Coalition supports Crossrail in full (Ealing Liberal Democrats)

Ealing Liberal Democrats <info@ealinglibdems.org.uk>

Coalition supports Crossrail in full

June 18, 2010 1:18 AM

Cllr Nigel Bakhai at Southall train station - one of the five proposed Crossrail stations in Ealing borough

Ealing Lib Dem Transport spokesman Cllr Nigel Bakhai has welcomed the news that the Lib Dem-Conservative Coalition Government has confirmed its support for the Crossrail scheme.

The £16 billion Crossrail scheme is expected to provide Ealing with a high speed rail connection to the major employment areas of Heathrow and Central London but will go as far as Maidenhead in Berkshire to Shenfield in Essex. With five proposed stations on the route in Acton, Ealing Broadway, West Ealing, Hanwell and Southall, Ealing is expected to benefit greatly from quicker journey times and increased frequency of trains.

Nigel Bakhai said: "The Lib Dems have been unwavering in their support for Crossrail. The Coalition agreement between the Conservatives and Lib Dems set out a clear commitment to the scheme, and despite Labour scare stories to the contrary, the new Coalition Government has now announced that it is committed to the Crossrail project in full which is great news for residents in Ealing. Not only will it improve the daily commute for people in the borough but it will be an enormous boost to the local economy and regeneration in the area."

Crossrail is scheduled to be completed by 2017.