As the news came in that Crossrail services will not launch in December 2018, and will be postponed until autumn 2019, Caroline Pidgeon, chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said:
"It is disappointing that the decision to delay the launch of Crossrail has been announced at such late notice. It is scarcely believable that the Mayor, TfL and Crossrail did not know of a likely delay a long time ago and chose not to let Londoners know sooner.
"The opening of the Elizabeth line is rightly heralded as the biggest leap in London’s transport capacity for a generation. It will improve connections to the east and west of London and relieve crowding in central London. Passengers will be left to wait even longer for these benefits.
"We will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Mayor’s Office, TfL and Crossrail to find out what has led to this delay and get some answers on behalf of Londoners.”