Crossrail has announced that Terry Morgan, CBE will take up appointment as Non-Executive Chairman on 1 June ahead of the previously announced date of November 2009.

Current Non-Executive Chairman Douglas Oakervee, OBE will leave Crossrail when Mr Morgan joins the organisation.

Crossrail will be Europe's largest construction project and when completed in 2017 will be the biggest addition to the transport network in London and the South East for 50 years.


Mr Oakervee said: "It has been a great privilege to lead the Crossrail project over the past few years and the company is now quickly moving from a planning organisation to one focused on delivery of this vital railway.

"Following approval of the Crossrail Act last summer, the project has made significant progress with funding and governance agreements finalised, the appointment of Rob Holden as Chief Executive and the selection of the contractors for the key Programme Partner and Project Delivery Partner contracts.

"Given that construction will shortly get underway at Isle of Dogs followed by Tottenham Court Road and other key sites in 2010, it seems a good point to hand over to Terry Morgan so that he can be involved in overseeing the next crucial phase in Crossrail's construction from the beginning."

(CD/JM)