黑洞社区

Crossrail chief executive Mark Wild has again raised concerns about the growing risks on the project which is already two years late and 拢2bn over budget.

Wild, who will have been in the post a year next month, repeated earlier warnings that the project was now in its 鈥渕ost difficult and challenging phase鈥�.

He said the job was 鈥渋n an intensive phase of testing which can flag up any bugs or defects with systems鈥�.

Earlier this week, 黑洞社区 reported the job was increasingly at risk of missing its target to start trial running trains through the key central section of the route next February.

Wild added: 鈥淸We] still expect to begin the trial running phase in early 2020, although there are still risks that this could be delayed if they are not mitigated.鈥�

He also said potential software problems would put the opening window, scheduled for between October next year and March 2021, at 鈥渋ncreased risk鈥�.

But Wild said that while 鈥減ressures remain [鈥�] interventions are in place to improve productivity鈥� and that the Crossrail team had been 鈥渨orking tirelessly鈥� to make sure milestones could be met.

His comments came in his latest monthly update to London Assembly transport committee chair Florence Eshalomi and echo those made by Crossrail chair Tony Meggs at last month鈥檚 meeting of the Transport for London board.

Wild also said costs on the central section of the scheme were coming in at 拢42m over budget and repeated previous warnings the job could need as much as 拢400m to finish it off.