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

[tomuk]

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.

Upstairs in the ticket halls they do but the platforms are all the same for the central stations.

 

[Dstock7080]

Upstairs in the ticket halls they do but the platforms are all the same for the central stations.

Paddington platforms are distinctly different to the other core stations

 

[tomuk]

Paddington platforms are distinctly different to the other core stations

I know but Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street are nearly identical. Some of the signage looks lost in the cavernous platforms bit of a walk if you head the wrong way.

 

[43096]

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’d question how much demand for carrying bikes through the core there would be. Unless there are loonies who just drag bikes round everywhere for the sake of it, surely the point of having a bike in London is to ride it to get from A to B. London may be big, but Zone 1 is small enough that getting around by bike is feasible.

 

[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.

My point was why does it need any permanent signs saying where the trains go? Other Crossrail stations don't, nor does the London Underground as a rule. It makes sense to have a temporary sign while trains leave from two different locations, but it would be strange to have a permanent sign

 

[matt_world2004]

Paddington platforms are distinctly different to the other core stations

So is Canary wharfs. And abbey woods and Woolwich.

 

[DC1989]

The new signs at Stratford now say 'Elizabeth Line-platform 5 for trains to Heathrow and Reading via Central London' even though that won't happen for another year +

Also noticed the huge roundel at Abbey wood station has been uncovered today

 

[TheDon88]

[Edited on 05/05/2022 to add captions and make reference to the source of the video]

The Crossrail Project have just put up a YouTube video announcing the launch date of the Elizabeth Line!!

"Elizabeth Line - Launching Tuesday 24th May 2022"

Caption - Images and videos of various points through the history of the construction and testing of the Elizabeth Line, including the tunnelling, piling for station structures, construction of the rolling stock, running of trains along the constructed routeway and shots of the route control centre during trial operations, followed by images of the completed stations and trains running through the tunnel, ending with a drivers-eye view of a train running through the lit tunnels and "Launching Tuesday 24th May 2022" superimposed.

 

[TFN]

Unusual to have it on a Tuesday? Everyone was wrong xD

 

[James H]

Public service begins on 24 May

 

[brad465]

Finally got an opening date of 24th May:

Crossrail: Elizabeth line due to open on 24 May

The over-budget project was meant to open in December 2018 but will now begin running on 24 May.

www.bbc.co.uk

The delayed and over-budget Crossrail project will finally open this month, Transport for London (TfL) has said.
The Abbey Wood to Paddington section will open to passengers on 24 May, although initially trains will not run on Sundays or call at Bond Street.
Known as the Elizabeth line, it was due to open in December 2018 but the project has faced numerous setbacks.
The Elizabeth line will link Reading and Essex via central London.
Once the route is open, services will run every five minutes between 06:30 BST and 23:00, although a full timetable will not be in place until May 2023.
The opening date is also subject to final safety approvals being granted.

 

[Gulf1159]

Public service begins on 24 May

Abbey Wood to Paddington only

 

[Acton1991]

TfL have now announced the opening date - Tuesday 24th May.
Sky News post here.

 

[JaJaWa]

TfL have posted: https://twitter.com/TfL/status/1521774281826484224

We’ve got big news! The Elizabeth line will open on Tuesday 24 May 2022

Reduced journey times, more transport capacity, improved accessibility plus a huge economic boost to the capital and beyond

London Reconnections have posted: https://twitter.com/lonrec/status/1521579017471725568

LR understands that Crossrail will open on the 24th May

Initially, services will be limited to 06:30 - 22:00, and the line will be closed on Sundays to allow for continuing work.

Still lots to do to improve signalling reliability and enable auto-turnback.

 

[dosxuk]

Abbey Wood to Paddington only

This has been the plan, and announced as such, for a long long time. It keeps the new service away from the existing lines, with them being integrated at a later date - as this involves changing timetables on the wider network, I think there's some fairly safe bets on when this will happen!

 

[samulih]

May 24th opening. Naah too late.

 

[subk2010]

Congratulations!

Wonder when will the new map be released?

 

[thomalex]

Looking forward to seeing that new tube map!

 

[SynthD]

Do we return to guessing when the quiet opening will be?

 

[Wolfie]

According to the Evening Standard the opening date will be 24 May 22.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

​

Still lots to do to improve signalling reliability and enable auto-turnback.

TfL have posted: https://twitter.com/TfL/status/1521774281826484224​ ​ We’ve got big news! The Elizabeth line will open on Tuesday 24 May 2022​ ​ Reduced journey times, more transport capacity, improved accessibility plus a huge economic boost to the capital and beyond​

London Reconnections have posted: https://twitter.com/lonrec/status/1521579017471725568 LR understands that Crossrail will open on the 24th May Initially, services will be limited to 06:30 - 22:00, and the line will be closed on Sundays to allow for continuing work. Still lots to do to improve signalling reliability and enable auto-turnback.

Pleased to see they are getting on with it and not pursuing total perfection

 

[JaJaWa]

Some highlights from the official press release:

• The Elizabeth line will operate 12 trains per hour between Paddington and Abbey Wood from Monday to Saturday 06:30 to 23:00. Work will continue in engineering hours and on Sundays to allow a series of testing and software updates in preparation for more intensive services from the autumn.
• Work is ongoing at Bond Street Elizabeth line station, which means that it will not open with the other stations on 24 May. The station continues to make good progress and the team at Bond Street are working hard to open the station to customers later this year.
• Changes will be made to 14 bus routes to improve links to Elizabeth line stations in east and south-east London, where many customers will use buses to get to and from stations. The changes will take effect from Saturday 14 and Saturday 21 May. This includes the new route 304, which will operate between Manor Park and Custom House stations from 21 May.
• A special service will operate on Sunday 5 June for the Platinum Jubilee weekend. Services will run from approximately 08:00 – 22:00
• Services between Liverpool Street and Shenfield, and Paddington to Heathrow and Reading will continue to operate on Sundays as they do today aside from any planned weekend closures

and of course, the final map:

Wednesday 4 May 2022

TfL Press Release - Elizabeth line to open on 24 May 2022​

PN-30

• Trains to run every five minutes 06:30 – 23:00 Monday to Saturday between Paddington and Abbey Wood

Transport for London (TfL) has today confirmed that, subject to final safety approvals, the Elizabeth line will open on Tuesday 24 May 2022. The Elizabeth line will transform travel across London and the South East by dramatically improving transport links, cutting journey times, providing additional capacity, and transforming accessibility with spacious new stations and walk-through trains. The Elizabeth line will initially operate as three separate railways, with services from Reading, Heathrow and Shenfield connecting with the central tunnels from autumn this year.
In the coming weeks, Elizabeth line signage will continue to be uncovered across the network in preparation for the start of customer service. The updated Tube and Rail map will also be released later showing the new central section stations connected with the rest of the TfL network for the first time.

The new line is set to be crucial to London’s recovery from the pandemic, helping avoid a car-led recovery by providing new journey options, supporting regeneration across the capital, and adding an estimated £42bn to the UK economy.
The Elizabeth line will operate 12 trains per hour between Paddington and Abbey Wood from Monday to Saturday 06:30 to 23:00. Work will continue in engineering hours and on Sundays to allow a series of testing and software updates in preparation for more intensive services from the autumn.
All services between Reading and Heathrow to Paddington and Shenfield to Liverpool Street, currently operating as TfL Rail, will be rebranded to the Elizabeth line. Customers travelling between Reading or Heathrow into London will need to change at Paddington for services into the central section of the route, and customers from Shenfield into London will need to change at Liverpool Street. Services from Reading, Heathrow and Shenfield will connect with the central tunnels in autumn when frequencies will also be increased to 22 trains per hour in the peak between Paddington and Whitechapel.

Customers will be able to plan their journeys on the Elizabeth line using the TfL Go app and Journey Planner ahead of the railway opening. The new railway will connect stations such as Paddington to Canary Wharf in only 17 minutes, transforming how Londoners and visitors navigate the capital. This journey currently takes more than 30 minutes to complete using the Tube.
All Elizabeth line stations will be staffed from first to the last train, with a ‘turn up and go’ service offered to anyone needing assistance. Step-free access is in place from street to train across all Elizabeth line stations between Paddington and Woolwich.
Andy Byford, Transport for London's Commissioner, said: “I am delighted that we can now announce a date for the opening of the Elizabeth line in May. We are using these final few weeks to continue to build up reliability on the railway and get the Elizabeth line ready to welcome customers. The opening day is set to be a truly historic moment for the capital and the UK, and we look forward to showcasing a simply stunning addition to our network.”

Work is ongoing at Bond Street Elizabeth line station, which means that it will not open with the other stations on 24 May. The station continues to make good progress and the team at Bond Street are working hard to open the station to customers later this year.
Changes will be made to 14 bus routes to improve links to Elizabeth line stations in east and south-east London, where many customers will use buses to get to and from stations. The changes will take effect from Saturday 14 and Saturday 21 May. This includes the new route 304, which will operate between Manor Park and Custom House stations from 21 May.

Contact Information​

TfL Press Office
Transport for London
0343 222 4141
[email protected]

Notes to editors​

• In order to provide a seamless passenger experience, contactless payments will be accepted across the Elizabeth line. While customers will need to touch out at Paddington and Liverpool Street to change to Elizabeth line services towards Reading/Heathrow and Shenfield, fare capping will be in place
• A special service will operate on Sunday 5 June for the Platinum Jubilee weekend. Services will run from approximately 08:00 – 22:00
• Services between Liverpool Street and Shenfield, and Paddington to Heathrow and Reading will continue to operate on Sundays as they do today aside from any planned weekend closures
• At Abbey Wood station some customers may want to use a manual boarding ramp to board Elizabeth line services. At Custom House station, wheelchair users should board the fifth carriage of Elizabeth line trains for level access
• More information about bus changes associated with the Elizabeth line are on the TfL website

Source: https://tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/tfl-press-release-elizabeth-line-to-open-on-24-may-2022

 

[Railwaysceptic]

Do we return to guessing when the quiet opening will be?

Please do! I'm going to Shropshire on the 24th for a week and won't be able to use the new line on its first day.

 

[Mikey C]

Will anything special happen at Woolwich, seeing that it's a brand new station, indeed the only entirely new station on the route?

 

[Watershed]

Will anything special happen at Woolwich, seeing that it's a brand new station, indeed the only entirely new station on the route?

Canary Wharf station has the same name as the Underground and DLR stations but is physically entirely separate.

 

[LUYMun]

It's no surprise that Crossrail will have a "warm-up" service before the full timetable can be implemented.

What are the chances Mr Marshall will be on the first train?

 

[Horizon22]

It's a week late then I originally heard, but still very good news. 0630 is still a reasonably late start up for shift workers, although once through running increases, it will certainly improve.

 

[subk2010]

Some highlights from the official press release:

• The Elizabeth line will operate 12 trains per hour between Paddington and Abbey Wood from Monday to Saturday 06:30 to 23:00. Work will continue in engineering hours and on Sundays to allow a series of testing and software updates in preparation for more intensive services from the autumn.
• Work is ongoing at Bond Street Elizabeth line station, which means that it will not open with the other stations on 24 May. The station continues to make good progress and the team at Bond Street are working hard to open the station to customers later this year.
• Changes will be made to 14 bus routes to improve links to Elizabeth line stations in east and south-east London, where many customers will use buses to get to and from stations. The changes will take effect from Saturday 14 and Saturday 21 May. This includes the new route 304, which will operate between Manor Park and Custom House stations from 21 May.
• A special service will operate on Sunday 5 June for the Platinum Jubilee weekend. Services will run from approximately 08:00 – 22:00
• Services between Liverpool Street and Shenfield, and Paddington to Heathrow and Reading will continue to operate on Sundays as they do today aside from any planned weekend closures

and of course, the final map:
View attachment 114055



Source: https://tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/tfl-press-release-elizabeth-line-to-open-on-24-may-2022

The resolution ratio of this new map might be a little bit low...

 

[TheSel]

Also now being reported on the BBC, with the headline: Crossrail: Elizabeth line due to open on 24 May

Crossrail: Elizabeth line due to open on 24 May

The over-budget project was meant to open in December 2018 but will now begin running on 24 May.

www.bbc.co.uk

It says something about the intellect of the BBC's perceived audience that they feel the need to include a paragraph:

"It is hoped the Queen - who the line is named after - will be involved when the route begins to operate." [my emboldening].

 

[DC1989]

Here's a fare question - I travel from the East to Abbey Wood for work. According to the TFL fare finder though, if I change at Liverpool Street the peak cost is £5.50 rather than £2.90. So I'd need to get off at Stratford then get the central line and district line to Whitechapel (Or Jubilee/DLR to Canary Wharf) to avoid tapping out at a zone 1 interchange and being charged almost double - that's a bit ridiculous isnt it?