British PM Gordon Brown Gives Go-Ahead to CrossrailA project to build a GBP16 billion railway across central London was finally approved on 5th October, 2007 by British Prime minister Gordon Brown. First mooted in the 1980s, the 117.5 km link will run from Maidenhead in Berkshire through the City and Canary Wharf to Shenfield in Essex. There will be two 22.5 km tunnels beneath central London and spur lines to Heathrow Airport and southeast London.Connecting to the National Rail, Crossrail will offer a suburban rail system through central London without ending at the various termini, reducing the number of transfers needed. Currently, many train routes terminate at different train stations throughout the city. Depending on the destination, some passengers need to take several metro lines to make a connection between two suburban trains. A new rail tunnel will link the western and eastern rail lines to one central line through London. Stops in central London include: Liverpool Street, Farringdon, Tottenham Court Road, Bond Street and Paddington. Unlike the London Underground, the diameter of the tunnels will be 6 m, compared to 3.4 m. The larger tunnels will allow normal heavy rail vehicles to enter the tunnel and will increase the capacity drastically. Once built, it will relieve traffic off the century old metro system that uses short and narrow trains to transport its 3.4 million passengers. Crossrail will also use overhead wires instead of a third rail. In order to dodge the web of underground lines, Crossrail will have to dig deep below the surface to avoid any conflicts with the current tunnels. Crossrail will run 24 trains per hour per direction in the tunnel at peak hours (one train every 2.5 minutes). 78,000 passengers per hour will be able to travel in the tunnel under central London. Platforms will measure up to 400 metres long, meaning that two ticket halls will be needed at each station. The Crossrail route parallels portions of the Central, Circle, and Hammersmith & City lines.Analysts predict it will create 30,000 jobs and inject GBP20 billion a year into the economy as well as easing traffic congestion and overcrowding on the London Underground and trains. MPs from across the political divide and business and tourism leaders also welcomed the decision, declaring Crossrail was vital to maintain London's growth. Several hurdles still need to be cleared. Crossrail remains subject to the passage of a Bill, now proceeding through Parliament, and is likely to receive Royal Assent by summer of 2008. This will enable detailed design and essential enabling works then to move forward, with full construction under way from 2010 and services commencing in 2017.FinancingThe City of London Corporation has met a funding gap holding back the project after voting to support a financial contribution to the project, which had stalled over a cash shortage of up to GBP400 million. The corporation's vote follows the government's signal it would provide cash, believed to cover a third of the overall costs for Crossrail. The rest of the money would be made up from borrowing against future fares income, and a levy on London business rates. Click here to see a route map. Click uk/40. Read E-News Weekly 47/2006, 14/2006, 15/2005, 9/2005, 44/2004, 34/2004, 14/2004, 45/2003, 38/2003, 26/2003, 9/2003, 13/2002 & 12/2002. Visit www.crossrail.co.uk 42/07. Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, Prime minister Gordon Brown, and Crossrail Executive Chairman Douglas Oakervee (from left to right) look at a model of the Crossrail Bond Street station