To say everything was going smoothly might be overstating the situation. After all, Crossrail remained late and over budget. But during the first few months of 2020 Crossrail Ltd Chief Executive Mark Wild’s programme to get the Elizabeth Line open by summer 2021 was showing signs of success.
In the latest published update to the London Assembly Mr Wild noted key milestones reached recently included the Track Safety Justification being certified by the Railway Assurance Board for Crossrail, Connaught Tunnel achieving Interim Acceptance and Mile End shaft being handed over to the Elizabeth Line Infrastructure Manager, Transport for London’s Rail for London arm.
Indeed, much of the central section of Crossrail was substantially complete by this stage. The key focus for Crossrail had switched to completing software development for the signalling and train systems along with safety assurance for the railway so that intensive operational testing, known as trial running, can begin. This was expected to start in autumn this year.
But then Covid-19 arrived. The Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 March that people should stay at home wherever possible has sent seismic waves through the construction industry wi…
