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| PM hails £16bn Crossrail project | PM hails £16bn Crossrail project |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has marked the start of construction on a new £15.9bn rail route across London. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has marked the start of construction on a new £15.9bn rail route across London. |
| 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. |
| 'Years of hesitation' | 'Years of hesitation' |
| 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. | 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 shovels have tasted earth and the construction of a railway that is crucial to the economic prosperity of this great city has begun London's mayor Boris Johnson | The shovels have tasted earth and the construction of a railway that is crucial to the economic prosperity of this great city has begun London's mayor Boris Johnson |
| 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. |
| Mr Brown joined rail minister Lord Adonis and London Mayor Boris Johnson at Canary Wharf in London Docklands as a foundation for a new Crossrail station was laid. | Mr Brown joined rail minister Lord Adonis and London Mayor Boris Johnson at Canary Wharf in London Docklands as a foundation for a new Crossrail station was laid. |
| Mr Brown said: "Investment in important projects like Crossrail, the largest construction project in Europe, is vital to create and protect jobs as well as supporting business, so we can grow our way out of recession and ensure a strong future for London and the country as a whole." | Mr Brown said: "Investment in important projects like Crossrail, the largest construction project in Europe, is vital to create and protect jobs as well as supporting business, so we can grow our way out of recession and ensure a strong future for London and the country as a whole." |
| There have been concerns that the Conservatives could abandon the project because of the economic conditions should the party win the next general election. | There have been concerns that the Conservatives could abandon the project because of the economic conditions should the party win the next general election. |
| class="bodl" href="#mortgage">Crossrail and London landmarks | |
| BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds said: "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." | BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds said: "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." |
| See details of Crossrail route through central LondonEnlarge Map | |
| But Conservative mayor Mr Johnson said the project will change the face of transport in London and the south-east forever. | But Conservative mayor Mr Johnson said the project will change the face of transport in London and the south-east forever. |
| "The years of hesitation, irresolution and vacillations are over," he said. | "The years of hesitation, irresolution and vacillations are over," he said. |
| "The shovels have tasted earth and the construction of a railway that is crucial to the economic prosperity of this great city has begun." | "The shovels have tasted earth and the construction of a railway that is crucial to the economic prosperity of this great city has begun." |
| At peak times 24 trains an hour will run on the route, carrying up to 1,500 passengers. | At peak times 24 trains an hour will run on the route, carrying up to 1,500 passengers. |
| The first trains are expected to start running in 2017 - more than four decades after the concept was first recommended. | The first trains are expected to start running in 2017 - more than four decades after the concept was first recommended. |
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