Crossrail funding but no London City station

The Government, the Mayor of London and Transport for London has announced a move to fully publicly fund a new fleet of trains and maintenance facilities for Crossrail.  The line’s unique situation means there is no existing fleet of trains to operate through the tunnels.  Special units are required.  In September 2012 the Government invited bidders to apply for a government guarantee to assist in the financing of the new trains.  The new arrangement will ensure that services can open as scheduled in late 2018.

However pleas for a station to be incorporated at London City Airport have been ignored.  With the present track-line, which is under construction, trains will stop at Excel (Custom House), go past the airport, under the Thames, emerging for Abbey Wood.  An expert on the airport said: “This is crazy.  A station can be easily added at Silvertown, the walk less than Pier 6 at Gatwick”.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: “Crossrail is now hitting its stride with tunnels being bored and stations being built at lightning pace.  With more than 600 carriages providing a 10% increase in London’s rail capacity Crossrail will transport not just passengers but jobs and growth across the city and beyond”. www.crossrail.co.uk

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