The promised funding for Crossrail 2 was rubber stamped as Chancellor George Osborne announced government backing in his Budget in the Commons today (16 March).

Yesterday the chancellor made public assurances he would give the project the ‘green light’ and sure enough he was good to his word.

The government’s promise to financially support Crossrail 2 is likely to mean support in the region of £80m and Transport for London will be asked to commit the same amount.

The £27bn Crossrail 2 project will link south west and north east London and is expected to be completed on 2033. The 22.4 mile route includes a stop at Kingston upon Thames with direct links to Tottenham Court Road, St Pancras, Euston and north London.

Once fully operational, it will enable 27,000 more people to travel into London at peak times relieving congestion on the overcrowded Waterloo line.

Backing for the HS3 train links between Manchester and Leeds was also announced. The east-west rail link across the Pennines will cut 20 minutes off the journey time on trains travelling at 140mph.