Crossrail opening delayed until 2022

The central section of London's Crossrail will not open until 2022, TfL has confirmed.

On 23 July 2020 Transport for London announced that following the Crossrail Limited Board meeting held earlier that day, they had advised that the opening of the central section of the Elizabeth line would not occur during Summer 2021 and that the cost would be roughly £1.1bn more than previously announced.

Crossrail Limited has continued to work on a plan to drive the project to completion and, although some details are still to be finalised, has provided an initial proposal that indicates the central section of the Elizabeth line opening during the first half of 2022.

The central section has two stations that directly pass under London's iconic Oxford Street, located at Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street respectively.

The news will come as a blow to retail businesses, commuters and tourists who feel like the current transport system is overcrowded and the construction work has caused damage to Oxford Street's economy.

TheIndustry.fashion has previously looked into how Crossrail and COVID-19 have changed Oxford Street.

In February 2020, Crossrail shared a video update on the Tottenham Court Road station:

In response to the announcement, a spokesperson Sadiq Khan's Mayor of London office said: "The Mayor is deeply disappointed that Crossrail’s updated schedule suggests that Londoners face a longer wait for the Elizabeth line."

TfL also remains in constructive discussions with Government about how the impact of COVID-19 on TfL's finances and construction will be managed.