£19b Crossrail faces “being mothballed” over funding row

The Elizabeth Line will run between Shenfield and Reading

The £19billion London Crossrail project “faces being mothballed” according the capital’s transport commissioner.

The Elizabeth Line, which will run between Shenfield and Reading via central London, is considerably over budget.

Andy Byford, the TfL Commissioner, said the project “urgently needs another £80million in urgent support” to keep it running.

He said without further funding, the project “faces being mothballed.”

A series of issues has meant the project has already been delayed by three years.

The new railway was originally due to open in December 2018, however, the completion date has been pushed back several times.

For more on this story, and the latest on our other local and national news, listen to Time 107.5FM