The announcement has been made. Many suspected this would be the case. Crossrail, London’s new underground railway, has had its opening delayed until at least Autumn 2020. The entire line won’t open until 2021 at the earliest as well.
The new cross-London railway line, which will slash journey times across the capital, was supposed to open last year, but at the last minute was delayed. The project has now gone over budget and is facing extended delays. Most of the infrastructure is in place and the tunnels were built long ago. The problem is now technical as engineers work to make everything work together. There have also been issues in the ‘fit out’ of each new station, with the new Bond Street station taking longer than planned.
From the BBC:
“Many risks and uncertainties remain in the development and testing of the train and signalling systems,” Crossrail Ltd said in a statement, having identified a new “six-month delivery window” for the project.
“It’s very disappointing we didn’t make it in December (2018) but we’ve got a plan now, a clear plan, to get it opened by the end of next year.
“I think the project in the summer of last year got itself into quite a compressed state with overlapping activities.”
He added: “My job now is to get the railway open.”
So, the line WILL open. It’s just delayed – by almost two years by the time it begins to open. On the one hand, this sucks. On the other hand, I’m slightly glad because I’ll be more likely to be able to go on opening day.
Author: Jonathan Thomas
Jonathan is a consummate Anglophile who launched Anglotopia.net in 2007 to channel his passion for Britain. Londontopia is its sister publication dedicated to everything London.
Doesn’t it just go to Canary wharf area?
No, it goes from Reading to Abbey Wood, with 41 stops in between with tons of new central London stations.