Crossrail

Douglas Oakervee OBE to become Crossrail's non-executive chairman
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date 30 March 2009
source Crossrail
type Press release

Crossrail's Executive Chairman Douglas Oakervee OBE is to take up the new post of Non-Executive Chairman on 1 April 2009. This follows the announcement on 3 February that Rob Holden CBE, the current Chief Executive of London and Continental Railways, will become Crossrail's Chief Executive on that date.

Mr Oakervee will remain in this post until Terry Morgan CBE, the current Chief Executive of Tube Lines, takes over as Crossrail Chairman later in the year.

Douglas Oakervee is one of the country's most distinguished civil engineers, with broad international experience in the delivery of major projects, including overseeing construction of the new Hong Kong International Airport. In 2003 he was elected as the 139th President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and in 2008 received their prestigious Gold Medal in recognition of five decades of outstanding contribution to the civil engineering profession.

London's Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy said:

"Crossrail will be Europe's largest construction project and when completed in 2017 will be the biggest addition to the transport network in London and the South East for 50 years. Doug Oakervee has made a huge contribution to date to the Crossrail project. Under Doug's leadership over the past three-and-a-half years, Crossrail obtained its £15.9 billion funding package, gained parliamentary approval, and laid the foundations for the critical construction and delivery phase of this vitally important transport project."

Douglas Oakervee said:

"It has been a great privilege to lead the Crossrail project through the approval stages over the past few years, and to change the company from a planning organisation to one focused on delivery of this vital railway. I am delighted that Rob Holden will be at the helm as Crossrail moves into the critical construction and delivery phase of the project, and look forward to working with him and the Executive Team."

Ends

Further information:

Jonathan Baggs, Crossrail Press Office, Tel. 020 3229 9552

Email: jonathanbaggs@crossrail.co.uk

Notes to Editors

About Crossrail

Crossrail will run 118 km from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west, through new twin-bore 21 km tunnels under central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east. It will bring an additional 1.5 million people within 60 minutes commuting distance of London's key business districts. When Crossrail opens in 2017 it will increase London's public transport network capacity by 10 per cent, supporting regeneration across the capital, helping to secure London's position as a world leading financial centre, and cutting journey times across the city.

Preparatory works will continue throughout 2009. Main Crossrail construction starts in 2010. Crossrail is scheduled to open for service in 2017.

Crossrail progress

The Crossrail Act received Royal Assent on 22 July 2008, granting the powers to build the railway. On 24 July 2008, Crossrail Limited (CRL) was appointed the lead Nominated Undertaker for the delivery of the railway.

Since then, Crossrail has been moving rapidly ahead and progress includes:

o New Crossrail Board appointed with five Non-Executive Directors
o Terry Morgan appointed Non-Executive Chairman, effective later in 2009
o Rob Holden appointed Chief Executive, effective 1 April 2009* Tony Gregory appointed Crossrail Complaints Commissioner, effective 1 April 2009
o Compulsory Purchase Notices issued and property acquired at Tottenham Court Road
o Tender issued for £500m London Underground works at Tottenham Court Road. The contract for the Crossrail works at Tottenham Court Road will be advertised at a later date
o Signing of £230m funding agreement with BAA
o Signing of £350m funding agreement with the City of London
o Signing of main agreements underpinning governance
o Signing of £150m funding agreement with the Canary Wharf Group, with CWG taking responsibility for design and construction of the Crossrail Isle of Dogs station
o Crossrail appointed DHL to recommend logistical strategy to minimise impact of construction on central London
o Selection of Transcend (a joint venture of AECOM, CH2M Hill and Nichols Group) as Crossrail's Programme Partner

Crossrail is promoted by Crossrail Limited (CRL). CRL became a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London on 5 December 2008.

Railhub Archive ::: 2009-03-30 CRO-001