15.01.15
TfL appoints consulting groups to develop Crossrail 2 plans
Transport for London (TfL) has appointed four consulting groups to develop detailed plans for Crossrail 2.
Crossrail 2 will link ‘key growth areas’ in south-west and north-east London, and will also serve some destinations in Surrey and Hertfordshire using the existing national rail network. Initial proposals have been consulted on publicly and the Department for Transport is now consulting on safeguarding along the route.
TfL is taking this forward by further developing proposals for the new rail line and will be working with the consultants on their areas of expertise. Further public consultations will take place before an application for powers to build the new railway is submitted in 2017.
The consultants chosen formed part of TfL's Engineering and Project Management Framework (EPMF) and were selected following a competitive tendering process. Each set of consultants has been commissioned to offer specialised advice and will work closely with TfL to deliver these plans.
The winning bidders along with their project area are:
- 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.
Michèle Dix CBE, TfL's managing director for planning, who will soon be taking up the post of managing director of Crossrail 2, said: “The appointment of these four major consultancies is another important step in taking Crossrail 2 forward. 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.”
The new rail line would create additional capacity and quicker journeys, transporting up to 90,000 people in the morning peak, and relieve congestion across the existing rail network including at Waterloo by diverting services into a new tunnel under London.
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “There is now real momentum behind Crossrail 2 and a growing sense that we can get it off the drawing board. 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.”
Crossrail 2 is being developed jointly by TfL and Network Rail.
Tell us what you think – have your say below or email [email protected]