An analysis of London’s transport network has found that major projects such as Crossrail are crucial if London is to keep pace with its growing population.

Based on estimates of population and job increases by 2016, the Mayor’s transport body, Transport for London (TfL) reports that to serve the expected extra demand, new transport schemes are required to provide relief to current overcrowding and to improve the accessibility of London.

The analysis by TfL has been submitted to the independent panel examining the planning blueprint for London, the draft London Plan. The plan will be investigated at an ‘examination in public’ by an independent panel for six weeks starting March 3.

The majority of extra rail capacity will come from Crossrail 1 (40 per cent), a scheme to improve east-west links across London.

With these major schemes in place, the level of crowding on rail and underground will decrease, and the number of very crowded lines – defined as more than 25 per cent above recommended levels - will go down by two thirds.

The new schemes will also mean reductions in journey times and significant improvements in the number of jobs that residents can reach within 45 minutes. Most residents of inner and east London will see an increase of more than half a million jobs within reach of 45 minutes travel time by 2016.

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London said: ‘This report makes it very clear that the proposed transport schemes need putting in place now if London is to cope in the future. That is why they are a key element of my draft London Plan, and why Londoners and London business should be out there now lobbying for them.’