- More than 50 MPs from across the country ask for Crossrail 2 support
- Crossrail 2 would help grow the UK economy by up to £150billion
- Railway will help avert major overcrowding and delays across the wider south-east rail network
- New infrastructure would support 200,000 new homes and 200,000 jobs
More than 50 Members of Parliament from across the country and political parties have today (Friday April 21) urged the government to urgently back Crossrail 2 and show the world that Britain is open for business.
The 59 MPs, which represent constituencies from as far north as Newcastle upon Tyne and as far south as Portsmouth, have called on the government to back the vital project now so that it can progress in Parliament and begin carrying passengers by 2033.
The cross-party group MPs, which include dozens from across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, London and Surrey, have written to the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, and the Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, urging them to boost the entire country by giving Crossrail 2 the go-ahead.
The letter highlighted that the benefits of Crossrail 2 would be felt across the UK, boosting the economy by up to £150bn. Such a commitment would show that the country is preparing for growth and will give firms the certainty they need to invest in the skills needed for the long-term future.
Some 200,000 jobs and 200,000 new homes will be supported as a result of Crossrail 2, as well as 60,000 supply-chain jobs and 18,000 apprentices across the country, making a major contribution to solving the housing crisis and supporting key employment centres. More than 30 per cent of these new homes would be outside London.
The letter of support follows the calls of senior business leaders, homebuilding and property leaders and local authorities across the South East who have also written to the Chancellor and Transport Secretary significance of Crossrail 2.
Crossrail 2 will transform journey times and connectivity from the Solent to the Wash. More than a million public transport journeys every day will be significantly better as a result of Crossrail 2, with 40 per cent of the transport benefits falling outside London. It will relieve congestion on the overcrowded key rail lines from Portsmouth to Cambridge, and link with HS2 at Euston. It will also relieve pressure on the Underground, as the population of the South East region continues to grow rapidly.
With the overcrowded rail network threatening to stunt economic growth, the dangers of delaying the project are clear. For commuters travelling into London, overcrowding is already intolerable and, without the much needed additional capacity Crossrail 2 provides, nationally important stations including Victoria, Clapham Junction and Waterloo will see further serious overcrowding and regular closures, and Euston will be utterly unable to cope with increased passenger numbers from HS2.
The new railway is a scheme of national importance, with London businesses indicating they are prepared to contribute through local taxes and levies. London has shown how it can meet half the total cost - unlike other nationally significant projects that do not receive such levels of local funding. But now the project needs a commitment from ministers - as recommended by the National Infrastructure Commission last year.
David Lammy MP for Tottenham and Chair of Crossrail 2 APPG, said: “Crossrail 2 is absolutely crucial to the future growth and prosperity of our capital. Without Crossrail 2 our train and tube networks won't be able to cope with future demand and the project is vital to addressing the housing crisis and providing jobs and apprenticeships opportunities across London and the South East. The importance of Crossrail 2 is reflected by the huge cross-party support calling on the Government to give their backing to the project. Crossrail 2 will have a hugely positive impact on the lives of people across London and the wider South East and as Chair of the APPG I will continue to work with MP's, businesses and local authorities to make the case for Crossrail 2."
Sir Alan Haselhurst, MP for Saffron Walden and Chair of the West Anglia Taskforce, said: “I attach the greatest possible importance to Crossrail 2 and its beneficial implications for London and for the region I represent. I would be delighted if an early Government commitment could be made.”
Tom Brake MP for Carshalton and Wallington said: "Rather than sitting on its hands as it has done during the chaos caused by the Southern Rail strikes, it’s high time the Government gave backing for transport infrastructure which will help increase jobs, stimulate the local economy and relieve stress for the thousands of commuters who call the South East home."
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The government cannot ignore the growing national demand for it to back Crossrail 2. The fact that more than 50 MPs from across the country have crossed political lines to join together shows just how important the project is for the whole nation. It is essential for the UK economy, for jobs, for the housing market, for our transport network and sends a real message to the world that Britain is open for business. We’ve shown how London can pay directly for half of the cost, it’s time the government gave its unwavering support so the UK can benefit.”
The government’s backing will allow Transport for London (TfL) to develop the railway’s design in order to submit a Hybrid Bill to Parliament to get the necessary powers to construct the railway. Crossrail 2 could then be carrying passengers, by 2033, by which time it will be urgently needed.
Notes to editors
- Crossrail 2 is a proposed new railway that would connect National Rail networks in Surrey and Hertfordshire with an underground tunnel beneath central London between Wimbledon and Tottenham Hale and New Southgate
- Benefits to the economy, jobs and housing calculated by analysis from Crossrail 2
- TfL has submitted an updated business case and funding plan to the Transport Secretary. Construction could start in the early 2020s and the railway could be operational by 2033
- Copy of the letter:
Dear Chancellor
We are writing to urge you to give your backing to Crossrail 2.
This is a crucial stage for this project of national significance. Its business case is now under consideration and it urgently needs ministers’ backing in order to progress to a Hybrid Bill, as recommended by the National Infrastructure Commission last year, to begin carrying passengers by 2033.
Crossrail 2 is transformative. It will have a positive impact on the lives of people across the wider South East: more than a million public transport journeys every day will be significantly better as a result of Crossrail 2, and 40 per cent of the transport benefits will fall outside London. It will relieve intolerable pressure on the Tube and rail networks, which otherwise will be chronically overcrowded by the early 2030s. It will add capacity and cut journey times across a wide swathe of southern England. Without Crossrail 2, nationally important stations including Victoria, Clapham Junction and Waterloo will see further serious overcrowding and regular closures, and Euston will be utterly unable to cope with increased passenger numbers from HS2.
Crossrail 2 is also vital to address the housing crisis in London and the South East. Only Crossrail 2 can open up major new areas for development, such as the Upper Lea Valley. Thirty per cent of the resulting new homes would be outside London. It will also give the whole nation a £150bn economic boost, supporting 200,000 new jobs, as well as 18,000 jobs and apprenticeships directly and 60,000 jobs through its supply chain nationwide during construction.
London has shown in detail how it can pay directly for half of the cost of Crossrail 2.
It now deserves national support as a scheme that will generate funds to the Exchequer that more than cover its costs. At a time of economic challenges, it is crucial that we invest – as a clear signal to the rest of the world that Britain is open for business and preparing for growth. Backing for Crossrail 2 would also give firms across the country the certainty they need to invest in the skills needed for our long-term future.
We hope you will now give your full backing to Crossrail 2 so that it can move ahead without delay.
Yours sincerely,