3 December 2010 | Lindsay Clark

London’s Crossrail project reached a major milestone this week as the procurement process to buy the trains got under way.

The rail system, which will run between east and west London, will invest about £1 billion in rolling stock and depot facilities.

However, Crossrail, a joint venture between Transport for London (TfL) and the Department forTransport, insists a revolutionary new train design is not required.

Rolling stock and depot facilities will be funded by private finance, and arrangement of finance will be required as part of supplier bids, Crossrail said.

It said costs associated with rolling stock and the depot contract would form part of the future cost of operating Crossrail services. TfL would then let the service to operators, as it does with London Overground.

Howard Smith, chief operating officer, TfL London Rail, said: “The procurement of rolling stock will bring the Crossrail project to life for many Londoners and is a significant step forward. London needs additional transport capacity to relieve congestion on the existing Tube and National Rail networks, and Crossrail will provide that much-needed boost. London Rail is looking forward to working with Crossrail to deliver the new rail service for London and the south east.”

A spokesman for Crossrail said the procurement process and timetable would be set out in the invitation to tender, which would be issued later in 2011. “It is currently anticipated that contract award will occur in late 2013. Services through the central tunnel section will be introduced in late 2018.”