Coronavirus sees Crossrail boss bracing himself for further delays

Crossrail chief executive Mark Wild has admitted he doesn’t know how much more delayed the scheme will be because of the covid-19 pandemic.

The central section of the £18bn railway is due to open next summer, having originally been scheduled to be completed at the end of 2018.

In a letter to London Assembly transport committee chair Navin Shah, Wild said: "There is no denying that covid-19 will have an impact on the programme, although it is too early to tell what that will be.

"We have still been able to continue with essential and business critical work across the programme. With much of the central section now being substantially complete the focus has been on completing software development for the signalling and train systems along with the safety assurance certification for the railway."

In his letter, which was sent earlier this month, Wild said station enhancement works on both the eastern and western branches had been put under review by Network Rail.

Graham is carrying out improvement works at Acton, West Ealing and Ealing Broadway stations which will all be serviced by the Crossrail route.

Hochtief is carrying out similar work at three other west London stations with Crossrail stops, Hayes and Harlington, Southall and West Drayton.

The contract to complete Network Rail’s upgrade of Crossrail’s eastern stations was awarded to VolkerFitzpatrick last September.

The deal, which is worth almost £20m, will upgrade Ilford station in east London and Romford in Essex – Crossrail’s eastern terminus.