Crossrail - Construction updates and progress towards opening (now expected 24 May 2022)

[Mojo]

Yes the Farringdon one is Elizabeth line and Thameslink. So why’s it Underground blue?

Farringdon is an LU station and Paddington is a Crossrail station. Of course keeping the inconsistencies, the Long Lane entrance at Farringdon has the purple bar and Crossrail roundel only, as does the new entrance at Liverpool St (actually Moorgate Underground).

 

[stuu]

Putting Shenfield on there seems premature. I know obviously people can change at Liverpool St, but that applies to everywhere that can be reached via a change... unless they are planning on opening to Shenfield much sooner than assumed?

 

[JN114]

Putting Shenfield on there seems premature. I know obviously people can change at Liverpool St, but that applies to everywhere that can be reached via a change... unless they are planning on opening to Shenfield much sooner than assumed?

The sign is (theoretically) going to be there forever; at some point in the not-too distant future there will be direct trains from Paddington LL to Shenfield.

It makes little sense to make a permanent sign now that doesn’t mention Shenfield, and in 6-9 months when through running starts replace the sign again.

 

[tomuk]

I assume the other entrance at Paddington is signed for Elizabeth line to Reading?

The different signing because it is a different mode does seem to be inconsistent.

The other thing that I don't get is the stations. On previous lines and other systems eg New York Subway each station had some unique features i.e. tile patterns/colours at platform level to allow you to id the station easily.
On the Elizabeth line of the Crossrail mode most of the station platforms are nearly identical in the 2001 A Space Odyssey/Space: 1999 style.

 

[Nottingham59]

Can people take (unfolded) bicycles on the Elizabeth line?
The TfL website says the new trains have: "Four dedicated wheelchair spaces as well as separate multi-use spaces which can also be used for buggies, luggage and bicycles"

The website says for bikes on TfL Rail:
"Allowed anytime on weekends and bank holidays"

"You can also take non-folded cycles from Monday to Friday, on trains: ....
Leaving London Paddington before 16:30 and after 19:00"
But I don't think they mean Eastbound....

 

[tomuk]

But I don't think they mean Eastbound....

Why not? I can't take my bike from Ealing Broadway to Ilford outside the peak?

 

[SynthD]

Are bikes forbidden on deep tubes because it’s deep or small? We will learn which it is with this decision. I expect Paddington to Custom House and Stratford could the limit of the ban.

 

[swt_passenger]

I assume the other entrance at Paddington is signed for Elizabeth line to Reading?

Elizabeth line trains to Reading still go from the main shed in the next phase. That entrance wording will have to be altered when the services are linked at Paddington.

 

[tomuk]

Elizabeth line trains to Reading still go from the main shed in the next phase. That entrance wording will have to be altered when the services are linked at Paddington.

But the sign says Shenfield. Trains won't be going to Shenfield only Abbey Wood to begin with.

 

[stuu]

The sign is (theoretically) going to be there forever; at some point in the not-too distant future there will be direct trains from Paddington LL to Shenfield.

It makes little sense to make a permanent sign now that doesn’t mention Shenfield, and in 6-9 months when through running starts replace the sign again.

Why is it? Underground stations don't. Surely its just to tell people not to use it to go towards Heathrow?

 

[samulih]

^It is an underground station with all the other lines added later

 

[matt_world2004]

Not really.

TFL use colours on station entrances.

That Paddington picture looks like the crossrail entrance and the Farringdon one the ThamesLink entrance.

Blue is underground.

If blue is for underground and farringdon is coloured blue for the underground. Why is Ealing Broadway purple?

Why is abbey wood blue when no underground services serve there

 

[BahrainLad]

Farringdon is also odd because once you get past Thameslink on the sign over the entrance, all the internal wayfinding switches back to “National Rail“, immediately if you look closely at the picture above.

 

[snowball]

But the sign says Shenfield. Trains won't be going to Shenfield only Abbey Wood to begin with.

Perhaps "and Shenfield" will be temporarily covered up. It often happens with road signs.

 

[Malaxa]

Crossrail Information Paper E2 relating to cycle carriage suggests that bicycles would be banned at all times between Abbey Wood and Acton Main Line - i.e. the [deep] tunnel sections.
Of course cycle carriage outside peak hours is possible on the DLR beneath the Thames in, er, deep tunnels.
It seems to me that the probable banning of cycles on the Elizabeth may relate to access to the platforms. But again, this is no problem on the DLR, and indeed wheelchairs and buggies will be allowed, I suspect, on all sections of the Elizabeth.
I suspect the carriage of unfolded cycles in the central area would generally be between stations outside the central tunnel area. One does wonder how crowded the trains will be in that section.

 

[matt_world2004]

Crossrail Information Paper E2 relating to cycle carriage suggests that bicycles would be banned at all times between Abbey Wood and Acton Main Line - i.e. the [deep] tunnel sections.
Of course cycle carriage outside peak hours is possible on the DLR beneath the Thames in, er, deep tunnels.
It seems to me that the probable banning of cycles on the Elizabeth may relate to access to the platforms. But again, this is no problem on the DLR, and indeed wheelchairs and buggies will be allowed, I suspect, on all sections of the Elizabeth.
I suspect the carriage of unfolded cycles in the central area would generally be between stations outside the central tunnel area. One does wonder how crowded the trains will be in that section.

I find that strange considering carriages are permitted on most of the sub surface lines off peak and crossrail is similar dimensions

 

[tomuk]

I find that strange considering carriages are permitted on most of the sub surface lines off peak and crossrail is similar dimensions

I suppose the issue is if you take your bike and get off at Tottenham Court Road, for example and drag you bike through the connecting passageways onto the deep level tube lines.

 

[londontransit]

Elizabeth line trains to Reading still go from the main shed in the next phase. That entrance wording will have to be altered when the services are linked at Paddington.

Don't think they'll say 'to Reading' because people will already (in theory) be on those very trains heading for Reading. Similarly for Heathrow.

The reason the signage is done like this (eg Shenfield/Abbey Wood) is for those passengers who come off the main line trains at Paddington and will be looking for the trains heading in those directions.

That new signage at Paddington has been up a few weeks.

By the way the Crossrail lifts at Paddington have just been unfenced (eg there's no fencing across the entrances anymore) thus one can now get a better view of the main Crossrail ticket hall concourse and the ticket barriers from the bridge leading to the lifts.

And the good news (or is that bad?) Opening's definitely in June.

 

[swt_passenger]

Don't think they'll say 'to Reading' because people will already (in theory) be on those very trains heading for Reading. Similarly for Heathrow...

What about people entering Crossrail at that entrance from the local streets?

 

[James H]

I think the point is that if you are at Paddington and want to travel to Reading, the Elizabeth line might not be your best option

 

[swt_passenger]

I think the point is that if you are at Paddington and want to travel to Reading, the Elizabeth line might not be your best option

But it will be for almost anywhere between there and Reading…

 

[stuu]

If blue is for underground and farringdon is coloured blue for the underground. Why is Ealing Broadway purple?

Why is abbey wood blue when no underground services serve there

It is down to who runs the station - Ealing Broadway is an NR station which is now managed by Crossrail, hence purple

Abbey Wood is a cock up (or Southeastern, but their blue is darker)

 

[londontransit]

I think the point is that if you are at Paddington and want to travel to Reading, the Elizabeth line might not be your best option

LOL!

What about people entering Crossrail at that entrance from the local streets?

I had thought about that but in retrospect most will probably be wanting to head towards Central London or further eastwards.

 

[Malaxa]

I find that strange considering carriages are permitted on most of the sub surface lines off peak and crossrail is similar dimensions

There's a distinction between the deep lines and the District/Met/Hammersmith & City lines. Cycle carriage is banned between Leyton and Stratford owing to a short section of tunnel between two adjacent surface stations. Cycles are also banned south of Drayton Park on Moorgate services at all times.
I forgot that you can also take cycles off-peak on Overground services which also uses a deep tunnel beneath the Thames.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I think it’s a mistake not putting ‘Station’ as a suffix on the Elizabeth line stations. Yes on the Paddington example there’s a roundel tacked in the side but approaching down those stairs on the left it’s not exactly clear what it is.

The Farringdon example looks much better and I presume because it’s a combined station it gets the Underground look.

I suppose maybe the Paddington photogtraph is of the entrance to the Elizabeth line Eastbound platform only ?. Whereas the Farringdon photograph is of the (or one of the) entrance to the whole station.

 

[absolutelymilk]

And the good news (or is that bad?) Opening's definitely in June.

Did you mean by June, or are you saying it will open in June not May?

 

[t_packer]

I suppose maybe the Paddington photogtraph is of the entrance to the Elizabeth line Eastbound platform only ?. Whereas the Farringdon photograph is of the (or one of the) entrance to the whole station.

That entrance leads down to both platforms. My best guess is that the “Abbey Wood/Shenfield” sticker will be gone once through-running begins, or added to include Heathrow and Reading. It likely says Shenfield now because it is still a destination on the Elizabeth Line which can be reached from Paddington, changing at Liverpool Street for now. It’s probably (for now) to distinguish those trains down on the Elizabeth Line platforms with those bound for Heathrow and Reading from the mainline station.

 

[Roast Veg]

The other thing that I don't get is the stations. On previous lines and other systems eg New York Subway each station had some unique features i.e. tile patterns/colours at platform level to allow you to id the station easily.
On the Elizabeth line of the Crossrail mode most of the station platforms are nearly identical in the 2001 A Space Odyssey/Space: 1999 style.

Have you been on it yet? I have, and what you say couldn't be much further from the truth. Every single station has a number of artistic design features that incorporate something of the local area.

 

[matt_world2004]

I think the point is that if you are at Paddington and want to travel to Reading, the Elizabeth line might not be your best option

But for hanwell , West Ealing , Acton Mainline ,Southall it very probably is

It is down to who runs the station - Ealing Broadway is an NR station which is now managed by Crossrail, hence purple

Abbey Wood is a cock up (or Southeastern, but their blue is darker)

Abbey wood is run by MTR like ealing Broadway. Tottenham Court road is run by London underground and that has a purple sign

 

[PG]

It makes little sense to make a permanent sign now that doesn’t mention Shenfield, and in 6-9 months when through running starts replace the sign again.

Perhaps they could do as they've done for Bond Street
on the interior car line diagrams and have Shenfield.