COMMENT: Crossrail - the final word

On Tuesday the Elizabeth line (Crossrail) officially opens, London’s first major public transport improvement since the opening of the Victoria line in 1969, 53 years ago.

Costing close on £20bn and a tremendous engineering feat it will be a success and we wish it well.  

BTN has articulated on the ditching of the previous (North London line) Silvertown/London City Airport station in a nasty political move by the then Mayor, Boris Johnson.  He wanted an airport in the Estuary.  Any objections by the airport were muted by making the subsequently discredited Chairman of Crossrail, Chairman of London City Airport (see AND FINALLY: The Elizabeth line & the lost page! in this week’s BTN).

It is accepted internationally that London has the world’s finest Underground system, fast, relatively cheap, and mostly reliable.  Visitors love it (and generally so do the natives).  But would any major global city build a vital railway project without connecting the only scheduled airport within its true confines?

The present Mayor will be visiting Woolwich to presumably try the Elizabeth line, passing by the airport but not able to see due to hoardings deliberately placed to obstruct the view.

The Mayor has never officially visited London City Airport.  Clearly he has to take the Elizabeth line to Woolwich.  BTN would suggest he returns to City Hall via the DLR, stopping at LCY, and then continuing to The Bank complex to see for himself the improvements just opened (also see in this week’s BTN More London Transport news. Alternatively, he can end his journey at Tower Gateway and take a short stroll back to his office.

An Elizabeth line station at Silvertown should now be a priority.  £30m is still suggested.  Adding a station to a live railway is within the realms of practicability.  It happened at Southend Airport and can happen at London City Airport.  It just makes sense.

See also:

LONDON CITY AIRPORT – 30 Years Serving the Capital 
by Malcolm Ginsberg
Click here for a FREE PDF Version

Now available from www.crecy.co.uk/london-city-airport
ISBN  978-1-900438-07-0

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

Frank Debrief, Paris & Geneva.

News has reached France of the new railway but myself and regular City Airport regulars cannot believe that you can't take the new train from the airport. It's crazy. My normal destination is the Farringdon area.

Jilly Outer, Reading

NO TOILETS ON THE ELIZABETH LINE. This new expensive train will not be used by passengers from stations towards Reading with children as there are no loos. Or more elderly folk. The press has been very quiet regarding its many flaws!

James White, Surbiton South London

The new Elizabeth Line is the best thing that has happened to London since the M25 was completed 1986. Vision is needed for the next leap forward in terms of moving people, a proper south to north connection.

Jill Smith, Barbican London

No station between Custom House and Woolwich. Just crazy.

Joe White, Tower Hamlets

Whilst I applaud the Editor’s endeavour in trying to persuade the Mayor and others that a station is required surely its up to the airport to really make the effort. The investors will be the benefactors. And the residents of Silvertown.