London's Crossrail built with 'Welsh expertise'

Video caption, Crossrail, the 拢15bn railway which will run beneath London from 2018, is being built with Welsh expertise from about 40 firms
  • Author, David Cornock
  • Role, 麻豆官网首页入口 Wales Parliamentary correspondent

What is 35 metres underground, will be used by 200 million passengers a year and costs almost 拢15bn?

The answer is London's newest railway system, Crossrail or the Elizabeth Line as it will be known.

The 200 metre (650 ft) long trains will each carry up to 1,500 passengers on an east-west route taking in more than 60 miles (96 km) of track.

But why should anyone in Wales care about more investment in London transport?

That is a question I put to the project chairman Terry Morgan, originally from Cwmbran, and Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb as I joined them on a tour of the new Paddington station.