Comments on: John Redwood responds to Department of Transport consultation on the safeguarding of the Maidenhead to Reading Crossrail route http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/10/13/john-redwood-responds-to-department-of-transport-consultation-on-the-safeguarding-of-the-maidenhead-to-reading-crossrail-route/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Wed, 23 May 2012 13:35:04 +0000 hourly 1 By: The Coalition http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/10/13/john-redwood-responds-to-department-of-transport-consultation-on-the-safeguarding-of-the-maidenhead-to-reading-crossrail-route/#comment-7021 The Coalition Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:06:42 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1786#comment-7021 The Coalition, a London-wide group, shares some of the concerns of Reading residents regarding the £16 billion Crossrail scheme. We hope the politicians and residents will note that the Crossrail Reading route was not even considered when the Bill was going through Parliament and the Government is now carrying out this consultation after the Bill has received Royal Assent. The irony is most of London does not appear to want Crossrail. Most residents living in Hyde Park, Mayfair, Spitalfields, Shenfield and Whitechapel certainly do not want the present route but are being forced to have Crossrail because of the planners. They do not want the Crossrail route because it is expensive, causes unnecessary harm and goes to areas which do not need or want it. A survey by YouGovStone Poll for the Evening Standard revealed that 47 per cent of Londoners are concerned about the tube where as only 3 per cent even mentioned Crossrail. The defeated ex-Mayor Ken Livingstone featured Crossrail as a major part of his campaign and lost. Sadly it has become clear that Boris Johnson will not review the due diligence or the route despite having taken charge of the project. The City and Canary Wharf want the present Crossrail scheme because they are the primary beneficiaries and are receiving a massive subsidy from Government for the privilege of having nominated the taxpayer to pay for Crossrail. The Coalition is sympathetic to the residents in Reading for the mess that the Government and Crossrail route planners have created. Even this Government cannot think that London taxpayers will bail out the finance and transport sections of the financial districts of London and commuter England.. The Coalition, a London-wide group, shares some of the concerns of Reading residents regarding the £16 billion Crossrail scheme. We hope the politicians and residents will note that the Crossrail Reading route was not even considered when the Bill was going through Parliament and the Government is now carrying out this consultation after the Bill has received Royal Assent. The irony is most of London does not appear to want Crossrail. Most residents living in Hyde Park, Mayfair, Spitalfields, Shenfield and Whitechapel certainly do not want the present route but are being forced to have Crossrail because of the planners. They do not want the Crossrail route because it is expensive, causes unnecessary harm and goes to areas which do not need or want it. A survey by YouGovStone Poll for the Evening Standard revealed that 47 per cent of Londoners are concerned about the tube where as only 3 per cent even mentioned Crossrail. The defeated ex-Mayor Ken Livingstone featured Crossrail as a major part of his campaign and lost. Sadly it has become clear that Boris Johnson will not review the due diligence or the route despite having taken charge of the project. The City and Canary Wharf want the present Crossrail scheme because they are the primary beneficiaries and are receiving a massive subsidy from Government for the privilege of having nominated the taxpayer to pay for Crossrail. The Coalition is sympathetic to the residents in Reading for the mess that the Government and Crossrail route planners have created. Even this Government cannot think that London taxpayers will bail out the finance and transport sections of the financial districts of London and commuter England..

]]> By: Reverend David Hodgs http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/10/13/john-redwood-responds-to-department-of-transport-consultation-on-the-safeguarding-of-the-maidenhead-to-reading-crossrail-route/#comment-7020 Reverend David Hodgs Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:42:07 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1786#comment-7020 Presumably if Crossrail was not extended to Reading but only to Maidenhead there would be a corresponding decline in the frequency of express services from Reading to London Paddington which would be detrimental to commuters in the Reading area. Therefore I support an extension of Crossrail to Reading. Presumably if Crossrail was not extended to Reading but only to Maidenhead there would be a corresponding decline in the frequency of express services from Reading to London Paddington which would be detrimental to commuters in the Reading area. Therefore I support an extension of Crossrail to Reading.

]]> By: Freeborn John http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/10/13/john-redwood-responds-to-department-of-transport-consultation-on-the-safeguarding-of-the-maidenhead-to-reading-crossrail-route/#comment-7019 Freeborn John Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:22:53 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1786#comment-7019 It would be great if a Reading – Maidenhead Crossrail extension could also support rail service to Heathrow from the West. The current Reading Railair (bus) service to Heathrow is not without value but like any bus service can get stuck in traffic on the M4 and is simply too confusing for many international business travellers who instead resort to very expensive taxis or hire cars. It is ironic that it is easier and more predictable to get from Reading to Gatwick by direct rail service than it is to get to Heathrow, despite LHR being far closer and the reason so many companies locate in the M4 corridor. It would be great if a Reading – Maidenhead Crossrail extension could also support rail service to Heathrow from the West. The current Reading Railair (bus) service to Heathrow is not without value but like any bus service can get stuck in traffic on the M4 and is simply too confusing for many international business travellers who instead resort to very expensive taxis or hire cars.

It is ironic that it is easier and more predictable to get from Reading to Gatwick by direct rail service than it is to get to Heathrow, despite LHR being far closer and the reason so many companies locate in the M4 corridor.

]]> By: nick http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/10/13/john-redwood-responds-to-department-of-transport-consultation-on-the-safeguarding-of-the-maidenhead-to-reading-crossrail-route/#comment-7018 nick Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:01:08 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1786#comment-7018 Then no doubt the residents of Reading who use Crossrail will pay the full cost in their tickets. About 15 quid per ticket (one way) plus running costs on top. Somehow I doubt that the residents of Reading will ever use the service if tickets are at that cost. No doubt the solution will be to tap some other mugs for the cost in the form of a subsidy. Crossrail doesn't stack up finacially. Divided the interest cost by the number of users on a daily basis and its clear it will never do so. Nick Then no doubt the residents of Reading who use Crossrail will pay the full cost in their tickets. About 15 quid per ticket (one way) plus running costs on top.

Somehow I doubt that the residents of Reading will ever use the service if tickets are at that cost.

No doubt the solution will be to tap some other mugs for the cost in the form of a subsidy.

Crossrail doesn't stack up finacially. Divided the interest cost by the number of users on a daily basis and its clear it will never do so.

Nick

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