Crowds turn up some coming from other parts of the UK to see the opening of the Elizabeth Line with over 130,000 passengers rushing to get aboard the first trains of the new £18.9bn Elizabeth line within hours of launch on Tuesday morning. Later Sadiq Khan joined the UK media to talk about this #Crossrail project welcoming passengers at Woolwich after he had also joined the first train at Abbey Wood. (main image credit: ALT A REVIEW: Sadiq Khan at Woolwich station with Cllr Denise Hyland).
Alt’s Editor took a ride on the new railway and was pleasantly surprised how fast the train from Farringdon to Woolwich was, just under 15 minutes. Providing new journey options and supporting wider regeneration and recovery from the pandemic – creating jobs, business opportunities and a huge economic boost for the country. It will also connect London’s major employment centres and increase central London’s rail capacity by 10 per cent, the largest single increase in the capital’s transport capacity in more than 70 years.
- Services on the transformational railway started running from 06:30 this morning between Paddington and Abbey Wood
- On Monday evening, iconic London landmarks, including the London Eye and ExCeL London, turned purple to celebrate the opening of the Elizabeth line
- Trains run every five minutes 06:30 – 23:00 Monday to Saturday between Paddington and Abbey Wood
The transformational Elizabeth line is opened today with thousands customers who can now make fast and seamless journeys through the heart of London in the first trains to depart from the new section of the railway. The new railway, which is supporting faster journeys across London, and new jobs and economic growth throughout the country, is the most significant addition to the capital’s transport network for a generation.
Thousands of excited customers welcomed by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, London’s Transport Commissioner, Andy Byford, Elizabeth line Director, Howard Smith, TfL Chief Operating Officer, Andy Lord, and Crossrail CEO, Mark Wild, on the first trains from Paddington and Abbey Wood.
Nine brand new stations in central London opened providing Elizabeth line services every five minutes from 06:30 until 23:00 Monday to Saturday and the railways route now appears on the iconic Tube map.
The new railway will provide new journey options and support wider regeneration and recovery from the pandemic – creating jobs, business opportunities and a huge economic boost for the country. It will also connect London’s major employment centres and increase central London’s rail capacity by 10 per cent, the largest single increase in the capital’s transport capacity in more than 70 years.
Businesses from right around the UK have benefited from work connected to the Elizabeth line. Throughout its construction, the railway has had an extensive supply chain which has supported businesses of all sizes, and jobs and skills creation across the whole country. The Class 345 trains running on the Elizabeth line were built in Derby, roundels and signage for the line were supplied by a family-run business on the Isle of Wight, and a company based in Leeds strengthened and protected London’s Victorian sewer networks during construction.
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