Crossrail 2 steps forward with appointment of consultants to build business case

Transport for London this week kicked off the design and development for the ambitious Crossrail 2 project with the appointment of four consultancy design teams to make the case to fund the multibillion pound project.

Antony Oliver
15 January 2015

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The decision and the appointment of Michele Dix, TfL’s managing director for planning as full time project chief executive, underlines the critical position that Crossrail 2 plays in the capital’s future transport plans.

“There is now real momentum behind Crossrail 2 and a growing sense that we can get it off the drawing board,” said Boris Johnson, Mayor of London.

“The appointment of these four major consultancies is another important step in taking Crossrail 2 forward”. Michele Dix, TfL

“We're seeing strong recognition from the business community that this project could have major benefits for London, helping to boost rail capacity and the creation of new jobs and homes in the capital and beyond.”

The consulting groups chosen to develop the project are all part of TfL's Engineering and Project Management Framework (EPMF) and were selected following a competitive tendering process.

Each will provide specialised advice to help bring reality to the project.

The winning bidders and project areas:

• ARCADIS Hyder (in partnership with Weston Williamson, VINCI Construction, Interfleet and First Class Partnerships and Dr Sauer & Partners) - engineering/technical aspects;
• CH2MHILL / Atkins (CAST)- strategic modelling, route development; planning, appraisal and evaluation;
• MTEW (Mott MacDonald Ltd, Temple Group Ltd, ERM, and WSP Ltd) - environment and sustainability;
• AECOM, Weston Williamson, and Turkington Martin - town planning, economic development, socio-economic and urban design.

Dix, who was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours for her contribution to transport in the capital takes up her post as chief executive of the project on 8 February where she will work with Daniel Moylan, the Mayor's advisor on the project.

“The appointment of these four major consultancies is another important step in taking Crossrail 2 forward,” said Dix. “They will work with us to help make the case for Crossrail 2 and prepare more detailed proposals for public consultation later in the summer.”

“As Crossrail 1 has shown, we have world class capability when it comes to planning and delivering this sort of project. We need Crossrail 2, we have the skill to build it, now we need to get on with it.” Baroness Jo Valentine, chief executive, London First.

Crossrail 2 is being developed jointly by TfL and Network Rail. The service will link key growth areas in south-west and north east London and serve destinations in Surrey and Hertfordshire using the existing National Rail network. 

Initial proposals have been consulted on publicly and the Department for Transport is currently consulting on safeguarding along the route.

The project should add 10% to the capital’s rail capacity, transporting up to 90,000 people in the morning peak and unlocking large areas of outer London and beyond, including the Upper Lea Valley, for sustainable new homes, supporting up to 200,000 new homes along the route.

The project was also given a boost this week by winning the 'Investing in London's future' category at the annual London First awards ceremony, recognise by the business community for its potential to help London grow and remain globally competitive and to drive growth across the national economy.

Baroness Jo Valentine, London First chief executive added: “Crossrail 2 will be a game changer that will bring huge benefits to London, the south east and the UK. It will provide new homes and jobs across the region, and improve the quality of life for people travelling in and around London.”

“As Crossrail 1 has shown, we have world class capability when it comes to planning and delivering this sort of project,” she added. “We need Crossrail 2, we have the skill to build it, now we need to get on with it.”