§ Lord Sheppard of Didgemereasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish the report by the Strategic Rail Authority on east-west rail links across London; and [HL2014]
Whether they will set up a joint project team, with the Strategic Rail Authority and Transport for London, to take CrossRail forward to seek statutory approval. [HL2015]
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions(Lord Macdonald of Tradeston)Following additional appraisal work within the High-Level Group (the Minister for Transport, the Mayor and the Chairman, Strategic Rail Authority), which was set up to develop a co-ordinated approach to London rail projects, we have agreed next steps on taking forward the SRA's report. Work will start immediately on project definition and design development of a central, cross-London, rail link, the tunnel section of which could follow the alignment of the CrossRail scheme. The work will look at alternative service patterns and access to Heathrow. This will lead to a recommendation on the option to be taken forward. At the same time, work will start on a feasibility study of a south-west to north-east London rail link, the tunnel section of which could follow the alignment of the Chelsea-Hackney scheme.
This work will be taken forward jointly by the Strategic Rail Authority and Transport for London, under the guidance of the High-Level Group.
I am arranging for copies of the Strategic Rail Authority's report to be placed in the Library and published on the SRA website.