London Heathrow 2
Terminal 2 (‘The Queen’s Terminal’) at London Heathrow has now opened for business. The terminal replaces the original T2 which opened back in 1955 and was wholly inadequate for modern passenger requirements. To avoid the botched launch of T5, the airport went through 180 trials over the last six months to ensure that the opening goes without a hitch.
A United Airlines flight from Chicago was the first flight into the £2.5bn terminal which will be home to 26 airlines and 23 Star Alliance members. T2 will reach out to 54 global destinations. The terminal and piers are expected to manage around 16mn passengers per year to begin with, but a later phase will increase capacity to 30mn. In addition to various shops and restaurants, the terminal will also provide the world’s first personal shopping lounge providing stylists free of charge regardless of ticket type (
http://mediacentre.heathrowairport.c...rport-8b7.aspx).
Heathrow have also indicated that should a third runway be given permission, T2 will be extended, as will Terminal 5, and the entire airport and satellite buildings will be connected by a unified passenger & baggage transit system.
Image taken by Heathrow Airport: http://mediacentre.heathrowairport.c...today-90a.aspx
Image taken by Heathrow Airport: http://mediacentre.heathrowairport.c...today-90a.aspx
Image taken by Heathrow Airport: http://mediacentre.heathrowairport.c...today-90a.aspx
Image taken by Blusfera on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/981703...877631/sizes/l
Image sourced from Heathrow Airport: http://mediacentre.heathrowairport.c...today-90a.aspx
Increased Heathrow Rail Connectivity
Heathrow is already served by the Piccadilly Line on the Underground and Heathrow Express & Connect into London Paddington, however access to and from the west is limited. There are potential plans to create a loop-line on HS2, and provide a new western access connection to the Great Western Main Line, as well as potential southern rail access.
Both developments (
http://mediacentre.heathrowairport.c...plans-908.aspx) would mean that 12mn people would be within 60mins of the airport by train; 70% of the UK population would be within three hours of Heathrow.
Journey times to major cities such as Birmingham and Sheffield would drastically change;
Birmingham currently 2hrs 31mins away, in future: 53mins – a reduction of 1hr 38mins
Manchester currently 3hrs 16mins away, in future: 1hr 23mins – a reduction of 1hr 53mins
Leeds currently 3hrs 46mins away, in future: 1hr 38mins – a reduction of 2hrs 8mins
Sheffield currently 3hrs 32mins away, in future: 1hr 25mins – a reduction of 2hrs 7mins
The number of trains per hour serving Heathrow would increase from the present 18 to 40. The following image shows a cross-section of the future Heathrow West interchange and T5.
Image sourced from Heathrow Airport: http://mediacentre.heathrowairport.c...plans-908.aspx
Crossrail
Transport for London and the Department for Transport have finally announced (
http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/arti...ute-to-reading) an extension to Reading from Maidenhead. The line will include two stations (Reading and Tywford) resulting in Crossrail serving 40 stations in total.
Image sourced from Transport for London on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tflpre...423353/sizes/l
Reading is a major regional interchange used by tens of thousands each day (15.4mn passenger journeys in 2012-13). The station and its 15 platforms recently underwent a complete rebuild to manage future passenger volumes and it was always acknowledged that sooner or later Crossrail would eventually be extended there. Most passengers are still likely to opt for the fast express services straight into Paddington, but for access to Slough (home to a giant trading estate) and beyond Paddington it could see high usage.
Image taken by Steve Franklin Images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_...872652/sizes/l
Image taken by wirewiping: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wirewi...905575/sizes/l
Twyford is the next station eastwards of Reading which is used by 1.3mn passengers a year.
Image taken by Steve Franklin Images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_...869946/sizes/l
TfL have also released images of some of the proposed urban realm improvements around the entrances to Crossrail stations
Bond Street
The proposals will maximise the area available to pedestrians and create a prominent and generous forecourt to the station entrance. High-quality granite paving will extend into the station concourse. Four diagonal crossing points will be introduced on Hanover Square with adjacent footways in matching materials. Where Tenterden Street joins Hanover Square there will also be new lighting, seats and signage. Cycle parking will be provided at several locations in the square and taxi bays are relocated closer to the station.
Image sourced from Crossrail: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/arti...round-stations
Canary Wharf
Above the Canary Wharf Crossrail station Canary Wharf Group is developing four floors of retail space and a publically accessible roof garden, topped by a semi-open spectacular timber lattice roof, designed by Foster + Partners. It will also feature enhanced pedestrian and vehicle access between Canary Wharf and Poplar.
Image sourced from Crossrail: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/arti...round-stations
Forest Gate
The design proposes unifying spaces outside the station into a coherent area. The entrance plaza on Woodgrange Road will see improved pedestrian access with widened walkways. At the main junction the left turn on to Forest Lane will be removed, providing extra space for people to walk to the station. The carriageway will be resurfaced in granite setts and wider crossings will encourage traffic calming and ease of use by pedestrians. The scheme also aims to create a new public transport hub by connecting modes of transport. Convenient cycle parking will be provided by spaces on Woodgrange Road and a secure cycle hub just off Woodgrange Road. There will be a taxi stand for pick-up and drop-off.
Image sourced from Crossrail: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/arti...round-stations
Ilford
The proposed designs provide a high-quality, generous station forecourt and an improved transport interchange, a widened and realigned main crossing outside the station on Cranbrook Road for greater pedestrian convenience and a more efficient layout of bus stops. The orientation of the new bus shelters together with wider footways will help to reduce congestion for pedestrians and queuing for passengers.
Image sourced from Crossrail: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/arti...round-stations
Maryland
The proposed design scheme aims to give the area a new identity. A new station entrance plaza is planned on Leytonstone Road. The scheme will provide significantly improved pedestrian access with widened walkways and reduced dominance of vehicles. New paving will calm traffic with granite setts applied to all crossing points and to the section of the highway that links the two main public spaces. The removal of the existing roundabout will improve the transport interchange. Also proposed is new cycle parking, a taxi stand, pick-up and drop-off point, and wayfinding integrated with a public transport interchange. New trees will soften the urban landscape.
Image sourced from Crossrail: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/arti...round-stations
Tottenham Court Road
The existing Tottenham Court Road station is being rebuilt to accommodate Crossrail and the new ticket hall will be six times the size of the original. A pedestrian crossing between the piazza and a new landscaped space in Sutton Row will create a direct and legible walking route between St Giles, Centre Point and Soho Square to the west.
Image sourced from Crossrail: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/arti...round-stations
Whitechapel
The permanent entrance to the station on Whitechapel Road will see a larger station forecourt with feature paving. Improvements will also be made to Court Street, which will be pedestrianised, and the carriageway raised to create a safer walking route.
Image sourced from Crossrail: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/arti...round-stations
Image sourced from Crossrail: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/arti...round-stations
Woolwich
The urban realm proposal connects the station to new green space, the Royal Arsenal development and the town centre. A spacious and inviting space for pedestrians will be established along the generous station forecourt running the length of the eastern side of the square. This step-free public area will be composed of high-quality natural stone and clear and logical pedestrian routes will connect pedestrians to Woolwich Town Centre.
Image sourced from Crossrail: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/arti...round-stations
Ealing Station
The latest revised design for Ealing station in West London has also been unveiled. The plans include a larger canopy over the forecourt and enhancements to the station including the doubling of the ticket hall to allow for 18 ticket gates, new lifts, platform extensions and other facilities.
Image sourced from Crossrail: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/arti...signs-revealed
Image sourced from Crossrail: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/arti...signs-revealed
Canary Wharf
Image taken by Images George Rex on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rogers...394670/sizes/l
Image taken by Andrew McCarter on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrew...486786/sizes/l
Custom House
Image taken by unravelled: https://www.flickr.com/photos/unrave...166939/sizes/l
Image taken by unravelled: https://www.flickr.com/photos/unrave...683596/sizes/l
Image taken by unravelled: https://www.flickr.com/photos/unrave...209820/sizes/l
Image taken by unravelled: https://www.flickr.com/photos/unrave...979633/sizes/l
Stockley Flyover
A 1,000tonne 120m flyover was launched over the Great Western Main Line in May; the flyover allows for Crossrail & Heathrow Express trains to and from Heathrow to avoid conflicts.
Image sourced from Crossrail: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/arti...on-to-heathrow
Image sourced from Crossrail: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/arti...on-to-heathrow
Image sourced from Crossrail: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/arti...on-to-heathrow
Crossrail 2
As part of the recent consultation into Crossrail 2, Transport for London and Network Rail have options to the route. There are three areas that TfL are seeking comments on:
The route through Chelsea has three options: (i) avoiding Chelsea altogether to decrease Clapham Junction to Victoria journey times, (ii) via King’s Road to link into present communities, and (iii) via Chelsea West which would tie into redevelopment around Lots Road and the Thames.
The route was originally due to branch at Angel and proceed to Dalston Junction – Seven Sisters and Hackney Central – Tottenham Hale. The plan is that the lines would instead branch closer to SS/TH and that trains would either go via Dalston Junction or Hackney Central, but not both. This would drastically reduce the amount of tunnelling required.
A small extension to New Southgate on the Seven Sisters branch.
The ambition is to open the line sometime before 2030.
Image sourced from TfL: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/crossrail/june-2014
Image sourced from TfL: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/crossrail/june-2014
Image sourced from TfL: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/crossrail/june-2014
West End Street Improvements
Camden Borough Council are proposing radical changes to Tottenham Court Road and surrounding streets which would result in TCR becoming dedicated to buses and bicycles during daylight hours. Pavements would be widened and crossings would become safer for pedestrians.
Image sourced by SE9 at skyscrapercity.com: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...8&postcount=41
Image sourced by SE9 at skyscrapercity.com: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...8&postcount=41
Image sourced by SE9 at skyscrapercity.com: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...4&postcount=42
Image sourced by SE9 at skyscrapercity.com: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...0&postcount=43
Image sourced by SE9 at skyscrapercity.com: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...0&postcount=43
Image sourced by SE9 at skyscrapercity.com: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...8&postcount=44
Image sourced by SE9 at skyscrapercity.com: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...8&postcount=45
Image sourced by SE9 at skyscrapercity.com: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...5&postcount=46
Image sourced by SE9 at skyscrapercity.com: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...7&postcount=47
Image sourced by SE9 at skyscrapercity.com: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...7&postcount=47
Silvertown Tunnel
Earlier this year TfL launched a consultation on the construction of a new tunnel under the Thames connecting the Greenwich Peninsula and Silvertown, which would provide relief for the Blackwall Tunnels. The new tunnels would double river crossing capacity in the area, reduce congestion and delays and improve resilience in the event of an incident.
Image sourced from TfL: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/riv...sings/cc90b4dd
Image sourced from TfL: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/riv...sings/cc90b4dd
Image sourced from TfL: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/riv...sings/cc90b4dd
Bank Station Upgrade
TfL’s follow-up consultation (
https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/tub...n/consult_view) into the expansion of Bank Station was launched a few weeks ago.
Bank is one of the most critical interchanges on the Underground network, along with Monument station – which is part of the same subterranean complex – it connects the Central, Circle, District, Northern (Bank branch), Waterloo & City and DLR. With parts of the station complex dating back 120 years and a myriad of lines, the station is a labyrinth of tunnels that is ill-suited to modern demands especially with passenger volumes expanding by 1.7mn per annum.
As a consequence TfL are looking at a massive project which will include the following improvements:
A new southbound railway tunnel and platform for the Northern line to create more space for passenger circulation.
Step fee access from the street and DLR to Northern line platforms.
A new ticket-hall and station entrance on Cannon Street.
A moving walkway for quicker interchange.
Additional lifts & escalators.
More direct tunnels and routes to avoid traversing stairs.
Separation of passenger flows to decrease conflicts.
Works are intended to commence in 2015-16 and be completed by 2021. An additional project which may also materialise in the coming years would be another ticket-hall and access down to the Waterloo & City line where Bloomberg are building their new campus.
Image sourced from TfL: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/tub...n/consult_view
Image sourced from TfL: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/tub...n/consult_view
Image sourced from TfL: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/tub...n/consult_view
Image sourced from TfL: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/tub...n/consult_view
Image sourced from TfL: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/tub...n/consult_view
Image sourced from TfL: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/tub...n/consult_view
Essex Thameside Franchise
The 15-year ‘Essex Thameside’ franchise has been awarded to the incumbent operator c2c which is owned by National Express group. The c2c route consists of a main line and two branches running from London Fenchurch Street out to Southend providing rail coverage for towns along the northern bank of the Thames Estuary to the east of London. c2c is regularly seen as being one of the best rail operators in the south-east with high customer satisfaction and punctuality.
Image taken by Always Santa Fe on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tunnel...861964/sizes/l
Spread across 129km and 28 stations, the network operates high frequencies; no station on the network operates at less than 4tph at rush-hour, and 21 trains arrive into Fenchurch St each peak hour. Line & train improvements, a punctual & quick service and high-frequencies have meant passenger growth has boomed 42% over the last 14 years from 26mn to 37mn. To put things into perspective, that would make c2c (according to APTA figures) busier than Boston’s MBTA and Philadelphia’s SEPTA, despite being a quarter of the size. c2c still pales in comparison to the other London-focused commuter rail operators however; four operators move more than 100mn per annum, whilst another carries 200mn+.
With the number of passengers commuting into London and other regional hubs accelerating, c2c have committed to delivering over the next few years:
17 new trains
20% more weekday services, 21% more weekend services
38% increased capacity on peak trains into London
Contactless payment by 2017 with integration with local non-London bus services
Network Rail Annual Results
Network Rail – the government owned but run-for-profit operator of the UK’s rail infrastructure – recently announced their annual results which showed profit up, but train performance down due to bad weather. The report also set out a few key developments & achievements in East Anglia, the South West and Thames Valley:
East Anglia – Last 12 Months
The completion of the £59m Ipswich Chord in Suffolk to increase capacity for freight trains and ease a major bottleneck affecting passenger services on the Great Eastern main line between London and Norwich.
141 km of new track across the route.
Almost £20m has been invested in the last 12 months in a new rail operating centre in Romford, due to open later this year, which control the entire railway in the Anglia region
Continued progress on the overhead line upgrade on the Great Eastern main line, due to be completed in 2017
The closure of 90 level crossings, including Ingatestone, Motts Lane, Long Green, Hawkes Lane, Cadmore Lane and Mansers level crossings
East Anglia – Next Five Years
Completion of Crossrail will transform commuter services between Shenfield and London Liverpool Street, and a new Crossrail station at London Liverpool Street
Rebuild Bow Junction creating more space for trains to arrive and leave from London Liverpool Street
Complete upgrading overhead power lines on the Great Eastern Main Line between Liverpool Street and Chelmsford and Southend
Replace ageing tracks around Colchester and extend platform 6 to improve day to day services. Phase two of track and points renewal starts in 2015
Continue improving safety at level crossings, close level crossings where possible as well as investing in new technology
Rebuild Ely Junction North relieving congestion between Norwich and Cambridge on the West Anglia line
Replace a vital rail junction at Pitsea reducing the number of days the section of track needs closing for route improvement work every year
A new rail operating centre (ROC) will open in Romford, controlling the entire railway in the Anglia region covering parts of London, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire
The Thameslink programme will provide more passengers from Cambridge with new trains and access to more direct services to the south coast
Working with Transport for London to bring longer trains to the Overground and electrifying the Gospel Oak to Barking line creating more space for passenger and freight services
Continue to upgrade the cross-country route from Felixstowe to the West Midlands providing more space for freight, relieving the congested the Great Eastern main line and taking freight off the roads
South West – Last 12 Months
Platform lengthening at 65 stations across the route
Introduction of first ten-car trains on Windsor-Waterloo line
Return to use of platform 20 in Waterloo International
New station building at Wokingham
New footbridges built at Alton and Farnham stations to improve accessibility
New footbridge built at North Sheen level crossing
170 improved customer information screens at stations across the route
£40m resignalling of the Poole-Wool line
Resignalling around Farnham
Renewal of track around and through Southampton Central
Thames Valley – Last 12 Months
Reading: The £895m redevelopment of the station has delivered two new entrances, five new platforms and a new 110-metre long, 30-metre-wide passenger bridge, with escalators and lifts providing step-free access to the new platforms. Work on the new flyover is ongoing and once complete the viaduct will cut delays caused by congestion on the tracks and create more capacity. This is achieved by allowing fast passengers services to and from places like Bristol and South Wales to fly over the lines to Newbury, Basingstoke and the south west of England.
Crossrail : As part of Network Rail’s £2.3bn Crossrail programme, surface work was completed between Paddington and Maidenhead, including the reopening of four new bridges, major civils work on Stockley flyover, excavation of the Acton diveunder has begun and track works at Maidenhead has also commenced.
Resignalling the Great Western main line: We are modernising the 1960s signalling infrastructure on the Great Western line which will make services travelling through Bristol, Bath, Chippenham, Swindon, Didcot, Reading, Newbury and Oxford more reliable.
Electrification: The Great Western main line from Paddington to Bristol, Oxford and Newbury is to be electrified by 2016-17, which will allow the introduction of a new fleet of trains. Work to rebuild bridges across the route as extra height is needed to install new overhead line equipment is ongoing.
Thames Valley – Next Five Years
Western Hub – A £700m investment programme to improve connectivity, boost performance and introduce 3,200 more seats during peak hours through Bristol. It involves 31 individual projects, including amongst others electrification, four-tracking of Filton Bank, track remodelling at Bristol East junction, new platforms at Bristol Parkway and upgrading Bristol Temple Meads station.
Oxford - The portfolio of investment in the Oxford area will improve capacity and capability through the core Oxford Corridor (Didcot North Junction - Aynho Junction), to cater for growth in passenger and freight services on the key strategic link connecting the south coast ports to the West Midlands and Scotland. The scheme also enables rail services in to Oxford from London-Marylebone and supports the introduction of East West Rail.
Electrification – The GWML from Paddington to Bristol, Oxford and Newbury is to be electrified by 2016-17, which will allow the introduction of new Intercity Express Programme: Super Express Trains. These trains will have 20% more seats.
Crossrail - The new high density service between Reading to Maidenhead and Heathrow Airport, and east London, via the West End and City of London, will run from December 2019. This will reduce crowding on the eastern stretch of Western route beyond Maidenhead by 30%.
Heathrow western rail access – The creation of a rail link between Heathrow and the GWML, via Slough and Reading, would deliver fast direct services to the UK’s largest airport and present longer-term opportunities to link with high speed services from 2021.
Paddington station improvement – Reconfiguring the approaches of Paddington station to create room for more trains into the station at peak times by 2019.
East Anglia Source:
http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co...ults-20b4.aspx
South West Source:
http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co...ts-f-20bb.aspx
Thames Valley Source:
http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co...ults-20b5.aspx
King’s Cross-St Pancras Station
A new entrance to the King’s Cross-St Pancras station complex is due to open at the end of June; the 90m underground link which incorporates an interactive LED lightwall provides improved underground access for passengers heading to the Underground or Network Rail stations from the King’s Cross development site to the north of the station. Additional detail:
http://www.lighting.co.uk/news/90m-l...63969.article#
Image sourced from lighting.co.uk: http://www.lighting.co.uk/news/90m-l...63969.article#
East Croydon Station Upgrade
The new northern entrance to East Croydon station opened earlier this month; it provides relief for the main station entrance to the south, and will provide better connections for several massive redevelopment projects that are to commence area around the station in the coming years. East Croydon is a major transport hub in south London that despite the absence of a tube connection is used by 21mn people each year, and is a major interchange for passengers switching lines heading towards Victoria, Blackfriars and London Bridge.
Image taken by unravelled: https://www.flickr.com/photos/unrave...560380/sizes/l
Image taken by osde8info on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/osde-i...187487/sizes/l
Croxley Rail Link (Metropolitan Line Extension)
The first three images show what the future Croxley Rail Link should look like, whilst the final three images show work to clear vegetation from the disused portion of the route.
Image sourced by SteveAWOL: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...2&postcount=82
Image sourced by SteveAWOL: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...2&postcount=82
Image sourced by SteveAWOL: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...2&postcount=82
Image taken by unravelled on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/unrave...353352/sizes/l
Image taken by unravelled on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/unrave...352252/sizes/l
Image taken by unravelled on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/unrave...688633/sizes/l
Next-Generation Bus Stops
In connection with Clear Channel UK, TfL launched earlier this year an interactive bus-stop on Regent Street that provides real-time bus information, other transport updates and assistance on locating specific tourist destinations.
Image sourced from Transport for London: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tflpre...082053/sizes/l
Image sourced from Transport for London: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tflpre...599284/sizes/l
Intelligent Buses
One of the problems with double-decker buses is not knowing whether there are spare seats upstairs, as a consequence most people tend to congregate on the bottom level which isn’t an efficient use of space.
No longer! According to ianvisits (
http://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2014...-screens-buses) TfL are testing a system which provides real-time information on the availability of upper-deck seats. There would appear to be some bugs, but the potential of the system is pretty broad: imagine being a passenger on a platform and see that there are lots of seats free in a specific part of the train, even before the train arrives at the platform.
Image sourced from ianvisits.co.uk: http://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2014...-screens-buses
Not only that, but displays are now being built into buses to provide the present location of the bus, next bus stop(s) and time of arrival. The beauty of layering this data over a map is that it provides passengers who may not be familiar with the route better knowledge of the immediate area.
Image sourced from ianvisits.co.uk: http://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2014...-screens-buses
Pudding Mill Lane Station
The new Pudding Mill Lane station has opened for service; it replaces the nearly opposite DLR station that is being demolished to make way for the tunnel portal for Crossrail’s Abbey Wood branch. The previous station was little used, but with the Olympic Park to the north and several major residential developments in the immediate area, the station is expected to see a substantial uptake in use hence the dramatic increase in capacity.
Image taken by Recliner on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/reclin...761376/sizes/l
Image taken by wirewiping on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wirewi...759581/sizes/l
Image taken by wirewiping on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wirewi...353978/sizes/l
Image taken by Green, Cream & Tangerine livery on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/458014...555820/sizes/l
London Orbital Ring Road
Likely to be little more than a vision; the Mayor proposed back in May (
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/trans...n-9354896.html) for a 22mile (35km) new Orbital Ring Road. The proposed road would encompass a similar area to the Boulevard Périphérique that surrounds Paris, but the major difference is that it would all be in tunnel.
Image sourced from The Evening Standard: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/trans...n-9354896.html
The closest equivalent project in modern times would be Boston’s Big Dig but that was 5.6km of tunnels; this would be over 6x longer, and at £30bn ($50bn) it would most certainly not be cheap.
While there would be merit in drastically limiting the amount of traffic traversing Central London, it is unlikely that there would ever be a complete ban on non-public transport vehicles within Zone 1. There are also various question marks beyond the obscene price tag, including whether the money would be better spent building two or three Crossrail lines, the devastation of giant tunnel entrances, and whether another (albeit underground) road is necessary in Central London.