Latest Crossrail update report released as costs rise

A new report out today highlights ongoing cost risks to Crossrail.

The report from the National Audit Office takes a wide-ranging look at progress since their last report in May 2019.

The headline figure is that cost increases above agreed levels which puts funding in a tight squeeze from mid-2022.

Courtesy Crossrail. Abbey Wood station

By then, the section from Abbey Wood to Paddington should be operating with opening dates for that section unchanged since last year.

The sections where Crossrail meets lines to Shenfield in the east and Heathrow / Reading in the west is where problems arise as additional funding may be needed.

Cost increase

The report notes issues around the pandemic, though this was far from the biggest cause of cost increases:

“Crossrail Ltd estimated it paused construction activity for nine weeks from 24 March 2020, following the announcement of the first national lockdown.

It estimates that £228 million (15%) of the £1,510 million increase in Crossrail Ltd’s costs since April 2019 is a direct result of social distancing and other COVID-19 factors”.

Abbey Wood

Despite fewer staff, targets are more likely to be met:

“In August 2020, Crossrail Ltd reported around 2,000 people on work sites, less than 50% of the pre-COVID-19 complement.

Contractors met around 90% of milestones on average between September 2020 and April 2021, compared with pre-COVID-19 where around 30% of milestones were met”.

Knowledge

The report states an over ambitious view from management, and complexity of the program due to a number of factors:

“The work to bring the railway into service was made more complex by the high number of contracts, bespoke designs and a lack of standardisation throughout the programme, as well as needing to integrate three different signalling systems with trains”.

As the first fully digital UK railway, Crossrail’s management did not fully understand risks.

Convoluted management

The NAO also highlight legal necessities that can cause problems:

“As the central section approaches the start of passenger services, responsibility for completing, maintaining and operating the Elizabeth line is shared between Crossrail Ltd, London Underground, the newly created RfLi, Network Rail, RfL and MTREL. While Crossrail Ltd, London
Underground, RfLi and RfL are all part of TfL, they are legally required to be separate management units with specific responsibilities.

Network Rail and the Department, working with TfL, are responsible for integrating Elizabeth line services into the national rail network. We often see programmes have problems when roles and responsibilities change, and when they are shared between different bodies”.

Trial running

One major milestone this spring was the commencement of trial running. The report notes this was on target generally though “is six weeks behind the ‘best case’ target date, but is still within the range of dates as set out in the revised August 2020 schedule.”

A software update needed for trial operations – which succeeds trial running and includes volunteers on trains, is running late:

“In addition, an important software update to the train signalling and control systems, which is necessary to start the next phase of operational testing, trial operations, is likely to be delayed by between three and eight weeks.”.

Station handover

Stations continue to be handed over to TfL from contractors, with Woolwich passing over to TfL in recent weeks and Liverpool Street this week.

Running in the east to Liverpool Street

Some vast increases at certain stations are covered in the report. Whitechapel costs increased from £110m to £831m. Paddington from £147m to £649m.

While central Government and TfL have traded blows over delays, the project was a joint scheme for most of the past decade. As the report states: “The Department for Transport (the Department) and TfL have jointly sponsored (the sponsors), overseen and funded the Crossrail programme.9 The sponsors set up Crossrail Ltd to deliver the programme”.

The vast majority of delays and cost overruns occurred under joint control. It was only in October 2020 that TfL took over greater control of Crossrail.

 

------------------

Adverts are far from enough to cover site costs and my rent.

You can support me via Paypal here

Another option is via Patreon by clicking here

You can also buy me a beer/coffee at Ko-fi here

There's also a Facebook page for the site here

Many thanks

J Smith

I've lived in south east London most of my life growing up in Greenwich borough and working in the area for many years. The site has contributors on occasion and we cover many different topics. Living and working in the area offers an insight into what is happening locally.

One thought on “Latest Crossrail update report released as costs rise

  • It would be good to see the Elizabeth Line Woolwich and Abbey Wood stations finally open in 2022. I hope the opening date will not have to be put back any further due to needing more funding to finish the project on other sections of the line.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.