The Crossrail Act 2008
The Crossrail Bill was given Royal Assent on 22 July 2008. The Crossrail Act 2008 gives authority for the Crossrail railway to be built – a £15.9 billion project to build major railway connections under central London.
Main construction to begin in 2010
Preparatory works and the acquisition of land around Tottenham Court Road has already begun and it is expected that further land will be compulsorily acquired in 2009 and 2010 to allow main construction to being in late 2010.
First trains to run in 2017
The first trains are due to run in 2017 and will operate at metro-style frequencies of up to 24 trains per hour during peak periods through the central tunnel section.