Green light for Crossrail station at Woolwich

Transport for London (TfL) and the Department for Transport (DfT), sponsors of Crossrail, have today confirmed that Crossrail services will call at Woolwich following the conclusion of a funding agreement for the completion of the station.

The Sponsors have given Crossrail Limited the go ahead to begin the procurement process for the station fit out which will mean the station can open, alongside the rest of the central section of the Crossrail route, in December 2018. The new station at Woolwich will support the regeneration of this part of London improving connectivity and access to job opportunities.

Work on the station box was completed by Berkeley Homes four months ahead of schedule in March this year when it was handed over to Crossrail Limited. A deal has now been reached to fund the remaining works required to fit out the station with contributions totalling £54m being provided by Berkeley Homes, the Royal Borough of Greenwich (via a GLA grant and local developer contributions), and TfL. Any further funds required to make the station fully operational will be provided by Crossrail Limited from its existing budget.

A Crossrail station at Woolwich was not within the original scope of the project. However, during the passage of the Crossrail Bill, an agreement was reached for Berkeley Homes to construct the station box. This agreement was confirmed in February 2011. Since then TfL and DfT have been in discussions with Berkeley Homes and the Royal Borough of Greenwich to develop an additional funding package for the fit out of the station so that it is ready for trains to serve the station when they start operating at the end of 2018.

The new station will improve transport connectivity, providing a direct route to Canary Wharf, central London and beyond. It will support sustainable economic development and population growth by increasing capacity and reducing congestion on the transport network.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “I am thrilled that this deal has been signed and that local people can look forward to being able to take advantage of a world class twelve train an hour service, which will provide rapid links directly to Canary Wharf, the City and West End. It is a massive win for Woolwich and offers enormous potential for local regeneration.”

Crossrail Minister Stephen Hammond MP said: “This is great news for the people of Woolwich and the Royal Borough of Greenwich. A Crossrail station will provide significant opportunities for regeneration in the area, supporting jobs and growth and dramatically improving connectivity for people travelling between Woolwich and Canary Wharf, the City and the West End.”

Mike Brown MVO, Managing Director of London Underground and Rail, said: “This is a positive step forward and we are pleased work can now progress on the station which will open when the rest of the route through central London starts operating at the end of 2018 providing better connectivity with journeys times of just eight minutes to Canary Wharf and 15 minutes to Bond Street.”

Councillor Chris Roberts, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said “The Royal Borough of Greenwich has worked for several years to ensure the Crossrail project includes a station at Woolwich. I am delighted that we have finally put the arrangements in place, at no cost to our local council tax payers. I cannot overstate what a huge difference this will mean for the regeneration of Woolwich and what it will do to cement the regeneration of the area. It will unlock huge potential, secure better access to existing and emerging job markets for local residents and will stimulate inward investment in the town. I am grateful to all those who worked with us to make sure this deal was secured.”

John Anderson, Executive Director of Berkeley Homes, said: “We have always been wholly committed to a Crossrail station within our flagship Royal Arsenal Riverside development and this is a vital step forward in the Crossrail project. This announcement is welcome news, not just for Woolwich, but for the whole of south east London. Thousands of residents and businesses will benefit from significantly improved journey times, enhancing the opportunities and quality of life for many by increasing access to employment and transforming social mobility for local people. The significance of this important milestone for Woolwich cannot be overstated and we are proud to play an integral part in the area’s regeneration.”

An OJEU notice will be published this week. An invitation to tender is expected to be issued in late 2013 and work starting in late 2014 ready for the station to be operational at the end of 2018.