The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, will today warn that the capital’s transport network will grind to a halt under the strain of overcrowding unless the Government backs plans for Crossrail 2.
His warning came as he revealed TfL modelling shows that, without Crossrail 2, at least 17 Underground stations will buckle under crowding pressures and thousands of passengers arriving at Euston on HS2 phase 2 could lose time saved on their journeys as they will have to queue to board onward trains.
Without the new south west – north east connection Crossrail 2 provides into London’s transport network, the mayor will warn that Waterloo and Victoria mainline stations risk rush hour meltdown.
Improvements to the Tube network and the opening of the Elizabeth line (Crossrail 1) will provide extra capacity in the coming years, but they will not be enough to cope with the anticipated demand.
Sadiq will highlight the problem during a speech at the London Transport Museum’s annual fundraising dinner tonight in which he will warn that, without Crossrail 2, London will face daily closures at key stations and see time savings from the Government’s flagship HS2 line lost as a result of onward delays at Euston.
He will say that only by investing in Crossrail 2 will the transport network be able to cope, with the major project also playing a crucial role in unlocking the capital’s economic growth and delivering new affordable homes across London and the South East.
However, Crossrail 2 would increase the capital’s rail capacity by 10pc – bringing in an additional 270,000 people into central London each morning peak – cutting journey times, improving connections and accessibility. It would serve stations throughout the South East, linking south west and north east London, as well as Surrey and Hertfordshire, bringing more than 800 stations on the national rail network within just one interchange.
It would also support the regeneration and development of up to 200,000 new homes and 200,000 new jobs in London's economy, as well as creating 18,000 jobs during construction and supporting a further 60,000 jobs nationwide through its supply chain – boosting the UK economy by tens of billions of pounds.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“Crossrail 2 is crucial. It’s crucial to meeting our ambitious targets for new affordable homes. It’s crucial to unlocking future economic growth in the aftermath of the EU referendum. It’s crucial to ensure that Euston station keeps running smoothly when HS2 opens, and it’s crucial if we are to prevent Waterloo, Victoria and many other stations from rush hour meltdown.
“Half the cost of the project can be met through funding from London, but we need the Government to meet the other half if we are to avoid this unbearable strain on our transport network. Crossrail 2 is the answer to help the entire country, because when London succeeds, Britain succeeds.”
TfL is preparing to submit a robust updated business case and funding plan to the Transport Secretary, who is due to make a decision on further Government support in the Spring. Construction could start in the early 2020s and the railway could be operational by 2033.
Notes to editors
The Mayor is the guest speaker tonight at the annual dinner and auction in support of the London Transport Museum. The event, which this year takes place at the Victoria and Albert Museum, raises funds to support the heritage preservation and education work of the Museum.
Modelling suggests:
*Crowding levels on the South West Main Line into Waterloo would be greater than five passengers standing per square metre by 2031
*Unprecedented crowding on the Tube by the early 2030s causing regular station closures and delays with five or more people standing per square metre on some lines
*When HS2 Phase 1 opens in 2026, total demand for Euston and Euston Square will nearly double to more than 85,000 people during the three hour morning peak. Upgrades to Euston and Euston Square are planned as part of HS2, however, by the early 2030s, with High Speed 2 Phase 2, around 20,000 more rail passengers will arrive at Euston in a typical three hour morning peak period than without the scheme.
*Around two-thirds of HS2 arrivals in the morning peak are expected to want to access the Underground. Thousands of passengers arriving daily on HS2 phase 2 will have to wait for onward connections.
*There will also be significant demand for HS2 for those travelling away from London in the morning peak
Crossrail 2 will:
*Serve stations throughout the South East, linking south west and north east London, as well as Surrey and Hertfordshire.
*Support the regeneration and development of up to 200,000 new homes across London and the South East
*Create 18,000 jobs and support 60,000 new jobs across the UK supply chain while under construction, and 200,000 jobs across London and the South East once operational
*Increase London’s rail capacity by 10 percent providing additional capacity for up to 270,000 more people travelling into London in peak periods.
*Result in a reduction in the total passenger kilometres spent in very crowded conditions of 20 - 30 per cent across London’s Underground and National Rail networks
*Remove the need for routine planned station control at Euston Underground station. It is also expected at 16 other Underground stations.
*Free up space for around 15 more trains in the morning peak from Hampshire and Surrey – 11,800 extra seats into Waterloo