Cross London Rail Links Limited (CLRL), the Crossrail project company that is jointly owned by the Department for Transport and Transport for London, has announced that Norman Haste will be stepping down as Chief Executive and leaving the Company, once a successor has been identified in the summer.

Thanking Norman Haste for his work, CLRL's Chairman, Adrian Montague, said: 'Norman has worked with great commitment and enthusiasm to develop Crossrail into a viable project. Much credit is due to him for ensuring that CLRL was in a position to support the timely introduction into Parliament of the Crossrail Bill.

'Norman will be much missed by all his colleagues in the management team, which he has led with distinction, and will leave with our thanks and appreciation.'

Norman Haste said: 'I take much pleasure in all that has been achieved during my time as Chief Executive. Crossrail is a project of great strategic importance, and it has been a privilege to lead the project in its formative stages.

'Now that the project has started its Parliamentary approval process, the time is right to pass the baton onto a successor who will be able to carry the project on through the approval stages and into construction.'

Ends

Issued 16 May, 2005

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