Crossrail 2 to tackle overcrowding

Date: 2/8/2013

The (LA) London Assembly has claimed that the Crossrail 2 development will boost the economy of the capital and help to tackle the overcrowding problem on the city's rail service, while making it more reliable.

According to the Assembly, the investment in increasing London's rail capacity could bring £49 billion to the capital and it has backed the project put forward by (TfL) Transport for London and Network Rail.

In its response to the consultation process, LA stated that the investment is needed to cope with the rapid growth of London's population, which is predicted to reach almost ten million by the year 2031.

Assembly Member Valerie Shawcross, who is also the Chair of the Transport Committee, said that the capital needs a transport network that can cope with the millions of extra people that will travel on London's trains and Tube network in the future.

"The cost-effective investment needed to construct Crossrail 2 will herald sustainable rewards, potentially boosting London’s economy by up to £49 billion, not to mention much-needed relief to passengers suffering on some of the UK’s most-crowded services."

She went on to note that the construction of Crossrail 2 could be the catalyst for London to reach its post-Olympics regeneration dream.

"Improving transport links to the Lea Valley alone could have the potential to boost London’ economy by £4 billion, showing what a world of difference this could make to disadvantaged parts of London. We must all get behind Crossrail 2 to ensure London has the transport it needs for its future growth," she concluded.

It is important that work begins, as recent figures have indicated that the predicted 2031 level of congestion on the Tube could actually be reached by 2020, which will put a great deal of pressure on the network.

Recent statistics from the (DfT) Department for Transport have shown that nine of the ten most overcrowded transport routes terminate in the capital, a problem that will be exacerbated in the near future.

Posted by Mary Treen

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