In a recent significant move, Lords have sanctioned the permission for a £16 billion railway link connecting Canary Wharf and London Heathrow Airport.

Most notably, the connection that has been proposed now will form part of the most welcomed Crossrail project. Notably, this is one of the largest development projects in the transport sector of London during the past 50 years.

On its completion, the present proposal is expected to significantly ease the congestion on the tube network in addition to the dampening calls for more services at the London City Airport, which is situated very close to Canary Wharf.

Since the Parliament's upper chamber has approved the proposed link even without the requirement for a vote, the present move has clearly paved the way for the Crossrail plans to be brought before the House of Commons.

The construction has been planned to commence in 2010. If the construction takes off as per the schedule, the link will require not less than 14 miles of tunneling. The project will connect Heathrow and Maidenhead to east London through Paddington and Tottenham Court Road.

In a statement made recently, Ruth Kelly, the transport secretary had expressed her full support for the Crossrail project. She observed, "This landmark project is of major significance to both London and the whole country. It will generate jobs and economic growth, help re-vitalise some of our most deprived areas and deliver major improvements for the travelling public."