In the midst of austerity, Britain may nonetheless be in danger of trundling its way into a golden age of railway building.
With Crossrail 1 due to open at the end of 2018, yesterday saw a ringing endorsement of Crossrail 2 by Lord Adonis, head of the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC). The line, which would link north and south London, is so crucial, according to Lord Adonis, that funding should be released immediately so that the project can be on track for completion by 2033. Since the line’s route would take it through the area around St Pancras and Euston stations, it would provide connectivity to both the existing HS1 and the proposed HS2 lines: construction on the latter is due to begin next year.
There can be little doubt that there is an overriding imperative to push ahead with Crossrail 2 as speedily as possible. London is expanding; the population is predicted to reach 10 million and more by the early 2030s. The capital’s transport network, already creaking, will simply not have the capacity to deal with an ever-growing number of travellers. Only infrastructure projects of real scale and ambition can provide the necessary relief.
It is anticipated that Crossrail 2 would create up to 200,000 jobs. The NIC argues it also provides an opportunity for the construction of up to 200,000 new homes along its route, which ultimately would stretch to the Surrey hills in the south and northwards into Hertfordshire. Employment and houses are as vital to the future economic success of the capital as a decent transport network.
Lord Adonis is right to emphasise that London must bear the brunt of Crossrail 2’s cost; the project will, after all, be of most immediate benefit to the city which it primarily will serve. Private investment must be encouraged too to lessen the impact on the taxpayer. However, it is important not to see this project as being advantageous only to Londoners.
In pictures: Crossrail tunnelling
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A fit for purpose transport network in the UK’s capital will improve its connections to other economic centres around the country. Moreover, investment in London surely points the way for similar infrastructure projects elsewhere. HS2, barring last-minute hiccups, will proceed. But George Osborne’s grand plans for a Northern Powerhouse have not progressed as heartily as they should have done. Perhaps they need the Lord Adonis treatment too.
A report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation last month surprised few by concluding that nine of Britain’s 10 most deprived cities lie in the North of England. Too many places have been stripped of economic opportunity and social cohesion. It is essential to the future prosperity of the UK as a whole – and to its sense of national community – that areas beyond the South-east are given the investment they need and deserve.
It is notable, as we report, that the Labour Party is to announce a new fiscal policy which, while targeting a reduction in the national debt as a share of GDP, places capital spending outside the standard deficit goal. It is clear that Labour will thus place investment in large-scale infrastructure schemes at the heart of its economic agenda during the course of this parliament. Provided that such projects are properly planned, there is real merit to the conclusion that John McDonnell has reached here.
The Government has shown willing in Crossrail 1 and HS2. It should listen to Lord Adonis and – much as it will pain Mr Osborne – to Mr McDonnell, and push ahead with a wider programme of capital expenditure. Done well, the benefits will be seen across the country.
