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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.

Between 1988 and 2007, London grew by nearly 800,000 people, and 220,500 jobs were created. The current population stands at 7.6 million. It is projected to grow to 8.2 million by 2016, and 8.7 million by 2026. Over 636,000 new jobs are projected by 2016 and 900,000 by 2025. Population growth will be dispersed across the capital, although with a marked rise in new housing in north and east London

Improving accessibility to employment is London's fundamental infrastructure challenge as:.

  • The demand for public transport outstrips capacity as National Rail and London Underground crowding have become extensive
  • The underground suffers overcrowding on routes towards the City and Isle of Dogs and around key rail interchanges such as Victoria
  • The current population of 7.6 million is projected to grow to 8.2 million by 2016, and 8.7 million by 2026 By 2025, over 850,000 people will commute to Greater London every day - an increase of 100,000 people compared with present figures
  • Population growth will be dispersed across the capital, although with a marked rise in new housing in north and east LondonOver 636,000 new jobs are projected by 2016 and 900,000 by 2025

Employment growth is expected to remain concentrated in central London with close to 30 per cent of London's workforce is concentrated in just 2 per cent of its geographical area. This is the 'central activity zone', covering broadly the West End, the City and Canary Wharf. Fostering growth of the central activity zone will offer significant benefits for the economy as a whole.

There is already congestion on rail and underground lines in London. This demand will increase. It is projected that by 2025, over 850,000 people will commute to Greater London every day - an increase of 100,000 people compared with present figures.

Transport for London predicts the potential for morning peak travel to increase by 27 per cent between 2006 and 2025 in terms of passenger kilometres travelled, depending on the level of capacity provided.

The total number of journeys made per day (by all transport modes) could increase by 4 million over the same period.

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