1.11 In January 2014, we produced a report on progress with the Crossrail programme. At that time, tunnelling and civil engineering work in the central tunnel section were under way. Our report gave sponsors and Crossrail Ltd credit for the start they had made, while also highlighting that success and value for money depended on risks being managed effectively.
1.12 The Crossrail programme has a long and complex history, involving a range of actors and events. Therefore, we do not intend this report to be an exhaustive account of every aspect of the programme, and we do not intend to apportion blame among its participants. Our aims are to set out:
• why and how the programme ran into difficulty; and
• what Crossrail Ltd and programme sponsors need to do to manage the remaining risks to the programme and deliver the promised benefits to passengers and the economy.
In doing so, we also consider that the lessons in this report could be used to improve control of current and future government infrastructure programmes.