Cross-London rail plans unveiled

OPTIONS for the route of a £4bn cross-London main line rail scheme were put forward today. Crossrail, the first phase of which could be completed in 2011, is set to improve transport links and cut congestion in London.

Today the Crossrail company listed its route options based on phase one of the project, which will link Heathrow airport in the west with Stratford in east London.

West of London, the options include lines to Reading, Berkshire; Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and Watford Junction, Hertfordshire,

To the east, options include lines to Shenfield, Essex, and to Ebbsfleet, Kent, where a new station serving the Channel Tunnel high-speed rail link is being built.

Crossrail was first mooted in the early 1990s but then shelved. It has now been revived although the Strategic Rail Authority, in its recent strategy plan, did not include Crossrail in its list of projects expected to start before 2010.

However, supporters of the project are hopeful that work will start in 2007 on a project for which the Government has allocated a budget of £154m for feasibility work.

Crossrail is a joint venture company formed by Transport for London (TfL) and the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). Crossrail chairman Sir Christopher Benson said today: 'We have now embarked on a further period of examination to develop the business case for Crossrail line 1. The significant progress made to reach this stage in such a short period of time is a tribute to the hard work, determination and expertise of the Crossrail team.'

A preferred route will be announced late this year and a final scheme selected at the end of the year.