1 Crossrail is a large, complex programme to run new, direct rail services between Reading and Heathrow Airport at the western ends of the railway, to Shenfield in Essex and Abbey Wood in south-east London at the eastern ends. When complete, the railway will be around 73 miles (118 kilometres long), stopping at more than 40 stations, including 10 new stations and 26 miles (42 kilometres) of new tunnels. Once Crossrail is open, it will become part of Transport for London's (TfL's) rail and underground network and will be known as the Elizabeth line.
2 The Department for Transport (the Department) and TfL are jointly sponsoring the Crossrail programme. Crossrail Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of TfL, is responsible for delivering an operational railway. Network Rail is undertaking work to improve existing surface infrastructure to meet the needs of the new service. In July 2014, TfL awarded the contract to operate Elizabeth line services to MTR Crossrail.
3 In August 2018, Crossrail Ltd announced that the programme could not be delivered on time and that they would not be in a position to open the central section through London in December 2018 as planned. In December 2018, the Department announced that cost increases on the programme had resulted in an increase in funding to £17.6 billion (some £2.8 billion more than the level of funding announced in 2010), including more than £2 billion of loans from the government to TfL and the Greater London Authority. The guiding principle of this funding package was that London should pay for the cost increases, as it will be the primary beneficiary of the Elizabeth line.
4 Since the end of 2018, Crossrail Ltd has been developing plans that set out when it will complete the programme and introduce Elizabeth line services. In April 2019, Crossrail Ltd announced that it plans to introduce services, excluding Bond Street station, which is still significantly delayed, on the central section of the railway at some point between October 2020 and March 2021.