Governance arrangements to complete the Crossrail project

Document type: Journal Publication
Author: Rachel Bain MSc ChPP MCIHT MAPM AMICE, Richard Zavitz MSc PEng
Publication Date: 05/04/2023

Abstract

The opening of the Elizabeth line on 24 May 2022 was a significant achievement for everyone involved in the delivery of Crossrail, including the Joint Sponsor team who oversaw the governance arrangements that supported the project through development, construction, commissioning and the successful transition into operations.

The Joint Sponsor team was established with staff from both sponsor organisations, the Department for Transport (DfT) and Transport for London (TfL), and was responsible for interfacing with the Crossrail project on behalf of the sponsors.

In this paper, as current members of the sponsor teams in DfT and TfL, we reflect on the changes made to the governance arrangements as the project progressed through recovery, completing the railway and project close, and describe the impacts of these changes.

We have identified lessons that we feel are beneficial for other major government-funded infrastructure projects, including High Speed 2, East West Rail, the Lower Thames Crossing and future investments including the Bakerloo line extension and Crossrail 2.
Document Links
Authors

Rachel Bain MSc ChPP MCIHT MAPM AMICE - Department for Transport

Rachel has been the Crossrail Principal Sponsor at DfT since August 2022, with responsibility for overseeing the completion of the final critical stages of delivery and the close out of the project, including ensuring that lessons learned from Crossrail are shared with other government major projects and programmes.

Rachel is a Chartered Project Professional with a Masters in Transport Engineering and Planning and is experienced in delivering rail and highway infrastructure schemes. Prior to joining the Crossrail project, she was the DfT Programme Client for major rail enhancements on the East Coast Main Line. Between 2005 and 2017, she worked at TfL, clienting and sponsoring bus priority, urban realm and road safety schemes. In her last role at TfL, she led a team sponsoring the delivery of a number of major highway transformation projects across London.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/rbainUK

Richard Zavitz MSc PEng - Transport for London

Richard Zavitz is an experienced project professional working in the sponsorship of major capital investment projects through the full investment life-cycle. He is a trusted leader who proactively works to ensure business investment outcomes are realised through collaboration, challenge and support of the business management and project teams.

He is currently the Lead Sponsor of the Crossrail project for TfL, working both to close the project and leading the benefits management and evaluation activities. He joined the Joint Sponsor Team in 2018 and has been at Transport for London since 2014 when he joined as Sponsor of the Future Station Capacity Programme.

As Lead Sponsor, he is also leading the development of the future investment in the Elizabeth line to ensure it continues to operate a safe and reliable service as London grows/changes, connections with HS2 are added and other enhancement proposals are considered.

Richard has extensive knowledge of the major project sector and is an active member of the Major Project Association Sponsor Network.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wrzavitz
Partners

Association for Project Management

https://www.apm.org.uk/