Thursday, October 04, 2007
Crossrail news
Crossrail, the biggest transport infrastructure project in the UK since the Channel tunnel rail link, is set to go ahead after the City agreed financial backing for the £16bn scheme. The City of London Corporation approved the final piece in a complex funding jigsaw at a crunch meeting yesterday. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Lib Dem MP Susan Kramer said it was great news that at long last Crossrail looked set to get the go-ahead. [Guardian]
Commenting on the local implications, Cllr.John Beanse, (Hale End & Highams Park ward, Waltham Forest & Chair of Chingford & Woodford Green Liberal Democrats), said:
"When the idea of Crossrail was first suggested, we were actually sold the idea on the basis of having a direct train link from CHINGFORD, through a new tunnel from Liverpool Street to Paddington and beyond.
The scheme has since changed, so that it would now be trains coming on the lines from Essex through Stratford that would have the direct service. This is a regrettable alteration as far as residents of Waltham Forest are concerned. It is also striking that not even the trains from Stansted will go through the tunnel! So much for integrated public transport!
Nevertheless the news is welcome because Crossrail would certainly improve transport in London. It's just a pity that passengers on the Chingford line will have to change trains at Liverpool Street in order to use it - not what we were led to believe originally.
When we add in the lack of progress on the proposed relaying and re-opening of the HALL FARM CURVE beyond St.James St. to provide an extra service from Chingford and Walthamstow to STRATFORD, it is clear that the residents of Waltham Forest are being short-changed where public transport is concerned."
Commenting on the local implications, Cllr.John Beanse, (Hale End & Highams Park ward, Waltham Forest & Chair of Chingford & Woodford Green Liberal Democrats), said:
"When the idea of Crossrail was first suggested, we were actually sold the idea on the basis of having a direct train link from CHINGFORD, through a new tunnel from Liverpool Street to Paddington and beyond.
The scheme has since changed, so that it would now be trains coming on the lines from Essex through Stratford that would have the direct service. This is a regrettable alteration as far as residents of Waltham Forest are concerned. It is also striking that not even the trains from Stansted will go through the tunnel! So much for integrated public transport!
Nevertheless the news is welcome because Crossrail would certainly improve transport in London. It's just a pity that passengers on the Chingford line will have to change trains at Liverpool Street in order to use it - not what we were led to believe originally.
When we add in the lack of progress on the proposed relaying and re-opening of the HALL FARM CURVE beyond St.James St. to provide an extra service from Chingford and Walthamstow to STRATFORD, it is clear that the residents of Waltham Forest are being short-changed where public transport is concerned."
# posted by John Beanse @ 11:16 AM 
