Ambitious plans to build and open Crossrail by 2015 are likely to slip, amid concerns over affordability and growing pressure on businesses in London to make a big contribution to the costs of the multi-billion-pound cross-London rail link

Even assuming a financing package for Crossrail, the biggest and most costly transport infrastructure project being considered by the government, can be agreed in time for the October spending review, services are unlikely to begin for a decade.