Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM: Thank you for that. Will the decision to delay the opening until autumn next year [2019] ‑ it would be great to find out which month in autumn ‑ mean further delay in the opening of the other sections and the final full opening of the line in December 2019?
David Kurten AM: Let us come back to the technical aspects. It seems the main problems are getting the three different signalling infrastructures to talk to each other. If you had an extension from Abbey Wood to Ebbsfleet then you would need Crossrail to go onto Southeastern track, which might be a fourth signalling structure. Would it not be? You are shaking your heads.
I know that borough leaders are aware of this, and perhaps there can be some liaison with the boroughs, as well, through the Association of London Government (ALG).
That was originally where I was going, but we seem to have unearthed a whole new interesting line of enquiry. Perhaps you could come back with a written response to say what is being done rather than us put you on the spot here.