Tube Lines boss in running to be Crossrail chairman

Terry Morgan, the chief executive of Tube Lines, the London Underground upgrade consortium, has been approached to chair the £16bn Crossrail project.

The deadline for applications was Friday and it is believed current executive chairman Doug Oakervee and Mr Morgan will be in the frame along with favourite Rob Holden, the chief executive of London & Continental Railways, which built the high-speed Channel tunnel link.

Cross London Rail Links, the company behind the Heathrow-to-Essex project, decided to reorganise its structure after the project got Royal Assent in July. This is why Mr Oakervee has had to reapply for his job.

Mr Morgan is thought to have told friends that while he views the job as "a fantastic opportunity", he favours Mr Oakervee, 68, to continue on a short-term basis so he can finish his work at Tube Lines. Mr Morgan is currently trying to secure an extra £2.1bn for future Underground improvements.

Mr Holden would like to be installed as chairman quickly so he can choose a chief executive. Odgers Ray & Bernstein, the headhunter for both positions, will also approach him over the chief executive role.