M.P. for Romford, Andrew Rosindell, today met with Matthew White, Surface Director at CrossRail, to discuss the improvement works taking place over the next year to ready the north-east branch of the CrossRail network for the arrival of the first CrossRail trains in 2017.
Andrew and Matthew discussed several issues relating to the rollout of the CrossRail project, such as station refurbishment works, infrastructure improvements, new trains, the timescale, and the project legacy.
Refurbishment works will take place at both of the stations in Andrew’s constituency: Romford and Gidea Park. Both stations will be substantially redecorated, with the former receiving an entirely redesigned ticket hall. Both stations will also, for the first time, have step-free access installed to assist with the boarding of disabled and elderly passengers.
There are also many substantial, but less conspicuous infrastructure works that must be undertaken before CrossRail trains can start running from Romford to Heathrow. Currently, many of the tracks, wires, and signalling equipment which run along the line from Liverpool St. to Shenfield, are up to 30 years old. Neither the wires nor tracks are fully resilient to heat, and as a result can change shape during bouts of hot weather, slowing services down. Everywhere step along the CrossRail route, therefore, will therefore be fitted out with new power cables, new overhead line equipment, and new signalling equipment to help new, faster trains, stick to their schedule.
Luckily for residents of the Romford, there will be minimal disruption to their journey into work – the works on Romford and Gidea Park stations, starting in the Autumn this year, are less intensive than originally planned, and will be stretched out over the course of one year, so as to cause minimal disruption to commuters.
The trains themselves will also be more pleasant than the existing ‘legacy’ Greater Anglia trains: they will be air-conditioned, quieter, and completely ‘walk through’ from end of end, meaning there is no need to go through doors to move from carriage to carriage. As a result, they have plenty more space for bicycles, pushchairs, luggage, and wheelchair users.
And more good news for Romford residents: there will be no hike in fare prices to pay for the improvement works. CrossRail is being fully integrated into the Oyster network, meaning prices will only rise with inflation, if at all.
The benefits of the rollout of CrossRail for Romford and Gidea Park are immense: with the need to change trains eliminated, journey times from Romford into central London will be cut down by 20 minutes. And with Heathrow expansion likely to go ahead following the publication of the Airport Commission’s report in late June, from 2019, Romford residents will be able to get from their hometown to the nation’s biggest airport in just over one hour.
And in addition to the reduced journey times, Romford homeowners can expect their houses to rise in priced by 10-25% over the next 5 years.
Following his meeting today, Andrew said:
"This morning’s meeting with Matthew was absolutely fascinating. I learnt so much about everything CrossRail will bring to the people of Romford and I really look forward to the arrival of the first trains in 2017. Romford is already one of the most desirable places to live in Greater London, and I can only see CrossRail improving it further"