Crossrail engineers quitting for HS2 could pose major risk for London rail project

摘要

Crossrail chief executive Mark Wild has conceded that there is a big risk that specialist engineers will leave the project to work on High Speed 2 (HS2) before the Elizabeth line opens. As Crossrail nears completion and work on HS2 ramps up, concerns have been expressed in a report by consultant Jacobs about Crossrail's ability to hang on to the specialist engineers it needs to complete the job. The London Assembly transport committee has also raised concerns "about the lack of sufficient resource and specialist skills to complete the final phase of the project". Jacobs' latest project representative report concludes that Crossrail's opening date and budget are under significant pressure because staff are overstretched and under resourced. Speaking at a London Assembly Elizabeth line committee meeting on 29 January, Wild conceded that little could be done to stop staff leaving but added that resources are currently at a good level. "Our resource levels are actually very, very stable," he said. "It is a big risk that we could lose people to HS2 or even to Tideway but that isn't actually something that is happening on the ground at this moment in time. Over the next six to nine months securing those specialist resources is going to be a big priority." Agenda papers released ahead of the committee meeting add that "the timing of staff moving between Crossrail and HS2 would be raised with the Department for Transport (DfT)". Crossrail said: "We are constantly reviewing our resourcing levels to ensure we have the required resourcing in place."