Crossrail – a fast new railway service for London and the South East – will shorten journey times, reduce overcrowding and open up new areas of the city.
Crossrail: Creating a high-speed route across London
A new high-frequency, high-capacity railway
Crossrail is a new high-frequency, high-capacity railway from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west, through central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east. It will connect the outer suburbs to the heart of the City and West End, as well as providing a quick route between central London and Heathrow Airport.
Allowing London to grow
Crossrail will provide a 10% increase in London’s rail capacity, so it will relieve congestion on many existing rail and Tube lines. It will bring 1.5 million more people across London within an hour’s commute of the key business districts of the West End, City and Docklands. It will be a modern service for the 21st century with energy efficiency technology being used from the start.
Cutting journey times
As well as boosting capacity and improving connections, Crossrail will cut journey times. For example, the journey from Heathrow to the West End will take 31 minutes compared to 52 minutes today.
Crossrail Business Rate Supplement (BRS)
On 29 January 2010, the Mayor announced that up to 4,000 of London's smaller businesses will be exempt from the two pence business levy to fund Crossrail. Those areas of London set to benefit most from the new rail link will pay a greater share.
The Business Rate Supplement has been set at two pence per pound and started in April 2010. Find out more about the Crossrail BRS here.
