Crossrail delayed until 2021 and costs to hit £20BN

Transport for London announced that the opening “will not occur in 2020” and admits its total cost could soar to £18.25 billion.

The line should have opened last December.

Crossrail bosses had drawn up a revised plan to open the central section under the West End in a “six-month window” between October next year and March 2021.

Drilling rig begins operation in the Crossrail tunnels

But today TfL formally ruled out its opening next year in a statement to the London Stock Exchange. The line will open but no commitment to this happening by March 2021.