Crossrail bosses accused by MPs over 'letting down taxpayers' in two-year delay

Special report(wp/es):::

Crossrail bosses showed a “staggering” degree of over-optimism in believing they could open the crisis-hit train line on time, MPs said today.

The Public Accounts Committee said taxpayers had been let down by a two-year delay in opening the scheme, which has soared in cost by £2.8 billion to £17.6 billion.

It said the final cost “remains unknown” and that although the central section is due to open between October 2020 and March 2021, the full railway linking Reading and Heathrow to Shenfield and Abbey Wood “may not open until as late as 2022”.

The MPs said it was “staggering” that Crossrail chiefs continued to believe until last July that it could open in December 2018, despite masses of unfinished work. They said: “This over-optimism which was prevalent throughout has proved hugely damaging to the programme.”

The MPs also criticised the payment of £641,000 in bonuses to former chief executive Andrew Wolstenholme “even as the programme was going off track”.Their report revealed that Mayor Sadiq Khan, who oversaw the project with theDepartment for Transport, offered to “throw more money” at contractors to encourage them to hit the December opening date.

Committee chairwoman Meg Hillier said: “Unfortunately, delay and being over-budget now appear to be par for the course for major rail projects.” 

Crossrail’s new management team admit that numerous risks remain due to the reliance on a multitude of sub-contractors, problems integrating the trains and signalling software and the difficulty of finishing the stations while testing the trains.

There have been “three or four” safety incidents in the first three months of 2019, Crossrail chief executive Mark Wild said this week. Full testing of trains in central tunnels is not due to start until next year but the first Crossrail train between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington is expected to run tomorrow.

The Crossrail board is due to be told on August 15 whether the project is likely to blow its new £17.6 billion budget and require a further public bail-out.

In response to the report, a DfT spokesman said: “The department consistently challenged the leadership of Crossrail on the delivery of the project. When problems became clear, the department acted swiftly.”

A Crossrail spokesman said: “We are fully focused on completing the line and ensuring a safe and reliable passenger service as quickly as possible.”