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Crossrail is at major risk of having its opening delayed by even longer than already feared and requiring even more public money, it emerged today.

The crisis-hit line has already soared £2.8bn in cost to £17.6bn and its opening is due between October 2020 and March 2021, the original December 2018 date having been abandoned a year ago.

A series of high-level warnings by Crossrail’s independent watchdog, the engineering firm Jacobs, were due to be made public by Transport for London today.

It is understood that these will reveal that the project faces additional “cost pressures and scheduling pressures” that make opening it within the promised six-month window and expanded budget even more challenging.

They will raise concerns that the opening schedule remains “too optimistic” - though it is not thought that Jacobs calls for the date to be delayed further.

Jacobs is understood to fear that a “number of longer-term risks may not be receiving the focus necessary to ensure that the schedule and cost are delivered in line with expectations”.

A “persistent trend” in rising costs, low productivity levels, missed targets, and a lack of “robust” risk analysis are highlighted. Concerns about the new signalling and the new £1bn fleet of trains remain. One part of the scheme has been given a “red” rating.

Mayor Sadiq Khan strengthened the scrutiny powers of Jacobs to reveal problems with Crossrail and increase the project’s transparency. The alerts relate to Jacobs analysis throughout April and May.

Last week TfL commissioner Mike Brown admitted there would be “further bumps in the road” but said he had confidence in the project’s new management team.

A source said: “This report is being published as part of the Mayor’s commitment to transparency – to make sure Crossrail management doesn’t repeat the mistakes of its predecessors and operates realistically and openly. It’s expected to show that there are still considerable challenges to overcome.

“However, with the strengthened governance and security arrangements in place, TfL and the Department for Transport will continue holding Crossrail’s leadership to account to make sure they are doing everything in their power to open the new railway safely and within the proposed delivery window.”

A spokesperson for Crossrail said: “The Elizabeth line is one of the most complex and challenging infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the UK and we recognise many of the challenges the Project Representative reports describe.

"Many of the issues highlighted are already being addressed by the new leadership team’s plan to complete the Elizabeth line.

"The new plan continues to be kept under careful review as we complete the outstanding works and bring the railway into passenger service at the earliest opportunity.

"Everyone involved in the Crossrail project is fully focused on ensuring the Elizabeth line is completed as quickly as possible."