Good for passengers Crossrail will add 10% to London's public transport capacity and, apart from easing congestion and overcrowding, the City and West End will be made more accessible by links with Thameslink, Docklands Light Railway, National Rail and London Underground services.

What is Crossrail?

Crossrail is a new railway for London and the south east of England

Crossrail will connect the City, Canary Wharf, the West End and Heathrow Airport to commuter areas east and west of the capital.

It will be a world-class, affordable railway, with high frequency, convenient and accessible services across the capital

It will:

  • Relieve congestion on many Underground and rail lines
  • Provide new connections and new services
  • Bring new modern trains
  • provide eight new stations in central London

Crossrail is the vital transport spine required to underpin job growth in London. The new railway will add 10% to London's overall transport capacity and provide 40% of the extra rail capacity London needs.

It is a scheme of national significance and benefit which will see the largest addition to the London and south east transport network in the last 50 years.

Main construction of the railway will begin in 2010, with services commencing in 2017.

Further details are in the following pages:

Why we need Crossrail » Crossrail will connect central London City, Canary Wharf, the West End and Heathrow Airport to areas east and west of the capital. It will bring 1.5 million people within a 60-minute commute of the city. Crossrail will be a high frequency affordable railway, with convenient and accessible services across the capital. Benefits of Crossrail » Crossrail will not only provide London and the South East with a world-class, high capacity affordable railway, it will ease congestion on London's public transtport system, provide better access to the capital and also generate significant employment opportunities.

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