Crossrail is at major risk of having its opening delayed by even
longer than already feared and requiring even more public money, it
emerged today.

The crisis-hit line has already soared £2.8bn in cost to £17.6bn and
its opening is due between October 2020 and March 2021, the original
December 2018 date having been abandoned a year ago.

A series of high-level warnings by Crossrail’s independent watchdog,
the engineering firm Jacobs, were due to be made public by Transport
for London today.

It is understood that these will reveal that the project faces
additional “cost pressures and scheduling pressures” that make opening
it within the promised six-month window and expanded budget even more
challenging.

They will raise concerns that the opening schedule remains “too
optimistic” - though it is not thought that Jacobs calls for the date
to be delayed further.

Jacobs is understood to fear that a “number of longer-term risks may
not be receiving the focus necessary to ensure that the schedule and
cost are delivered in line with expectations”.

A “persistent trend” in rising costs, low productivity levels, missed
targets, and a lack of “robust” risk analysis are highlighted.
Concerns about the new signalling and the new £1bn fleet of trains
remain. One part of the scheme has been given a “red” rating.

Mayor Sadiq Khan strengthened the scrutiny powers of Jacobs to reveal
problems with Crossrail and increase the project’s transparency. The
alerts relate to Jacobs analysis throughout April and May.

.... continues in:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/crossrail-at-risk-of-being-delayed-even-further-a4188451.html