Coronavirus to delay Crossrail even further
The already-tardy Elizabeth line project in London suffered a further delay on Tuesday, as Transport for London confirmed that all work on the Crossrail project would be stopped for the foreseeable future as a result of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
It confirmed that all works would be suspended unless needed “for operational safety reasons”, and added that essential maintenance works to keep the reduced Underground service running would also be carried out.
“The Government and the Mayor have given clear instructions to stay safe and to stop travelling in all cases other than critical workers making absolutely essential journeys,” the local government body said in its statement.
“In line with this, TfL and Crossrail will be bringing all project sites to a temporary safe stop unless they need to continue for operational safety reasons.
“This means that work on all such projects will be temporarily suspended as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Crossrail was already severely delayed, having been pushed back several times, with the most recent estimated opening being in late 2021.
It is set to deliver the Elizabeth line service, which will run from Reading and Heathrow Airport in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, via a new series of underground tunnels through central London.