Recommendation 8

The estimated cost of Crossrail has increased by £1.9 billion since we last reported and now stands at £18.9 billion.18 This excludes the £1.1 billion cost of the new trains and the depot at Old Oak Common which have historically been reported separately.19 The estimated cost has increased because the programme was further from being complete than anyone understood when the revised cost and schedule was set in April 2019.20 Figure 1 – Cost increases in the Crossrail programme (excluding trains and depot)21 Estimated cost at Estimated cost at Cost increase April 2019 May 2021 Crossrail Ltd costs £14.4 billion £15.9 billion £1,510 million Network Rail costs £2.6 billion £3.0 billion £390 million Total programme costs £17 billion £18.9 billion £1.9 billion Source: National Audit Office