Hi folks,

Nobody appears to have picked up on this Press Release on the DfT site
that was posted on Friday:

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056 01 May 2009

NEW CROSSRAIL ROUTE SAFEGUARDED

The Government today safeguarded a potential Crossrail route from
Maidenhead to Reading.

Whilst there is no current commitment to extend Crossrail out to
Reading, safeguarding provides additional protection against future
developments on the route.

Transport Minister Andrew Adonis said:

“Our current priority is to get on with the delivery of the Crossrail
Project as it is currently planned, but safeguarding would provide
additional protection against developments impacting on future
operational requirements.

"Safeguarding will also allow the line to be electrified in the future
and for Crossrail to be extended if a case can be made to do so.”


Notes for editors

1.The Department for Transport (DfT) has issued Safeguarding Directions
to protect a potential extension of Crossrail from Maidenhead Station to
Reading West Junction. This follows a consultation on the draft
Directions which closed on 25 July 2008.

2.The aim is to ensure that developments along this rail corridor do not
impact on the ability to extend Crossrail in the future. Crossrail Ltd
(CRL), a wholly owned subsidiary of TfL, has responsibility for
delivering the Crossrail scheme and is responsible for safeguarding this
corridor.

3.The Safeguarding Direction has been issued to Local Planning
Authorities (LPAs) by the Secretary of State. The LPAs are required to
consult CRL when determining planning applications for land within the
limits shown on the safeguarding plans attached to the direction.

4.The Crossrail project currently terminates at Maidenhead. No decision
or commitment to extend it further west to Reading has been made.
However, DfT believes it sensible to safeguard this corridor for a
potential extension of Crossrail to Reading. Safeguarding will also
allow us to carry out alternative works, such as electrification, that
could enable future operational requirements to be met.

5.Crossrail will run 118 km from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west,
through new twin-bore 21 km tunnels under central London to Shenfield
and Abbey Wood in the east. It will bring an additional 1.5 million
people within 60 minutes commuting distance of London's key business
districts. When Crossrail opens in 2017 it will increase London's public
transport network capacity by 10 per cent, supporting regeneration
across the capital, helping to secure London's position as a world
leading financial centre, and cutting journey times across the city.
Preparatory works will continue throughout 2009 and main Crossrail
construction starts in 2010.


Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk

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Original URL:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=400344&NewsAreaID=2

Cheers,

Barry