• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • First Time Here?
    • Archive
    • London Blogs
  • Blog
  • Travel
    • London Theater Tickets
    • Shopping
    • Tips
    • Tours
    • Transport
    • Maps
    • Parks
    • Resources
    • Restaurants
    • Top 10 London
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Buildings
    • Food
    • London Books
    • Movies
    • Museums
    • Music
    • Pubs
  • Londonism
    • Reviews
    • Fun London
    • Iconic London
    • Life in London
    • London Realities
    • Moving to London
    • Politics
  • The Tube
  • London History
    • Great London Buildings
    • Great Londoners
  • Contact
  • Guidebooks
    • 101 London Travel Tips – Guidebook
    • 101 Free Things to do in London

Londontopia

The Website for People Who Love London

You are here: Home / Columns / Laura's London / Laura’s London: Elizabeth Line Opening Day First Person Report

Laura’s London: Elizabeth Line Opening Day First Person Report

May 24, 2022 By Laura Porter Leave a Comment

Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there today for this special day, but thankfully Laura Porter was able to get out there and check out London’s new railway today and write up this report for everyone. Thank you, Laura!

We’ll soon forget the long delay and the enormous cost as the Elizabeth Line opens today (24 May 2022). This is the most significant addition to our transport network in decades.

The Elizabeth Line should transform travel across London and the South East by improving transport links and cutting journey times. The line is over 60 miles long with 41 stations and is Europe’s largest engineering project. There’s additional capacity to reduce crowding and much better accessibility so more can use the line. The trains are all the ‘walk-through’ type and not separate carriages and there are new larger, lighter, and brighter stations.

How Long Have We Waited?

There have been hopes for an east-west railway under London since the Second World War. It took until 1991 for the first full Crossrail scheme to be submitted to Parliament, and then until July 2008 for The Crossrail Act to be passed. The formal start of construction for Crossrail was marked at Canary Wharf on 15 May 2009 although the main construction phase was launched in 2011. Tunneling for the new rail tunnels began in May 2012 and was completed in May 2015.

LONDON, 10 APRIL 2015: Section of new rail tunnel, under construction for the London Crossrail Project at North Woolwich, London, England, UK
Section of rail tunnel during construction at North Woolwich, London (April 2015). Photo by Paul Daniels on Adobe Stock

The Elizabeth Line was originally planned to open in December 2018. But today, 24 May 2022, is the official opening day after close to £19 billion has been spent (£4 billion over budget). Not everything is connected today but full services across the entire route will be introduced by May 2023.

The Name

Note, The Elizabeth line is the official name for the now-open, passenger-carrying service. Crossrail was the name used during the construction and testing phases. (Good luck getting everyone to use one name!)

The line is named after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who visited Paddington station last week.

The Elizabeth Line entrance at Paddington (seen this morning!)

Elizabeth Line Route

The Elizabeth Line is the new rail route from Reading in Berkshire and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield in Essex and Abbey Wood in south-east London via the center of the capital. 

We are not supposed to call it a ‘tube’ line but should think of it as a new mode of transport like the RTR in Paris or the S-Bahn in Munich.

(c) PA Graphics

The Elizabeth Line will initially operate as three separate railways, with services from Reading, Heathrow, and Shenfield connecting with the central tunnels from autumn 2022.

This means that, for now, you do still need to change at Paddington or Liverpool Street to board the central section of the Elizabeth line.

Elizabeth line route from May 2022. (See larger map.)

Once the line is fully open, this will be the route map.

(See larger map.)

What’s Open Now?

The central section of the line – from Paddington in the west to Abbey Wood in the east – opens today.

The train services from Reading and Heathrow to Paddington mainline station, and from Shenfield to Liverpool Street mainline station, have been operating since 2015 (as TfL Rail, and under other franchises before that). But, from today, they are rebranded to the Elizabeth line.

There are nine brand new Elizabeth Line stations: Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, Canary Wharf, Custom House, and Woolwich. 

Entering Paddington Elizabeth Line station.

All the stations on the Elizabeth Line – except for Bond Street – are open today. (Bond Street tube station for Jubilee and Central line trains remains open as usual but you can’t yet alight or board Elizabeth Line trains from here.)

These new stations are impressive. The platforms are much larger and there’s no ‘mind the gap’ as the trains were made for the tunnels so the doors cover the platform edge.

Photo taken from on the train looking back at the platform at Paddington.
Liverpool Street eastbound platform.

At Canary Wharf, the escalator glass sides are yellow. I’ve no idea why. (Yes, I too had thought about yellow canaries so maybe that’s it.) At Paddington, there’s a brick wall built from the same Imperial bricks that Isambard Kingdom Brunel used for his original Paddington station. And we’re told you could fit The Shard inside Paddington’s Elizabeth Line station. 

Accessible

All 41 stations are step-free to platform level (with the exception of Ilford which will be ready by summer 2022). Farringdon and Liverpool Street have incline lifts alongside the escalators. (These are cool as it’s an elevator going diagonally so you travel in the same line as people standing on the escalators.)

All Elizabeth Line stations will be staffed for the whole day 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.

Also, note the information display above the doors.

Frequency

Between Paddington and Abbey Wood, there are 12 trains per hour (every five minutes) in each direction between 6.30 am and 11 pm on Monday to Saturday.

From autumn 2022, there will be 22 trains per hour (every 3 minutes) at peak times.

The full timetable will not be in place until May 2023.

Closed Sundays

Initially, this new central section of the line (Paddington to Abbey Wood) will be closed on Sundays. This is for engineering testing and software updates.

The Sunday closures will be lifted on 5 June 2022 to help people traveling in the capital during the Platinum Jubilee weekend with trains running from 8 am to 10 pm.

Services between Liverpool Street and Shenfield, and Paddington to Heathrow and Reading will continue to operate on Sundays as usual aside from any planned weekend closures.

Liverpool Street station between the platforms.

Saving Time

Before the Elizabeth Line, a journey from Paddington to Canary Wharf would take 30 minutes. But traveling on the Elizabeth line reduces the travel time to 17 minutes.

According to the travel app Citymapper, platform-to-platform journeys between Liverpool Street and Paddington will be cut from 18 minutes to 10 minutes.

When heading outside of the central stretch, it should be noted that the Elizabeth Line trains stop at local stations, so journeys will be slower compared with the fastest mainline services. This affects the sections between Reading and Paddington or Shenfield and Liverpool Street. But once the three sections are integrated, passengers will benefit by not having to change between trains and tube services.

Connecting Heathrow Airport to Canary Wharf has got to be good for international businesses in the Docklands. Convenience over time may well win the travelers’ choice.

Ticket Prices

Any journey within zones 1-6 costs the same on all tube lines. So, you could get the Central Line or the Elizabeth Line to Liverpool Street and pay the same fare. Outside of the TfL zones, fares are the same as those on the pre-existing TfL rail services.

Oyster cards can be used between any stations in zones 1-6, as well as out to Shenfield in the east. Stations beyond West Drayton to the west, however, do not accept Oyster. It is recommended to use contactless payment. (Tapping your bank card on the reader.) The Elizabeth Line is also part of TfL’s Pay As You Go capping system, which means the maximum you will be charged for a day’s travel is £14.10 (2022 rate).

From today (24 May 2022), limited edition (1.2 million) Elizabeth Line Oyster cards are available from ticket machines at the Elizabeth Line stations, all Zone 1 tube stations, and Heathrow stations. It costs £5 plus the travel credit you want to add.

From Autumn 2022

The lines from Reading, Heathrow, and Shenfield will connect with the central tunnels. This means customers traveling…

  • from Reading and Heathrow can travel east all the way to Abbey Wood without changing at Paddington.
  • from Shenfield can travel west all the way to Paddington without changing at Liverpool Street.

By May 2023

The separate sections of the Elizabeth Line will be fully connected and services run to the final timetable.

24 trains an hour will run at the busiest times between Paddington and Whitechapel.

Merchandise

The London Transport Museum has an extensive range of homeware and accessories in the Elizabeth Line moquette. I already have the socks and the face mask.

The new moquette was created by British textile design studio Wallace Sewell in 2015. The purple color reflects the royal connection with Queen Elizabeth II, who the Elizabeth Line is named after, and matches the purple of the Elizabeth Line on the London Underground map. The pinstripe details of the pattern are a reference to the suits traditionally worn in the City of London. The lines aim to create a sense of speed.

Long Trains

The Elizabeth Line is using a combination of amazing new stations and upgraded stations that were there already. This means the long trains – over 200 meters (650ft+) long – do not fit on all of the station platforms. You’ll know when you’re at a shorter station as there is an announcement that the doors in the rear carriages will not open so you need to walk through the train to another carriage to exit.

This doesn’t affect the central section of the line although at Paddington the center door on each of the rear 6 cars cannot open due to platform curvature.

The Elizabeth Line is mostly using 9-car trains. In the central section of the line, the platforms have been built even longer than this to ‘future proof’ things. If a 10-car train is needed to increase capacity, it will still fit in the new stations.

Let’s Take a Ride!

So, on the Elizabeth Line’s first day, I’ve been out to see what it’s like. I started my journey at Paddington so I could take a trip all the way to Abbey Wood in southeast London. I then did the return journey from Abbey Wood and got off at Liverpool Street station.

The line opened around 6.30 am but I didn’t aim to be on the first train as some people had queued overnight for that treat. Even so, I was on the Elizabeth Line within the first hour and then left before the rush hour got too intense. 

“This is the train to Abbey Wood via Canary Wharf.”

Firstly, the Elizabeth Line is noticeably quieter and a much smoother ride compared to other tube lines. The walk-through trains have a variety of seating options including two seats opposite two seats to the more usual along-the-wall seats. There are plenty of flip-down seats too so they can be flat if the space is needed for wheelchairs, buggies, or luggage.

The carriages are wider than usual so it feels more spacious. Are they taller too? It feels like it. The station platforms are wider as are the interconnecting corridors too. It all reminded me of the Jubilee Line at Canary Wharf but it all feels bigger and lighter. And it is very much wanted. 

Everyone was taking photos this morning. From the be-proud-of-who-you-are train enthusiasts to the besuited city men grabbing a discreet shot of the Elizabeth Line roundel. Only about 1% of passengers were wearing a face mask (I was). It’s now advised and not a Condition of Carriage.

The air-cooled trains are a comfortable ride and the line is fast. Paddington to Abbey Wood took just over half an hour. If I had tried that route yesterday, it would have taken over 80 minutes and needed two changes.

Each carriage has a screen which switches between the destination, a section of the line map showing where you are, all tube line service report, noting which carriage you’re in (5 of 9, etc), the time, and the next station announcement. There are audio announcements for each station too. 

I was surprised to see straphangers are back. These are the loops from the ceiling for standing passengers to hold onto when the train is moving. That would lead me to believe the trains are taller if these are needed as other lines now just have the bars.

On the way to Abbey Wood, the train first comes above ground just before Custom House station. And the whole journey just feels so fast. I almost took a ride back to Paddington just to check it was real. But I decided to get off at Liverpool Street to see another major station (and to let commuters have the train during rush hour).

Remember, the full line is not yet connected so staff are helping guide passengers at Paddington and Liverpool Street.

Abbey Wood

While my plan today was to go to Abbey Wood and come back immediately, you might like to know what there is to do in the area. Sometimes we forget that place names can be quite literal. About a 10-minute walk from the station is Lesnes Abbey Woods which is a lovely park and woodland to explore with the ruins of the 12th-century abbey.

These gothic window arches make an interesting frame for the view of London beyond. And they give me an excellent reason to take another trip on the Elizabeth Line soon.

(c) Diamond Geezer
Laura Porter
Author: Laura Porter

Laura Porter writes AboutLondonLaura.com and contributes to many other publications while maintaining an impressive afternoon tea addiction. You can find Laura on Twitter as @AboutLondon, on Instagram as @AboutLondon and @AboutLondon Laura on Facebook.

close

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Share this:

  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Pocket

Filed Under: Featured, Laura's London, The Tube, Transport Tagged With: Elizabeth line, The Tube

Subscribe to Our Free London Updates

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

About Laura Porter

Laura Porter writes AboutLondonLaura.com and contributes to many other publications while maintaining an impressive afternoon tea addiction. You can find Laura on Twitter as @AboutLondon, on Instagram as @AboutLondon and @AboutLondon Laura on Facebook.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free London Updates

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Get the Anglotopia/Londontopia App

Our Advertisers

If you are a mobile gamer, you may want to take a look at UK’s new mobile casinos and slots reviewed by NewCasinoUK.

Join the London Forum

  • Mudlarking
  • MY FAVOURITE PLACE IN LONDON
  • What's Your Favorite Place in London?
  • Paddington Station

London Guide

  • Ten Cheap Things You Can Do in London on a Budget
  • Ten London Exhibitions to Look Forward to in 2023
  • London’s Non-Free Museums: Your Guide to London’s Museums That Charge Admission
  • Trip Planning: Top 10 Exhibitions To Plan Your 2018 Trips to London Around
  • London Guide: Our Favorite Restaurants in London – London Restaurant Recommendations for Americans – What’s Your Favorite?

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • RSS Feed
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Support Londontopia

Search our Extensive Archive

Top 10 London

  • Ten Unusual Exhibits to See in London
  • London Pubs: Ten Thameside Pubs for a Pint and a View
  • Top 10 London: Ten More Things to Do Along the River Thames
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Shopping Centers in London
  • Museums of London: Ten Overlooked London Museums
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haggerston
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haringey
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Redbridge
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Hillingdon
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Canonbury

Recent Posts

  • Poet Lemn Sissay ‘over the moon’ to receive Freedom of the City of London
  • English Heritage has unveiled six new blue plaques for London
  • National Portrait Gallery to reopen in June with two special exhibitions
  • Exploring The Cosmic House in London
  • Ten Social Media Accounts to Follow for Londonphiles
  • New Royal Academy Exhibition: Treasures from Spain and the Hispanic World
  • Pollock’s Toy Museum in London Has Closed Unexpectedly
  • The Fiver:  Five Live-Action Children’s Shows Set in London
  • In Pictures: Winter Lights festival returns to London for first time since 2020
  • Tube and London bus fares to rise by nearly 6% from March

Best Posts on Londontopia

  • 101 London Travel Tips
  • Top 100 London Attractions
  • How to Find the Cheapest Airfares to London
  • 10 Things NOT to do in London
  • Best London Guidebooks
  • 101 Free Things to do in London
  • London Lingo – A London Word Dictionary
  • Top 7 Tips for Doing London on the Cheap
  • Top 11 Myths American Believe about London
  • Guide to Eating in London
  • Best Times of Year to Travel to London
  • London Packing Tips
  • Top 11 Movies Set in London
  • Top Attractions off the Tourist Track
  • Top 5 Most Amazing London Hotels
  • Top 10 Hostels in London
  • Best Views in London Restuarants
  • London Taxi Ettiquette
  • Top 12 London Views
  • Great Fire of London
  • A Guide to Five of London’s Bridges
  • 10 Random Facts and Figures about Trafalgar Square
  • Top 100 British Slang Words

London Places to Explore

Bloomsbury Buckingham Palace Canary Wharf City of London Covent Garden Cutty Sark Greenwich Hampstead Hampton Court Palace Heathrow Houses of Parliament Hyde Park Imperial War Museum Islington Kensington Kensington Palace Leicester Square London London Eye London Transport Museum Museum of London National Gallery Notting Hill Piccadilly Circus Putney Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Regent's Street Royal Academy Selfridges Somerset House Southbank Southwark St Pancras St Paul's Cathedral Tate Britain Tate Modern The City Tower Bridge Tower of London Trafalgar Square V&A Wandsworth West End Westminster Westminster Abbey

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Recent Videos

Walk Around London Virtually Right Now – Watched Walker is the YouTube Channel We All Need Right Now

Jason Hawkes Shares a Beautiful Video of London From Above That We All Need Right now

London Tube: You’ve Got to Watch This Amazing Mesmerizing Animation That Shows the Real Geography of the London Underground

Video: The Basics of Crossrail – London’s New Underground Line

London History: The Place Where Old London Double Decker Buses Went to Die

London Video: A Look at the Great Smog of London

Tube and London bus fares to rise by nearly 6% from March

What is Crossrail 2 and What is Its Current Status?

London Alert: Strike by London Underground workers to go ahead after last-minute talks fail

London Mayor hails Elizabeth line as direct routes and Sunday services begin

Elizabeth line fully opens and offers more direct journeys

Tube poet encourages writers to ‘bring who they are to the field’

Footer

About Londontopia

Londontopia is simply the website for people who love London. It was founded by Jonathan & Jackie Thomas from Anglotopia.net as a place to post articles solely focused on London and its environs. Keep up with all the latest London news at Londontopia! This site is geared towards people who love to visit London and our primary audience is North American but everyone is welcome!

When We’re in London Next

We don’t currently have any travel plans to London but hope to visit at some point in 2021.

  • SEO Backlinks
  • Travel Blog

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Copyright © 2023 Anglotopia, LLC · Website Developed by Anglotopia, LLC · Log in