黑洞社区

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has suggested Crossrail executives either misled him or failed to anticipate delays and further cost overruns.

In a letter to the National Audit Office (NAO), seen by 黑洞社区, Khan said he believed a 拢300m sum handed over to Crossrail in July would ensure the Elizabeth line was opened in December 2018 as planned.

Khan said: 鈥淸The Department for Transport and I] received repeated assurances from the chair and senior Crossrail Ltd executives that [鈥�] additional funding would ensure the opening of the railway on time鈥�.

鈥淲hile I agreed 拢300m additional funding with the government on that basis, we now know that the scale of the issues faced was in fact much greater鈥�.

In August Crossrail announced it was running at least nine months behind schedule, while last month the it was given another 拢300m of funding 鈥� along with a 拢350m loan.

Khan goes on to state: 鈥淚 continue to have significant concerns over transparency on the project and the effectiveness of Crossrail鈥檚 governance, strategic risk management, commercial arrangements and assurance regime.鈥�

He adds that both Transport for London and the Department for Transport, who co-sponsor Crossrail, strengthened their representation on Crossrail鈥檚 board in July.

Khan鈥檚 letter follows a call by the head of the Public Accounts Committee, Labour MP Meg Hillier, for an inquiry led by the NAO into the source of Crossrail鈥檚 delays and cost overruns.

The NAO has yet to formally decide on whether it will look into Crossrail 鈥� although it is widely expected to announce an investigation in the coming week. Khan said he has instructed Transport for London to assist with a NAO inquiry.

An investigation into Crossrail by auditor KMPG, comissioned by Khan, is also due to report its findings in coming months.