Cross rail project gathers momentum

The redevelopment of Tottenham Court Road station has moved a major step closer as Crossrail has issued property acquisition notices that will allow main construction works at the station to begin in January 2009.

Rail Minister, Lord Adonis said: "This is a major step forward in the delivery of Crossrail and underlines the Government's commitment to the project."

The Astoria music venue is one of 13 buildings around Tottenham Court Road station that will be demolished before the station is extended.

The UK£ 16 billion (€ 20 billion) Crossrail project will link Maidenhead in Berkshire to Shenfield in Essex via Heathrow airport and central London.

The scheme to create an east-west rail route across London is the biggest transport project in the UK since the construction of the Channel Tunnel.

It was approved by MPs in July and the first trains are expected to start running in 2017.

Starting next year, Tottenham Court Road station will be extensively redeveloped to create an expanded Tube ticket hall and for high-frequency Crossrail services.

Tube stations along the route, including Paddington, Liverpool Street and Bond Street, will also be revamped as part of the Crossrail project.