The rectangular shape of Central London is best served by Crossrail 2+3 running diagonally east-west, intersecting once with all the other tube lines as well as with the Overground line. Spacing out stations at 2 kilometre intervals, allows most of Central London to be served directly by Crossrail, without passengers changing to reach their final destination. Similar to Crossrail 1 and Thameslink (TL), Crossrail 2+3 may fan out to serve Outer London, the airports of London and selected large towns outside London. With the possibility of doubling or tripling the capacity a generation after Crossrail 2+3 open, there may be less need for further increases to tube and train capacity throughout Inner London until the middle of the 21st century. This article in Planning for London 93/15 sets out eleven principles that may prove Crossrail 2+3 to be excellent value for money and to serve London for generations to come.
London 2050 AD
Whether London will continue to experience growth the next 15-25 years similar to the last 15-25 years is impossible to predict. What is more certain, is that boom and bust come in cycles, and that meagre years often follow richer years. No one can foresee what London will be like a generation from now, but looking back a generation, London has changed enormously since 1980 and may continue to do so for yet another generation. We may not see flying cars, personal planes or helicopters – but double decker trains or trams, electric bikes and cars, shared bike and car clubs, and automatic trams, tubes and trains may all be the norm rather than futuristic oddities – linking ten million Londoners with new garden cities, new towns and additional runways, encircling a federal UK capital.
