Crossrail line update

As empty test trains continue to rumble past London City Airport and its now non-existing railway halt, and for that matter the Custom House/ExCeL station, no date has yet been set for the opening of the Elizabeth line/Crossrail project.  Spring 2022 has been suggested.

Work started on the project in 2009 with an initial budget of £14.8bn.  Latest estimates suggest this has risen to £19bn according to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee who are also concerned regarding a £150m funding gap. Ten empty stations have been handed over by Crossrail to TfL including Paddington, a key interchange in and out of London.

Kay Buxton, Chief Executive, The Paddington Partnership, said: “The transfer of Paddington to TfL marks the next stop on London’s journey towards opening the railway next year. Paddington has long been the seat of transport innovation and adventure, and the arrival of the Elizabeth line will seal its position as the gateway to the capital, with Bond Street and the West End in three minutes, the City in 10 minutes and Canary Wharf in 17 minutes.

“Step-free from train to street, Paddington’s Elizabeth line station is a stunning compliment to Brunel’s masterpiece at Paddington. Nestled in the centre of the Opportunity Area, the Elizabeth line will bring a massive 1.5 million extra people within a commuting distance of Paddington, a game-changer for reinforcing Paddington’s position as one of London’s key employment centres, echoed by market confidence and investment in the location.”

At this point of time the Elizabeth line station remains closed but can be found adjoining platform 1.  It will integrate with the Bakerloo line via a step-free route but the Metropolitan line station is a considerable walk not unlike that experienced at St Pancras from Thameslink to the TfL services.

https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/elizabeth-line

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Andrew Sharp, United Kingdom

The Metropolitan Line is indeed a considerable walk: the Hammersmith & City Line station is rather closer!