Following Gordon Brown’s announcement that a £16bn funding package had been secured for the construction of Crossrail, Parliament has approved the Bill which means that work on the largest civil engineering project in Europe can get underway. 

Crossrail is on track to be operational for passengers in 2017 and will deliver far more capacity and faster journeys for passengers - as well as a £20bn boost to the wider UK economy.

The line will run from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west through tunnels under central London - with new stations at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, Isle of Dogs (Canary Wharf) - then out to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.

Labour’s Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said:

"This landmark project is of major significance to both London and the whole country. It will generate jobs and economic growth, help re-vitalise some of our most deprived areas and deliver major improvements for the travelling public.