Crossrail 2 could be revived to address overcrowding problems on the capital’s transport network post 2017, Michelle Dix, Transport for London’s managing director for planning, hinted this week.
Mrs Dix told the London Assembly transport committee that Crossrail 2, also known as the Chelsea-Hackney line, was ‘worthy of consideration’ for the mayor’s transport strategy.
Mayor Boris Johnson admitted in his transport strategy statement of intent last week that additional infrastructure to Crossrail was required beyond 2017, despite recently scrapping £3.7bn of planned schemes, including Crossrail 2.
But, despite the mayor’s U-turn and Mrs Dix’s apparent enthusiasm for the Chelsea-Hackney line, no specific proposals had been progressed for the capital’s longer-term transport needs, according to Kulveer Ranger, the mayor’s director of transport policy. ‘We’re trying to find the questions before finding a solution,’ he said.
Ranger added there were no plans for modal shift targets, but insisted there would be a ‘better focus on how to get more people walking’ in the transport strategy, which will be published by October.
He also said the focus would be on improving ‘mini-radial’ transport corridors in outer London hubs, rather than orbital routes, and ‘mass transit solutions were not the answer’.
Cllr Daniel Moylan, deputy chairman of TfL, said the mayor was willing to look at other road user-charging options, but repeated: ‘There are no specific proposals.’ He dismissed committee member Jenny Jones’ claim that the mayor was ‘confused’ in opposing restrictive transport measures yet supporting RUC. He said Waterloo was potentially the first station location for the capital’s bike hire scheme, following talks with Network Rail.
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