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

[ctom_s]

I presume that unlike the northern line last week there's very little chance of it opening for use tonight?

 

[43102EMR]

I presume that unlike the northern line last week there's very little chance of it opening for use tonight?

There’s still a chance I would imagine - then again, it’s not like it’s a Sunday where usage would be expected to be lower

 

[subk2010]

Is the last TfL Rail service departs at Liverpool Street at 0055?

 

[JonathanH]

I presume that unlike the northern line last week there's very little chance of it opening for use tonight?

Again, the point of it opening early would be that it is unannounced.

The same timetable is running today as tomorrow so it is hardly impossible.

 

[Roger B]

On RTT it is called Westboune Park CS https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:WBRNPKS?stp=WVS&show=all&order=actual

Looking at Google Maps it seems to be about 2000 ft from Portobello junction

Many thanks Kevin.

I hope you don't find this too pernickety, but ..... I had, rather simplistically, assumed that Westbourne Park Junction would refer to the physical pointwork connecting the main line with the tracks leading to crossrail. Whereas, from your response, perhaps it's being used to refer to the NR/TfL boundary, located in the vicinity of the Westbourne Park turnback sidings - referred to in RTT as Westbourne Park Cs. Is that what you meant?

And I had understood crossrail to start at its junction with the main line, but it's clearly more accurate to state that crossrail starts at the NR/TfL boundary - which is why I'm using the rather clumsy phrase 'tracks leading to crossrail' for the tracks leading from the NR/TfL boundary to the junction with the main line.

What I was really wanted to know was the distance (miles and chains) between London Paddington (low level) and the junction of the main line with the tracks leading to crossrail, perhaps mistakenly using the term Westbourne Park Junction to refer to the junction itself. I've done some further digging (see below), and I think I'll use Portobello Junction (London) as the actual junction of the main line and the tracks leading to crossrail, and for determining related distances - unless anyone can suggest something better!

I'd seen Westbourne Park Cs in RTT prior to posting my initial question, but given its 'Cs' suffix, which usually indicates Carriage sidings(s), I had thought that this refers to the Westbourne Park turnback sidings, rather than the Westbourne Park Junction (which I had understood would refer to the actual junction between main line and the tracks leading to crossrail). Most junctions between lines are indicated by a Jn suffix in both RTT and Railmiles, and I had expected the junction (ie pointwork) between the main line and the tracks leading to crossrail also to be indicated with the 'Jn' suffix, rather than with the 'Cs' suffix. Hence my initial question.

The relevant map in Trackatlas (3rd edition), p108, shows the 'Crossrail datum 0.0km' 0m 78ch Main Line, which indicates the NR/TfL boundary, to be where the turnback sidings are located. But the map in Trackatlas and the satellite view on Google maps show the physical pointwork connecting the main line to the tracks leading to crossrail to be further west - more or less where Portobello Junction is located.

Railmailes gives the distance between Portobello Jn (London) PRTOBJP and Westbourne Park Cs WBRNPKS as 0m 19ch, and between Westbourne Park Cs WBRNPKS and Paddington Crossrail PADTLL as 1m 4ch - which is the same mileage RTT shows for trains using the Westbourne Park turnback sidings. Incidentally Railmiles also shows the mileage between London Paddington PADTON and Westbourne Park Cs WBRNPKS to be 1m 47ch, the route being London Paddington, Royal Oak Junction, Portobello Jn (London), Westbourne Park Cs - which would seem to confirm that the actual junction between the main line and the tracks leading to crossrail is at Portobello junction.

Thanks for your help

 

[swt_passenger]

Thanks for this. I'm struggling to find mileages to/from Westbourne Park Junction. This junction's been in use for quite a while for trains between Old Oak Common depot and the CCOS (and presumably also by TfL trains between Ealing Broadway and Paddington). But I can't find Westbourne Park Junction on either RTT or Railmiles. However, both have Portobello Junction (London) more or less where Westbourne Park Junction is.

So I'm wondering is Portobello Junction being renamed Westbourne Park Junction? And what are the miles/chains to/from Westbourne Park Junction to/from Paddington (low level / TfL) if different from those to/from Portobello Junction.

Many thanks

I think it’s far too difficult to explain in a short pararagraph. There are numerous distances marked in both imperial and metric in the first 3 pages of the public online sectional appendix (SA) map from last year that I’d saved.

I’m pretty confident from that version that Portobello Jn and Westbourne Park Junction are completely separate though, they‘re separated by the entry points to Paddington New Yard. I’ll attach page 3 as an example of the complexity of the distance measurements:

The latest SA which has somewhat simplified measurements can be found here - although it doesn’t include a Westbourne Park Jn either: https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/sectional-appendix/Sectional Appendix full PDFs/Western Sectional Appendix March 2022.pdf

A theory. If line 6 feeds directly into the EB Crossrail, without using any points, is it possible that Westbourne Park Junction is considered to be in the down direction only?

 

[rcsn319]

Is the last TfL Rail service departs at Liverpool Street at 0055?

That’s the time of the last train to shenfield yes.

 

[ctom_s]

Just to confirm Liverpool Street crossrail entrance at Broadgate is very much shut. I'll be up early to play tomorrow though.

 

[bnc2018]

Elizabeth line services have appeared on Google Maps directions for tomorrow, but at the moment they seem to be using the wrong colour:

Edit: They seem to have got the colour right for the two suburban sections though:

 

[NLC1072]

How many of us will be on that first train from Paddington?

 

[JonathanH]

How many of us will be on that first train from Paddington?

The people at the Abbey Wood end won't be.

 

[ijmad]

No sign of a soft opening. I suppose whether you go to Paddington or Abbey Wood depends on if you want to be the first paying passenger in the tunnels, or the first paying passenger on the central section. The 06:30 start is legit either way, hah.

 

[Horizon22]

No sign of a soft opening. I suppose whether you go to Paddington or Abbey Wood depends on if you want to be the first paying passenger in the tunnels, or the first paying passenger on the central section. The 06:30 start is legit either way, hah.

MTR / Crossrail / Elizabeth Line considering that whole section the "central section", so anywhere is fine!

 

[thomalex]

No sign of a soft opening. I suppose whether you go to Paddington or Abbey Wood depends on if you want to be the first paying passenger in the tunnels, or the first paying passenger on the central section. The 06:30 start is legit either way, hah.

I must admit I'm glad they haven't makes it more of an occasion at 6:30 tomorrow. Not long to go now, mind the gap!

 

[och aye]

I assume that we're going to get a season 4 of The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway later in the year?

It may have taken a while, but congratulations to everyone involved in getting this project over the line. I look forward to using it the next time I'm in London.

 

[Acton1991]

Elizabeth line services have appeared on Google Maps directions for tomorrow, but at the moment they seem to be using the wrong colour:
View attachment 115158
Edit: They seem to have got the colour right for the two suburban sections though:
View attachment 115163

Citymapper, on the other hand, don't have anything updated. A journey from Paddington to Tottenham Court Road tomorrow is still showing Bakerloo/Central line as the quickest route.

 

[mrmartin]

Citymapper, on the other hand, don't have anything updated. A journey from Paddington to Tottenham Court Road tomorrow is still showing Bakerloo/Central line as the quickest route.

Noticed this myself and pretty odd as it was showing it as a 'coming soon' service very recently. Maybe they are waiting until tomorrow AM to switch it fully live.

By the way, if anyone is up early on the first service(s), I'd love to know if:

• Is there working WiFi in the tunnel sections tomorrow?
• Is there working 4G/5G in the tunnel sections (if so, which network are you on?)

TIA!

 

[popeter45]

Noticed this myself and pretty odd as it was showing it as a 'coming soon' service very recently. Maybe they are waiting until tomorrow AM to switch it fully live.

By the way, if anyone is up early on the first service(s), I'd love to know if:

• Is there working WiFi in the tunnel sections tomorrow?
• Is there working 4G/5G in the tunnel sections (if so, which network are you on?)

TIA!

AFAIK there will be Wifi but no 4G yet

 

[thomalex]

https://twitter.com/tfl/status/1528859153648988160?s=21&t=iGeX2xDP0ZisGQZSaR1Xag

London has been lit up purple ahead of the opening tomorrow

There’s also a brilliant update to a classic poster in the Transport Museum shop

 

[PG]

I must admit I'm glad they haven't makes it more of an occasion at 6:30 tomorrow. Not long to go now, mind the gap!

It won't be as much of a gap

I assume that we're going to get a season 4 of The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway later in the year?

Presumably now titled The Fifteen Nineteen Billion Pound Railway...

It may have taken a while, but congratulations to everyone involved in getting this project over the line. I look forward to using it the next time I'm in London.

Seconded!

 

[Joe Paxton]

Crikey, the day of Crossrail's opening has actually come. It's been a long old path track to get here!

 

[Basil Jet]

https://twitter.com/tfl/status/1528859153648988160?s=21&t=iGeX2xDP0ZisGQZSaR1Xag

London has been lit up purple ahead of the opening tomorrow

There’s also a brilliant update to a classic poster in the Transport Museum shop

No trams on Saturn?

 

[Snow1964]

The Elizabeth Line is now on the status boards of front page of TFL website (currently with status Part Closure)

ELIZABETH LINE: Services between Paddington and Abbey Wood operate on Monday to Saturday only, between 0630 and 2300.

Not sure why the message only refers to the Paddington- Abbey Wood section, and doesn’t add something like Normal service on remainder of the line

Tube, Overground, Elizabeth line, DLR & Tram status updates - Transport for London

tfl.gov.uk

 

[Mojo]

I know there is still plenty of discussion regarding construction of Crossrail, however I have started a new thread in the UK General discussion forum for people to discuss opening day, and operation of the service going forward: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/crossrail-operating-discussion-and-opening-day-24th-may.232157/

This thread will accordingly be locked, as you can almost guarantee someone will reply to it with operational discussion. If you wish to discuss any aspects of the ongoing works then please start a new thread in the appropriate forum.