Plans for Crossrail 2 on track

Photograph: Crossrail

Plans for Crossrail 2 received a boost last month from a report by business lobby group London First setting out their proposals for the railway.

The proposed railway would run from South London to Alexandra Palace with stops at Hackney and Dalston. The project is set to cost around £12bn and would involve digging a large tunnel underneath the borough.

Crossrail 2 enjoys the support of Labour peer Lord Andrew Adonis, London mayor Boris Johnson and numerous campaign groups.

Neil Jameson, head of Citizens UK and London Citizens, told the Hackney Citizen: “We would welcome any development which is going to enhance the life of the borough, provided that the disruption likely to happen is balanced by a percentage of jobs created going to local people, with training for people in Hackney, and that the jobs provide a London Living Wage.”

Mayor Jules Pipe said: “Crossrail 2 is the third transport facility that we have been lobbying for in Hackney over the past 10 years. However, it is a long way off and there will be many issues to consider to ensure that the service is appropriate for Hackney.

“We are currently conducting an in depth study into the full range of impacts the line could have so that we are in the best position to further influence the plans for the benefit of our residents and businesses.”

He added that Transport for London would hold a public consultation on Crossrail 2 in the spring which would be open to Hackney residents.

Cllr Ian Rathbone also supports the idea of Crossrail 2, having campaigned for a north-south London railway for over 25 years.

The councillor also noted, however, that action should be taken over the house price rises that the scheme would invariably cause: “Something’s got to be done to regulate house prices. No one wants to do it. They want the free market.” However, he said this “doesn’t mean you should blame the railway for pushing up” the prices.

Hackney Green party spokesperson Mischa Borris said: “At this stage, it looks like Crossrail 2 will be of great benefit for Hackney, improving transport links whilst not involving any loss of buildings or green space, although we don’t yet know the detailed plans.

“However it will be many years before the line is finished.  In the meantime we are concerned about any scaling back of existing transport provision in Hackney, especially bus services, and increasing fares. Current transport provision must be safeguarded and we need firm commitments on this from the office of the Mayor of London.”

Read London First’s proposal for Crossrail 2 here (opens as PDF).