Why didn't they build Crossrail 10 years ago?

Question

Why didn't they build it during the economic boom of the early noughties? Instead of now during a recession, where it takes longer to build than it would back then just to balance the books better?

Answer 1

TOO much spent on the capital, as it is, and we, in the OTHER big cities, have to fight over the scraps...Come see our OLD, second hand rolling stock, on the local rail system in Greater Manchester, marvel at our sky high bus fares on unreliable, deregulated (THANKS to THATCHER...) buses....Our tram network is a farce ...Took longer to build the latest line than it took people in the past to build a train line across CANADA......NEWSFLASH...There is life and business OUTSIDE LONDON and The SE......

A real democracy, with more than JUST ONE powerhouse, would be a FAIRER one!!!



@Andrew...Be thankful..At LEAST you have DEVOLUTION.....We do NOT !!

Answer 2

Infrastructure projects always move forward very slowly in the U.K. where civil servants obstruct everything and the government, regardless of the party in power commisions a myriad of consultants

to design, discuss and play around with the project. Eventually it gets built 20 years late for double the initial cost. However, Crossrail will be a great and heavily used railway that will dramatically reduce journey times, reduce over crowding on other rail and Underground lines and reduce road traffic too, and will benefit the economy

Answer 3

Because UK is a vibrant and sophisticated democracy and before anything is done, there has to be the usual public debate(s) about it.



On average it takes about ten (10) years for the British people to make up their minds about any new development, be it a road or a railway or any such addition to an already packed infrastructure.



Take for example HS2 (High Speed Rail Link) this next link is part of the public debate - there will be no HS2 until at least 2026.



http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2011/the-great-debate/



Cross Rail Examination Debate

http://69.89.27.212/~kempners/cross_examination_debate.htm



It took us not decades, but more than a century of argument to finally agree to a Channel Tunnel. We could quite easily have asked Mr Brunel to build such a tunnel - he had a band new tunnel making machine and built the Blackwall Tunnel here in London with it - a sort of test version if you like. But no. We don't want the Frogs just marching through to attack now do we? No sir.



If you ask the average Briton what they really, really want in terms of trains and a railway, you'll be stunned to discover the truth about us. Here's a sample.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4J7BEFnzQ8



The Greeks have a word for it 'nostalgia'. I was born in 1941 and as a boy saw many fabulous steam locomotives. We just cannot give them up.



Mallard - she holds the world steam speed record - we took it from the Germans and they're never ever going to get it back.



Mallard - bloody awesome -126 mph

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sjXC65e-xQ



A4 high tail

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFTphTnv2Q8



You can have any damn high speed train you like - they are plastic and have no romance what-so-ever.



The mighty Oliver Cromwell - full stream up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAXhjKNcKPQ



The Mighty Union Pacific Railroad Company - thousands gather to see their working steam locos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhbCQ85nYNM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjWBw4tZUO4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi7Jac3htts



If the above did not excite you, then you have no heart.



And in case you are wondering, yes, I have been on a modern high speed train - every time I go to Paris - London St.Pancras International to Garde du Nord Paris 2.15 hrs.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=eurostar+compilation&view=detail&mid=6C8BBBB988311B74D14C6C8BBBB988311B74D14C&first=0&FORM=NVPFVR



London UK 250213.1649

Answer 4

Just be thankful they did.



Glasgow has had its own Crossrail project in planning for 40 years and it's been cancelled every time. Just like our airport link. And our subway extension (no major work of any kind since the 1970s).



Londoners don't realise how lucky they are.

Answer 5

I would imagine that the technology required to build such a thing has only caught up with the ideas. It was first proposed in 1948.

Answer 6

The idea was first put forward in 1948! Since then it was only a few years back that anyone was truely committed to deliver the project.

Answer 7

Because of the Short-Sighted Politicians in the Government @ the time !

Answer 8

Why didn't they build it in 1492?