Cancelling Crossrail project 'would cost £1.6 billion'

Date: 20/11/2009

Government figures have outlined that the cost to cut the Crossrail project would exceed a billion pounds.

Liberal Democrat shadow transport secretary Norman Baker last week asked transport minister Sadiq Khan how much cutting the Crossrail project at the next General Election would cost.

Mr Khan responded that abandoning the £15.9 billion project would reportedly cost the taxpayer £1.6 billion in costs for land, consultancies and cancelled contracts.

“The costs associated with any cancellation would be substantial but would be contingent on a number of different factors, including contractual commitments and potential income from land no longer required,” said Mr Khan.

Crossrail and Transport for London are currently “working hard” to cut costs and secure funding for the East-West London and southeast line.