Don’t congratulate Sadiq Khan for delivering the transport London needed 10 years ago
So far, Sadiq Khan's only transport achievements have been to cut the ribbon on new projects that his predecessors started, writes James Ford.
Sadiq Khan's transport accomplishments since becoming Mayor of London have largely been limited to unveiling projects initiated by his predecessors, as revealed by James Ford in recent weeks. The London transport landscape has been abuzz with proposals for new infrastructure, with Transport for London (TfL) leading the charge. However, the reality is that these projects have been on the table for years, even before Khan assumed office in 2016.
The most ambitious of these – Crossrail 2 – was halted in 2020, with an estimated completion date of the 2050s. Even worse, Crossrail 2's revival has been delayed, making it an expensive undertaking. The Elizabeth Line's opening in 2022 was a false hope for Khan, as it did little to advance his transport agenda. The most significant projects – Crossrail 2, the West London Orbital, the DLR extension, and the Bakerloo Line extension – have been on TfL's agenda for years.
These projects have been subject to cost escalations, with Crossrail 2's price skyrocketing from £32.6bn in 2016 to £45bn. Meanwhile, Khan's transport legacy rests on unveiling these long-delayed projects, which is a far cry from the transformative infrastructure vision many may have hoped for.
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