Crossrail to Kent cost put at £3.2 billion
A new report has put the cost of extending the Elizabeth line from Abbey Wood into Kent at up to £3.2 billion.
Transport for the South East has released a consultation which shows a steep increase from initial costs of £1.5 billion.
The figure is based on the cheapest option for extension recently supported by Bexley council, as covered in November 2021.
That plan suggested cutting the rounder services from the Sidcup and Eltham lines which link with Elizabeth line services at Abbey Wood.
It would also see Elizabeth line trains share track with Southeastern beyond Abbey Wood. This does run the risk of each service possibly disrupting the other and far from ideal.
Of the current 12 trains terminating at Abbey Wood, 8 would continue to Northfleet to serve Ebbsfleet, with a further four terminating at Gravesend.
A lack of dedicated tracks reduces costs in areas such as Dartford station and around Slade Green depot.
Housing
A major catalyst for extension is the potential for housing in north of Bexley borough.
Bexley did draw up a report for housing sites some years ago, but little progress has since been made.
Government aversion to funding infrastructure and the current declining economic environment – alongside minimal progress on housing strategy and planning in areas such as Belvedere – mean any extension within the next decade is extremely unlikely.
Abbey Wood station would also need rebuilding shortly after opening. The Felixstowe Road entrance would need closing. Not the end of the world, but it would remove a convenient entrance for thousands of local people, with housing plans and developments meaning thousands more in future will use the entrancel.
Would it not be more feasible to have this as thameslink line branch?
Thameslink already runs two trains down it, but they miss out on stations where new homes are planned such as Erith and Belvedere. I can’t see it happening in 30+ years
Terminate the South Eastern services at Abbey Wood, and let Elizabeth Line trains take over the lines through to Ebbsfleet.
Surely people between Ebbsfleet and Abbey Wood would prefer a train every 5-8 minutes all the way through London, eventually to Heathrow, and can use Oyster card, on new air con trains. If they want to use South Eastern, they can change at Abbey Wood.
I know i would prefer this option
It would make sense to have Thameslink now stop at Erith and Belvedere so that residents there have more options to get to Abbey Wood station to change for Elizabeth line. Spend the money instead on extending the Beckton branch of DLR to Thamesmead to give residents there their first rail service; one which connects with Elizabeth line at Custom House
Same old Bexleyheath getting worst Abbey wood has everything
I never thought I’d see the day that somebody was jealous of Abbey Wood. Abbey Wood is not quite a hell hole, but it’s as close to it as you can get while still being liveable, and it’s certainly no place to be jealous of. No leisure, no culture, no recreation, totally dominated by a giant flyover, divided in two by an impassable train line and the streets flood at the hint of heavy rain. Bexleyheath is a much nicer place to live, and already has much better transport links with its connections though London Bridge and Victoria
Transport wise