黑洞社区

Transport for London has put all new projects on hold, as the body fights a battle to save its 拢300m planned rebuild of Bond Street station, a key part of the 拢15.9bn Crossrail project. TfL commissioner Peter Hendy wrote to staff on 15 July saying all 鈥渘ew projects鈥� would be put on hold until 鈥渁t least鈥� the finalisation of TfL鈥檚 budget following the autumn Comprehensive Spending Review.

The letter, obtained by 黑洞社区, also says that all existing projects and programmes will be put under review and 鈥渨here practicable paused until the funding position is clear鈥�.

The move comes as decisions on funding for a number of projects are still to be made, including the 拢300m revamp of Bond Street. TfL had planned to invest 拢1.8bn on tube, road and rail improvements in 2010.

However, a senior source close to the project said TfL was working desperately to save the station upgrade. The source said it was working up estimates of the costs of stopping, delaying or continuing both Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road projects, to enable it to persuade the Department for Transport (DfT) to allow the projects to go ahead.

The source said: 鈥淏ond Street is really under the cosh. But TfL is a long way through the design process on it so they鈥檙e asking what are the costs of stopping it immediately, or what the options are for slowing the process down.鈥�

The revamp of Bond Street would create a link with the planned Crossrail station there, and help to deal with increasing passenger numbers resulting from the Jubilee line upgrade.

TfL said that, despite the Hendy letter, a decision between three shortlisted contractors for Bond Street would still be taken this summer as planned. The three consortiums are: a Taylor Woodrow/Bam Nuttall joint venture, a Laing O鈥橰ourke/ Batchy Soletanche/ Costain joint venture, and Balfour Beatty.

Last week, transport secretary Philip Hammond admitted he was considering 鈥渃ontingency options鈥� to reduce costs on Crossrail, which sources suggested included looking at whether Bond Street station was required.

It is seen as very unlikely that Tottenham Court Road will be cut, not least because contractors BAM Nuttall and Taylor Woodrow are already on the ground on the 拢500m job.

Sources said that TfL management were determined to find efficiencies to stave off drastic programme cuts, but that the 拢695m Victoria station upgrade could also be delayed.

TfL said that both Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street would be built 鈥渁s planned鈥�. It said: 鈥淭fL has a relentless focus on securing more efficiencies, and providing further clear value for money. As part of that, we have implemented these additional controls over expenditure.

鈥淚nvestment in vital transport improvements and services, such as the Tube upgrades, Crossrail and the bus service, continues.鈥�

Hendy鈥檚 letter