I am delighted to announce that I have been appointed by the Mayor of London as a member of the new Crossrail 2 Growth Commission. By way of background, Crossrail 2 is a proposed major rail infrastructure project that would provide a high-frequency, high-capacity link in the Southeast, running through London, Surrey and Hertfordshire. The project, which is only in the very earliest stages of planning, would be completed by 2030, running 30 trains per hour and connecting more National Rail networks to the Underground, as well as freeing up additional train capacity in the Home Counties.
I feel very strongly that the project could prove to be a real game changer in London, and many of the country’s top business leaders have already come out in support of the plan. It’s estimated that 270,000 new peak time journeys would be created, as well as generating 200,000 jobs across London and the Southeast and unlocking up to 200,000 homes, making use of high density land around key transport hubs. It’s also vital for the economy, ensuring London continues to move forward as the global, competitive powerhouse it is. More details are available on the Crossrail 2 website:
There’s still a huge amount of work to be done before the project gets the go ahead, including finalising the route and sourcing the funding to construct it, tasks the Growth Commission will take a leading role in. Over the next year, we’ll be meeting on a regular basis to make sure every detail is thought through so that the project can fulfil its true potential, launching a public consultation in October and presenting the results next spring.
It’s a prestigious role and something I am very excited to be involved in. Some incredibly constructive discussions were had when the Commission met for the first time on Tuesday, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the project over the coming months.
The full list of those on the Commission can be found in the article below: