3.1 In the context of the overall programme, the bulk of construction work on Crossrail is complete. Crossrail Ltd and Network Rail had spent around £16 billion on the programme by March 2019. Tunnelling work completed in 2015, and the trains have been ordered, with some already in service. Network Rail has also lengthened platforms and enhanced stations and signalling on the existing network in readiness for the new Crossrail services.
3.2 There remains a significant amount of work for Crossrail Ltd to carry out before it and Transport for London (TfL) can open all of the new services to passengers and deliver the intended benefits of the investment that sponsors have made. In March 2019 Crossrail Ltd reported that:
• Delays to the installation of equipment required for testing of communications and control systems have continued.
• It has performed 116 tests of the trains and signalling systems on the railway against a target of 270. In January 2019, Crossrail Ltd started main dynamic testing some 11 months later than planned. Testing is identifying fewer issues than Crossrail Ltd expected, but fewer tests are being undertaken owing to a lack of resources in the main systems contract and slow progress in developing the train and signalling system software.
• It is a long way behind its targets for gaining certification that equipment on the railway and in stations is functioning correctly. For example, across all of the stations on the central section, Crossrail Ltd had completed only 27% of pre-commissioning certificates and partial acceptance certificates (stages of certification that demonstrate when equipment has been tested to a certain level).
3.3 Crossrail Ltd and TfL will also need to work closely to transfer operation of the railway to TfL and to bring the Elizabeth line into passenger service. This will involve integrating Elizabeth line services with the national rail network and the Great Western and East Anglia rail franchises, including new timetables.
3.4 This part of the report examines the key risks that Crossrail Ltd and sponsors need to manage in order get the programme back under control and deliver the intended benefits of the programme.