1-Sep-2018

On time & on budget ?

Chris Grayling ...

We’re nearly at the end of the £15 billion Crossrail project – on time and on budget.
It’s been the largest construction project in Europe.
Yet next year that title will be inherited by another UK project: HS2.

(Investment in Transport, Nov 2016)

I simply remind the House that it is incredible, inconceivable and simply nonsense to suggest that HS2 will cost five times the amount of HS1 per mile. This project has a total cost attached of £55.7 billion. It is currently on time and on budget, and I expect it to stay that way. In this country we have experience of major projects, such as Crossrail and the Olympics, and we have been pretty good at delivering on time and on budget. I am sure that we will carry on doing so.

(Hansard, July 2017)

Crossrail

... cost pressures have increased across the project. Both the department and TfL remain committed to the successful delivery of this project and have agreed an overall funding envelope for delivery of the project of £15.4 billion. ...

The additional funding is being provided to both Crossrail Limited and Network Rail. £300 million is being made available to Crossrail Limited, with the Department for Transport and TfL contributing £150 million each.

Around £290 million is being provided for completion of the programme of works on the national rail network, and is being funded by the Department for Transport and Network Rail.

Jo Johnson, July 2018

The Elizabeth line was due to start taking passengers this December.But the opening through central London has now been pushed back to “autumn 2019”.

The Enquirer has reported repeatedly about Crosssrail’s problems during the crucial fit out phase. Project chiefs repeated the mantra constantly that the job was “on time and on budget”. It is now £590m over budgetand nine months late.

Construction Enquirer, Aug 2018

Any similarity between Crossrail and HS2 is of course entirely imaginary;
HS2 management are far better paid.