2016 Achievements (Supplementary) [3]

Boris Johnson (Chairman, TfL):  One of the most powerful messages that the Chancellor gave when he was at the Meridian Water scheme was that he could see the advantage of Crossrail 2 because what it actually does is it enables many more thousands of homes to go ahead in that area.  He is right behind it for that reason and obviously because of all the other benefits it brings to the southwest of the city as well.

The procedure for Crossrail 2 is that there is a safeguarded route alignment going to be secured next year.  That is following consultation.  Then we will go into the detailed development of the scheme and apply for construction powers.

Joanne McCartney AM:  On the funding point, though, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, when this was announced, said, “The challenge for the Mayor of London now is to determine how at least half of the cost of the scheme can be met”, not from the Exchequer.

The only substantive work I have seen so far is that London First has put out some proposals.  I just want to ask you briefly about a couple of their recommendations.  They state that their funding estimates rely heavily on securing devolution of property taxes to London.  Are you still lobbying on that and are you confident that that will take place during your time as Mayor?

Boris Johnson (Chairman, TfL):  I wish I could be more confident than I am about that, Joanne.  Let us be absolutely clear.  This is great.  This is what needs to happen.

First of all, on the funding of Crossrail, what Danny Alexander has said is actually encouraging in this sense: at least they are saying half the project will be funded by the Exchequer, which is a very valuable commitment.  I would point out of course that it is still weird that only in London is it expected that the private sector should step up to the plate in this extraordinary way.  Any other project around the country, it is assumed, will be 100% funded by the Government.  Never mind.  We understand the particular advantages we have in London and we are going to work to those advantages.

I would like to see exactly what London First proposes.  I would like to see sustainable finance for London.  I would like to see us able to borrow at a decent rate because we have the certainty that we are going to have a stream of finance coming in in the form of the suite of the five property taxes that you know of and I think London First supports.  That argument is growing stronger the whole time.  When you look at what Scotland is now being offered in terms of even more devolved powers, irrespective of what happens next week, it is perfectly obvious that the great English cities, the motors of the UK economy, should have this facility.

Joanne McCartney AM:  This should be about Crossrail 2, though.  Can you come back to the point?

Boris Johnson (Chairman, TfL):  I am lobbying for it.  I wish I could say that the Treasury was keener on it than it seems to be, but the arguments will in the end prevail.

Joanne McCartney AM:  One of the things that London First asks for is a Crossrail 2 levy similar to the Olympic levy.  Is that something that you have talked about or considered yet?

Boris Johnson (Chairman, TfL):  We are obviously doing work now on the funding of Crossrail, but it would be premature to spell out exactly where we are on that.

Joanne McCartney AM:  I saw Peter nodding.  Is that something that you have discussed as a possibility?

Sir Peter Hendy CBE (Commissioner, TfL):  No, I was nodding to say we are doing the work.  We are clearly looking at what London First has said.  We are looking at every conceivable method of raising this 50% and, for the avoidance of doubt, we are also reviewing the potential for development funding because this railway when it is built, as it will be sooner or later, will actually revolutionise land use both in the Lee Valley and also in parts of southwest London.  We are actively pursuing those issues and you will see some more in the autumn about it.

Boris Johnson (Chairman, TfL):  Yes.  Crossrail 2 has a big supporter in George Osborne [Chancellor of the Exchequer].  There is no question he totally buys it and he gets it and he wants it done.

Joanne McCartney AM:  Just quickly because I have just been alerted to this by some residents while I have been questioning you, Peter: are you disappointed that the new Tottenham Hale station and the link with the rail there is not going to be absolutely completely step-free?

Sir Peter Hendy CBE (Commissioner, TfL):  There is a lot to be done at Tottenham Hale and one of the things at Tottenham Hale is of course that we have been pressing - and the Mayor has been pressing - for some time for improvements in the Lee Valley generally.  The state of the station will change again with the third and fourth tracking up there.  I regret to tell you I have not been up there too recently; it is one of the places I have not been.

Boris Johnson (Chairman, TfL):  I have.

Sir Peter Hendy CBE (Commissioner, TfL):  There you are; the Mayor has been.

Boris Johnson (Chairman, TfL):  I have been good.

Joanne McCartney AM:  See, there are plans to put lifts in to make the rail platform accessible ‑‑

Boris Johnson (Chairman, TfL):  I know.  I can visualise what you are talking about.

Joanne McCartney AM:  ‑‑ but they are contingent on other works taking place and they are not going to be going in straight away, which is a concern. 

Sir Peter Hendy CBE (Commissioner, TfL):  That is right.  They are and some of this is about the third and fourth tracks, where you put them and what the design of the station is.  We have both been pressing very strongly to get on with this because actually Crossrail 2 of its own accord needs four tracks in the Lee Valley in any event.  Some of those stations will have to radically alter again in order to accommodate that. 

Actually, all of that scheme is really important because without it you do not get a sufficient stopping service to make any difference to people.  We know in London that half our train services are no use to the population.  They need to be 10 or 12 minutes at the maximum.  Therefore, it still is in a state of flux and we are pressing very hard because even a third track is a palliative but not a complete cure and Crossrail 2 must have four tracks.

Joanne McCartney AM:  I would appreciate you just lobbying Network Rail again to put those lifts in as soon as possible.

Sir Peter Hendy CBE (Commissioner, TfL):  OK.

Boris Johnson (Chairman, TfL):  At Tottenham Hale?

Joanne McCartney AM:  Yes.

Boris Johnson (Chairman, TfL):  Yes.