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Crossrail success 'still at risk'

SENIOR MPs warned yesterday that the success of the multibillion-pound Crossrail project remains at risk.

The new London line is supposed to be complete by 2019 but public accounts committee MPs said that was being jeopardised by risks in the “transition from building the railway to operating it and delivering the Crossrail trains.”

They also raised questions about how the government compares different transport projects when making its investment decisions.

Department for Transport officials don’t even fully realise the effects of the £15.8 billion project on the capital, MPs said.

This meant the department had mixed success in securing the contributions it had negotiated with businesses. For example Heathrow Airport is only chipping in £70 million — a third of its original pledge.

MPs also questioned the way officials weigh the merits of different transport projects and said the full rationale for proceeding with Crossrail was not made clear.

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