UK Inquiry Tracker

Crossrail: A progress update

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 9 Jun 2021 Closed: 16 Nov 2021 Parliament page

Crossrail is a large, complex programme to run a new direct rail line across London, known as the Elizabeth line and part of Transport for London’s rail and underground network. The Elizabeth line is now in its final stages. It became clear in 2018 that the original schedule and cost … Read more

6 Recommendations

18 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Oral session

3 Letters

1 Event

Activity timeline 6 events

21 Jan
2022

Report published

Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Twenty Fourth report from Session 2021-22

29 Oct
2021

Report published

Twenty-Fourth - Crossrail: A progress update

10 Sep
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Bernadette Kelly CB, Permanent Secretary, Transport for London, re Crossrail: A progress update, dated 4 August 2021

20 Jul
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Bernadette Kelly CB, Permanent Secretary and Andy Byford Commissioner, TfL, re Crossrail Update, 14 July 2021

19 Jul
2021

Oral evidence

Crossrail: A progress update

29 Jun
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Mark Wild, CEO, Crossrail Ltd, re Crossrail progress update: Spring 2021, dated 22 June 2021,

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

19 Jul 2021

View on parliament.uk

Crossrail: A progress update

Andy Byford · Transport for London Bernadette Kelly CB · Department for Transport Mark Wild · HS2 Ltd Matt Lodge · Department for Transport

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Twenty-Fourth - Crossrail: A progress update	HC 184	29 Oct 2021	24	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

10 results

2 Recommendation Not Addressed

Twenty-Fourth - Crossrail: A progr…

The collapse in passenger numbers owing to the pandemic, and subsequent bailout to TfL, has...

The collapse in passenger numbers owing to the pandemic, and subsequent bailout to TfL, has complicated how and when TfL and the Greater London Authority will be able to repay the taxpayer loans for Crossrail. To date, the taxpayer has … Read more The collapse in passenger numbers owing to the pandemic, and subsequent bailout to TfL, has complicated how and when TfL and the Greater London Authority will be able to repay the taxpayer loans for Crossrail. To date, the taxpayer has provided nearly £2.9 billion in loans to TfL and the Greater London Authority (GLA) to fund Crossrail Ltd’s costs on the programme: £750 million to TfL in December 2018; £1,300 million to the GLA in December 2018; and an additional £825 million to the GLA in December 2020. However, this funding may still not be enough, with Crossrail Ltd’s middle estimate cost of the programme in July 2021 (£15,940) coming in £150 million above its current available funding, thus potentially creating a shortfall. The Department expects the £750 million loan to TfL for Crossrail to be financed and repaid from TfL’s own revenues. This loan is separate from over £4 billion of loans from government to support TfL during COVID. Fare revenue is critical to TfL’s finances. Prior to the pandemic, TfL said it received 72% of its income from fares however passenger numbers were plateauing before the pandemic, and have since collapsed. There may be long-term changes to travel patterns, with TfL estimating an 18% drop in demand for rail by 2031 compared with what was expected before the pandemic. Government lending to TfL during the pandemic includes a target to become financially self-sufficient within two years, meaning TfL must identify new revenue streams. The GLA loans are expected to be paid back via London’s Business Rate Supplement (BRS) and Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy (MCIL), with the Commissioner telling us it could take up to 2043 for full repayment. 6 Crossrail: A progress update Recommendation: The Department and TfL should write to the Committee by the end of November setting out TfL’s revenue forecast scenarios, and what they mean for whether the loans for Crossrail will be fully repaid and when. Show less

Government Response

The government agrees with the committee's general conclusion but does not commit to providing TfL’s revenue forecast scenarios or their implications for Crossrail loan repayment by the requested deadline. Instead, it describes its general value for money assessment processes and commitments for future letters.

HM Treasury

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3 Recommendation Not Addressed

Twenty-Fourth - Crossrail: A progr…

It is not clear to passengers and businesses when the Elizabeth line will open or...

It is not clear to passengers and businesses when the Elizabeth line will open or what services will be available. The Elizabeth line services will open in stages. Services have been running on the eastern and western ends of the … Read more

Government Response

The government's response discusses managing supplier performance, financial and programme risk, and contract mechanisms, which does not address the recommendation for a clear public communication strategy regarding Elizabeth Line service openings.

HM Treasury

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4 Recommendation Not Addressed

Twenty-Fourth - Crossrail: A progr…

We are concerned that TfL and the Department do not have a plan to maximise...

We are concerned that TfL and the Department do not have a plan to maximise the long-term, wider economic benefits of Crossrail. When open, the Elizabeth line should increase capacity in central London by around 10%, reduce journey times, improve … Read more

Government Response

The government's response discusses the Ministry of Defence's track record on delivering savings and improving programme delivery, failing entirely to address the recommendation for TfL and the Department to publish a plan for maximising Crossrail's long-term economic benefits.

HM Treasury

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1 Conclusion Not Addressed

Twenty-Fourth - Crossrail: A progr…

On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence...

On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Transport (the Department), Transport for London (TfL) and Crossrail Ltd on progress with the Crossrail programme.1

Government Response

The government response serves as an introduction to its overall response, providing background on the Crossrail project and the committee's report, rather than directly addressing the conclusion which merely states the committee took evidence.

HM Treasury

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6 Conclusion Not Addressed

Twenty-Fourth - Crossrail: A progr…

A significant software update is needed to begin Trial Operations, which will allow up to...

A significant software update is needed to begin Trial Operations, which will allow up to 24 trains an hour to run through the central section.10 Any unexpected issues with software may take time to fix and we have reported on … Read more

Government Response

The government response states agreement with the conclusion but then discusses defense spending and equipment plans, which does not address the conclusion regarding Crossrail software updates and trial operations.

HM Treasury

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8 Conclusion Not Addressed

Twenty-Fourth - Crossrail: A progr…

The estimated cost of Crossrail has increased by £1.9 billion since we last reported and...

The estimated cost of Crossrail has increased by £1.9 billion since we last reported and now stands at £18.9 billion.18 This excludes the £1.1 billion cost of the new trains and the depot at Old Oak Common which have historically … Read more

Government Response

The government's response lists unrelated reports on Greensill Capital and completely fails to address the committee's conclusion regarding Crossrail's cost increases.

HM Treasury

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10 Recommendation Not Addressed

Twenty-Fourth - Crossrail: A progr…

At May 2021, Crossrail Ltd estimated that its cost to complete the programme would be...

At May 2021, Crossrail Ltd estimated that its cost to complete the programme would be between £15,820 million and £16,008 million, with a middle value of £15,910 million. This was between £30 million and £218 million above the current funding … Read more

Government Response

The government's response provides an update on Crossrail's overall funding status, but it does not address the specific recommendation for Crossrail Ltd to end expensive Tier 1 contracts to control costs.

HM Treasury

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13 Conclusion Not Addressed

Twenty-Fourth - Crossrail: A progr…

TfL told us that it is over-reliant on income through the farebox which accounts for...

TfL told us that it is over-reliant on income through the farebox which accounts for 72% of TfL income. TfL compared this to New York City Transit which received 38% of its income from fares.37 It told us that COVID … Read more

Government Response

The government's response discusses updated Elizabeth line passenger forecasts and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ridership, but does not address the committee's conclusion about TfL's over-reliance on farebox income or the need to diversify revenue streams.

HM Treasury

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18 Conclusion Not Addressed

Twenty-Fourth - Crossrail: A progr…

The Department and TfL told us that, when the Elizabeth line opens, they expect it...

The Department and TfL told us that, when the Elizabeth line opens, they expect it to increase rail capacity in central London by around 10%, reduce journey times, and be fully accessible.50 These were the transport benefits set out in … Read more

Government Response

The government's response details its communications strategy regarding the Elizabeth line's opening dates and phases, but does not address the committee's observations about the expected transport and economic benefits.

HM Treasury

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19 Conclusion

Twenty-Fourth - Crossrail: A progr…

The Department and Crossrail Ltd told us about the benefits Crossrail has achieved during construction.

The Department and Crossrail Ltd told us about the benefits Crossrail has achieved during construction. Crossrail Ltd told us that Crossrail had “overreached” on its apprenticeship targets, achieving 1,000 apprenticeships. Many of the 1,000 were in civil engineering in the … Read more

HM Treasury

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Government Response AI assessment · 23 of 6 classified

Accepted 3

Acknowledged 11

Not Addressed 9

Total 6 recs + 18 conclusions

Correspondence 3 letters

10 Sep 2021 Correspondence from Bernadette Kelly CB, Permanent Secretary, Transport for London, re Crossrail: A progress update, dated 4 August 2021

Parliament page

20 Jul 2021 Correspondence from Bernadette Kelly CB, Permanent Secretary and Andy Byford Commissioner, TfL, re Crossrail Update, 14 July 2021

Parliament page

29 Jun 2021 Correspondence from Mark Wild, CEO, Crossrail Ltd, re Crossrail progress update: Spring 2021, dated 22 June 2021,

Parliament page