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Lords approve Canary Wharf to Heathrow rail link

Lords approve Canary Wharf to Heathrow rail link A £16 billion railway link joining Canary Wharf in east London with Heathrow Airport has been approved by the House of Lords.

Bloomberg reports that the proposal, which has been mooted for over 18 years, was given the seal of approval by Parliament's upper chamber without a vote.

Now the House of Commons must give final approval to the initiative which would involve tunnelling under London as part of work to commence during 2010.

Labour, the Conservatives, and the Liberal Democrats all support the plans which will be the UK's biggest transport infrastructure project since the Channel Tunnel.

The line will establish a new connection between central London and Canary Wharf as well as improving links to Heathrow Airport.

Around 14 miles of tunnelling is required under London and it is hoped that the work will ease the strain currently being felt on train networks in the capital once it is finished.

Labour pushed forward the Crossrail plans during the 2005 election and the scheme has since received various amendments following a series of objections.

Baron Bassam of Brighton, Labour's transport spokesman in the upper chamber of Parliament, described the plan as "one of the most exciting engineering and railway projects this country has on the stocks".

Conservative peer, John Attlee said in Parliament that "we on these benches have always supported the Crossrail project in principle".

However, he cautioned that "funding has always been a major worry. We are concerned about the cost of the Government's delay".

The Government has pledged to fund the project alongside the City of London Corporation but London Mayor, Boris Johnson has also expressed concern regarding funding available.


Airport News posted on 23 July 2008

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