stain on its reputation.”  And no futher news on BTN's plea to the Mayor for a review of the Silvertown/LCY station, expected to cost the same £30m.

www.crossrail.co.uk

www.london.gov.uk

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