The Heads of Terms details the agreements between DfT and TfL that underpinned last month's announcement on the funding of Crossrail. It sets out, with only those redactions necessary to prevent harm to commercial interests, the agreements that have been reached between DfT and TfL on the future funding and governance of the Crossrail project.

A summary along with the full version is available on the DfT website at here, along with a letter from the Mayor of London to the Secretary of State for Transport.

Crossrail Bill passes to House of Lords, 14 December 2007

The Crossrail Bill completed its Report/Third Reading stage in the House of Commons on Thursday (13 December), and has been introduced into the House of Lords.

On introduction in the House of Lords a fresh petitioning period will be triggered, and those directly affected by the Crossrail proposals will have the opportunity to petition. The petitioning period set by the House of Lords will start on 8 January and end on 30 January.

Douglas Oakervee, OBE, Executive Chairman of Cross London Rail Links Ltd, welcomed the introduction of the Bill into the House of Lords.

Mr Oakervee said: 'Completion of the Bill's final stages in the House of Commons marks another major step for the Crossrail team. The debate confirmed the prevailing sense that, across the political parties, Parliament is keen to see the Bill progress speedily, so that we can take this vital project for London through to a successful conclusion, on time and within budget.'

Information and advice on petitioning in the House of Lords is available from the Private Bill Office in the Lords:

Lords Crossrail Bill Team Tel: 020 7219 5961
Private Bill Office Fax: 020 7219 2571
House of Lords
London Email: prbohol@parliament.uk
SW1A 0PW
Website: http://www.parliament.uk/about_lords/prbohol.cfm

New Information Paper updating on project information published, 21 December 2007

A new Information Paper has been published providing an update on the Crossrail project and a guide to the places within the Crossrail Environmental Statement documentation where the most up-to-date information describing the project and its likely significant impacts can be found. A copy of the Crossrail Information Paper A8 can be found on the bill documents section of the Crossrail website by clicking here .

Crossrail Bill receives Second Reading in House of Lords, 9 January 2008

On Wednesday 9 January, the Crossrail Bill received its Second Reading in the House of Lords. After the debate the Bill was formally commited to a Select Committee, who will consider the petitions lodged against it. The debate in Hansard can be found by clicking here.

The petitioning period in the Lords began on Tuesday 8 January, and will close at 5pm on 30 January.

Membership of the House of Lords Select Committee announced, 11 January 2008

The Lords Crossrail Bill Select Committee has been announced as:

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe, Viscount Colville of Culross (Chairman), Baroness Fookes, Lord James of Blackheath, Lord Jones of Cheltenham, Lord Snape,
Lord Young of Norwood Green.

Crossrail to appoint independent Non Executive Directors

Crossrail is seeking to appoint four independent Non Executive Directors to its Board. Adverts have been placed in major national newspapers inviting applicants.

The Crossrail Bill has successfully completed its passage through the House of Commons and is now before the House of Lords. Though Cross London Rail Links Ltd (CLRL) will be owned by TfL, it will be a separate business unit whose autonomy to deliver Crossrail as specified by the joint sponsors will be guaranteed in the governing agreements.

Whilst the project will remain the joint responsibility of the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State for Transport as Sponsors, Cross London Rail Links Limited will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London once Royal Assent is granted to the Crossrail Bill and the various governing agreements have been executed.

To prepare for the commencement of this major Project it has been decided to restructure the Cross London Rail Links Limited Board to meet the terms of the governing agreements now under finalisation.

The Board will comprise at least four independent non executive directors and three executive directors. In addition the two Sponsors each retain the right to add one further non executive director.

Douglas Oakervee, CLRL Executive Chairman, said: 'The creation of a strong independent board during the delivery phase is of paramount importance. It will provide the discipline necessary to ensure the cost and scope of this massive project is contained throughout. And ensure that a world-class affordable railway is delivered on time and within budget.'

The candidates are asked to forward details of recent career and relevant experience to the Executive Chairman, Cross London Rail Links Limited, Portland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5BH. The closing date for applications was 31 January 2008.

Revised Safeguarding Directions, 24 January 2008

On the 22nd February 2005 the then Secretary of State for Transport (the Rt Hon Member for Edinburgh South West, Alistair Darling MP) introduced a hybrid Bill to provide for the construction, maintenance and operation of Crossrail. At this time, directions were also issued for the safeguarding of the main Crossrail route, from Maidenhead to Shenfield and from Whitechapel to Abbey Wood, for the associated construction worksites, and for the possible extension of Crossrail from Abbey Wood to Hoo Junction. This safeguarding protects the route from any conflicting developments which could interfere with the construction or operation of Crossrail.

As a result of negotiations with affected parties and the development of engineering design works, there have been changes to the land needed for the construction and operation of Crossrail. This means that some land that has been safeguarded will no longer be needed, while we are proposing to use other sections of land that are not currently safeguarded.

On the 24 January 2008 the Secretary of State for Transport has issued revised safeguarding directions for the main route that reflect these changes. This document can be found as a download, right.

The purpose of the Directions is to require local planning authorities along the route to refer planning applications falling within the safeguarding limits, to Cross London Rail Links Limited, who administer the Directions on behalf of the Department, to ascertain whether development proposals might be prejudicial to the construction of Crossrail. The Directions are accompanied by a set of plans that highlight the safeguarding directions.

It is the Department's intention to issue a final Safeguarding Direction once Royal Assent has been granted, for the construction period of the project.

Copies of the Directions and plans can be viewed on the Crossrail website by clicking here, or at Local Planning Authority offices on request.

Crossrail Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) : Public Consultation Comments & Crossrail's Response, 24 January 2008

This report was published on 24 January 2008 and includes the public consultation comment received between 21 December 2005 and 18 April 2006 (14 weeks) on the original EqIA, and presents the project's response. AP EqIA and AP4 EqIA were subject to a twelve week consultation period. No comments were received for either of the AP EqIAs. The document is available here as a download (right).

This document forms part of the Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) that the DfT, TfL and CLRL are working together to complete. It is a consolidated equality assessment building on the good practice from within these organisations.

Crossrail Safeguarding Update issued by Minister, 6 February 2008

Transport Minister Tom Harris MP issued a Written Ministerial Statement on the 'Crossrail Safeguarding Update' on 6 February. In the Statement, he confirms that he has decided to safeguard the additional land between Maidenhead and Reading.

He said: 'This measure gives flexibility to be able to extend Crossrail in the future, should there be a business case.' He added that the protection also allows for the possibility of undertaking electrification works on the route to Reading, even without the extension of Crossrail. He also confirmed that a possible extension of Crossrail to Reading could be sought by means of a Transport and Works Order, rather than delaying the passage of the Crossrail Bill.

The Minister said that the Department is still considering updating the safeguard route to Ebbsfleet and would continue to discuss this with CLRL and with local authorities, and will make an announcement on this in due course. A full copy of the letter can be downloaded (right).

House of Lords Select Committee begins meeting, 19 February 2008

The Lords Crossrail Bill Select Committee begins its session on 19 February, starting at 10am. Sitting Times are Mondays, 2.30pm to 4.30pm; Tuesdays to Thursdays 10am to 1.00pm and 2.30pm to 4.30pm. The Committee's membership is:

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe, Viscount Colville of Culross (Chairman), Baroness Fookes, Lord James of Blackheath, Lord Jones of Cheltenham, Lord Snape,
Lord Young of Norwood Green.

Crossrail appoints Independent Chair to head new compliance and assurance group, 22 February 2008

Mike Rayner has been appointed Independent Chair of Crossrail's new Compliance and Assurance Group (CAG), responsible for providing the railway engineering and operations functional assurance, including compliance with standards, of the central area design.

CAG, with nominated members for each discipline from Cross London Rail Links (CLRL), Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd and London Underground, will focus particularly on new and innovative or complex systems for this world-class, affordable railway. Interfaces will also be a key part of the Group's considerations.

Mike Rayner is founder of MWR Associates, an industry recognised provider of independent rail infrastructure systems review panels to multi-billion pound rail projects. He said: 'I am pleased to be a part of what will be the largest engineering project in Europe and am keen to get the Group established and receiving, scrutinising and approving submissions.'

Key early submissions to the CAG will include system safety plans and the menu of central area design documentation.

Crossrail invites bidders for Delivery Partner(s) and Design Consultant(s), 4 April 2008

Crossrail has published OJEU procurement notices inviting bids for its Delivery Partner (or Partners) and Design Framework contracts. Each OJEU is complemented by a pre-qualification information pack. TED is the public procurement database for the European Union which you can find by clicking here.

The delivery partner(s) will help Crossrail fulfil its obligations to safely deliver the overall programme to time, to the desired quality and within budget. A delivery partner is also being sought to assist the company with the delivery of the central tunnel section of the route. It is not envisaged that the delivery partner(s) will undertake engineering design or construction.

Commenting on the development, Douglas Oakervee OBE, Crossrail Executive Chairman, said: 'This marks another significant step forward for Crossrail as we prepare to move towards the construction phase of the project. The appointment of our delivery partner or partners will reinforce the existing Crossrail project team's professional programme, project and engineering management services.

'The appointment of design consultants will help the project to maintain its flexibility of approach to a complex and challenging design. We are expecting a great deal of interest in the both these contracts and envisage a very strong calibre of bidders.'

Anyone interested in further details should contact Alistair Booth, Crossrail Procurement Manager, 020 3023 9504, or email Contract2072@crossrail.co.uk (Delivery Partner(s)), or Contract2073@crossrail.co.uk (Design Services).

House of Lords Select Committee on the Crossrail Bill concludes petition hearings, 8 May 2008

The Committee has now concluded petition hearings. Their special report will be published later this month. Hard copies will be sent to all petitioners and the report will also be available on the Parliament website. Once the Committee has reported the Bill, the Bill will go through its remaining stages on the floor of the House of Lords before being returned to the House of Commons. This is the usual procedure for Hybrid Bills.

The Crossrail Bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 14 December 2007.

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For other developments since 2003, please refer to the download right.

If you would like further information about Crossrail in your language, please contact Crossrail supplying your name and postal address and please state the language or format that you require.

Crossrail would be pleased to answer any other questions you may have.

Helpdesk 0845 602 3813 (24 hours, 7 days a week)

Crossrail FREEPOST, NAT6945, London SW1H 0BR

E-mail: helpdesk@crossrail.co.uk website: www.crossrail.co.uk

This page last updated 7 April 2008