好色先生TV

The National Audit Office (NAO) said the under-construction line crossing London west to east will 鈥渁chieve value for money鈥� if progress is maintained and risks continue to be well managed.

The NAO added that the strategic need for Crossrail had 鈥渂ecome clearer over time鈥� due to increased population and employment growth and Crossrail鈥檚 benefits wwill outweigh its costs.

About half of the infrastructure work is now complete. Progress is just behind schedule, but the NAO said Crossrail Limited had taken steps to make up time and was 鈥渃onfident鈥� of hitting its December 2019 opening date.

Joint sponsors the Department for Transport and Transport for London have established the 拢14.8bn funding package for the works, with a combination of direct grant funding from both bodies, including 拢5bn from the department, and borrowing by Network Rail and Transport for London.

A rise in London business rates has also contributed to the line costs, but the department has not secured all the private sector contributions it hope for, the NAO said.

Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, said: 鈥淭he sponsors and Crossrail Limited have so far done well to protect taxpayers鈥� interests, by taking early action to stop costs escalating and, during construction, tightly managing the programme.

鈥淭here is still a long way to go and the Department must continue to manage risks to protect its investment in Crossrail.鈥�