HM Treasury
Lord Adonis has been proposed for the role jointly by the Mayor of London, Chancellor George Osborne and Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, and his appointment is subject to approval by the London Assembly and Transport for London Board.
The Chancellor and the Mayor met this week to agree the nomination and Mayor and the Transport Secretary will jointly agree the remit for this new role.
Running south-west to north-east across London, Crossrail 2 could change the way people travel around London and the south east, tackle the key challenge of overcrowding at Londons main terminal stations, and make a significant contribution to unlocking new housing growth in London.
Lord Adonis will bring a wealth of experience to the role.
He is a former Secretary of State for Transport and Minister for Schools, while he was also member of the independent Armitt Commission, which recommended an independent National Infrastructure Commission in 2013. He was appointed last year as the interim chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, a role he will continue.
Lord Adonis said:
Without Crossrail 2 London will grind to a halt. There are no greater challenges facing London than overcrowding on the transport network and the citys acute housing crisis. Crossrail 2 will help tackle both.
I am delighted to be nominated to be its chair, whilst continuing the vital work of the National Infrastructure Commission, and I look forward to making it happen.
Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, said:
At this years Budget, the Chancellor gave the green light to Crossrail 2, a railway to transform how people travel in and around our nations capital. This transport project needs strong and experienced leadership and we agree with the Mayor of London that Lord Adonis will bring all of the vital skills and knowledge needed to drive the project forward.
We now look forward to working in partnership with Transport for London and Lord Adonis to fully develop the business case for Crossrail 2. We are investing billions in projects right across the country because we know good transport links help people get around and get on.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
As London grows, it is imperative that we plan now for the transport infrastructure it needs for the long-term. So I am delighted to announce my proposal to appoint Andrew Adonis as Chair of Crossrail 2. He will bring vital experience to help ensure Crossrail 2 gets off the ground and is delivered as quickly as possible.