Full Steam Ahead for Crossrail

Delighting east London businesses, the rail link passing across London designed to make the capital's key business districts more accessible to east and south-east Londoners, received royal assent yesterday.

Crossrail will create a railway line running from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west, through five stations in central London and out to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.

The scheme, that will be Europe's largest civil engineering project, will see new stations constructed at: Liverpool Street; Whitechapel; and Canary Wharf in east London, opening the door for employees to travel more freely to work in London Thames Gateway; as well as other central London locations.

According to TfL, Crossrail will bring an additional 1.5 million people within 60 minutes commuting distance of London's key business districts and should create 30,000 jobs, adding up to 10 per cent extra capacity to the London transport network.

Aman Dalvi, Chief Executive, Gateway to London: "Transport is a key driver for inward investment and this is therefore fantastic news for businesses in London Thames Gateway. It is sure to accelerate the region's economic growth as it will give increased access to London's 3.6 million labour pool."

London Thames Gateway has the fastest growing transport infrastructure in the UK. Several major new and proposed initiatives will soon be boosting London Thames Gateway's already unrivalled access to UK and European markets. London Thames Gateway businesses also benefit from the Docklands Light Railway, London City Airport and commuter services to the new Stratford International station will start in 2010, linking London Thames Gateway to Europe.