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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| PM to open Crossrail construction | PM to open Crossrail construction |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown will mark the start of construction on a new £15.9bn rail route across London later. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown will mark the start of construction on a new £15.9bn rail route across London later. |
| Crossrail will link towns to the east and west of the city with Heathrow, the West End, and Canary Wharf. | Crossrail will link towns to the east and west of the city with Heathrow, the West End, and Canary Wharf. |
| The project's supporters say it will bring better transport for London and create jobs when they are badly needed. | The project's supporters say it will bring better transport for London and create jobs when they are badly needed. |
| But Crossrail has been criticised by some commentators as a waste of money, given the extreme pressure on the public purse. | But Crossrail has been criticised by some commentators as a waste of money, given the extreme pressure on the public purse. |
| 'Far too much' | 'Far too much' |
| Given the go-ahead in 2007, Crossrail will involve digging tunnels from the east of London to a point close to Paddington station in the west of the city. | |
| The tunnels will link to existing rail stations, providing train services to Maidenhead, Heathrow, central London, Docklands, Shenfield in Essex and Abbey Wood in south London. | The tunnels will link to existing rail stations, providing train services to Maidenhead, Heathrow, central London, Docklands, Shenfield in Essex and Abbey Wood in south London. |
| BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds said: "The case for Crossrail is based on better transport for the city, the airport and in releasing pressure on the London underground. | |
| "It will stimulate jobs when the economy needs them but it will also cost £15.9bn - a third of it taxpayers' money. | |
| "Critics say it's far too much when public spending is expected to fall and some say the money would be better invested in the tube system." | "Critics say it's far too much when public spending is expected to fall and some say the money would be better invested in the tube system." |