Crossrail/Elizabeth Line. From construction to operation - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Marlburian]

But, says the Reading Chronicle's website,

"Crossrail, which will run through Berkshire, may be open sooner than thought."

[Electric train]

But, says the Reading Chronicle's website,

"Crossrail, which will run through Berkshire, may be open sooner than thought."

I feel that could right,

[TonyK]

But, says the Reading Chronicle's website,

"Crossrail, which will run through Berkshire, may be open sooner than thought."

That would make a lot of sense, providing it can be done safely. I reckon it would be better to start when passengers numbers are low and the alternatives are still in place in case of problems.

[IndustryInsider]

A couple of recent video updates:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXGWKcoGynM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snYHvZMRLlA

CEO^▸ (Chief Executive Officer) Mark Wild is a nice, genuine chap, but surely they could have fixed his hat on straight!

[Marlburian]

Crossrail has given Twyford homeowners something to smile about

[Reading General]

Aren’t they all lucky.

[TaplowGreen]

Aren’t they all lucky.

Pretty good for Taplow too! 

[johoare]

And Maidenhead! Just need Crossrail to actually open then I can sell up and move on 

[stuving]

We don't seem to have an active thread for Crossrail progress - I wonder why ....

But there is some. Trial running just started again after a blockade to allow work on stations. Before that they had managed 8 tph^▸ (trains per hour), and this week they had a go at 12 tph. On Monday they just about managed that level for an hour or so, but without keeping to the timetable, and gave up at lunchtime. Tuesday was better, and by Wednesday there was pretty well a full (trial) service for six hours with none missing and only a few a few minutes late. So then they took the rest of the week off!

They have also rejigged the phasing of the introduction of public services to the tunnel, as documented in IanVisits. The differences don't really affect passengers much, it's more about how the operations are managed but should allow through running a bit earlier (than something).

[didcotdean]

The latest update from Crossrail today shows several views of the completed Paddington concourse and other areas, the test running and looks forward: https://youtu.be/iTzsCvvFEoA

[Bob_Blakey]

In the video Mr Wild specifies a finally final completion of the project by May 2023 and passengers / taxpayers are expected to be impressed?

[Electric train]

In the video Mr Wild specifies a finally final completion of the project by May 2023 and passengers / taxpayers are expected to be impressed?

I think he has been quite consistent with his messages and updates.  He started at one point for the first part (Paddington / Abbey Wood) as "we are planning for"  he is now sending out a much more confident message as "we are well on track for"

Also he is now say what the final stages are with expected time lines.

This phase of Crossrail was left a bit of mess by the previous 'construction' senior leadership who had totally forgot about commissioning and integrating a highly complex system

[stuving]

In the video Mr Wild specifies a finally final completion of the project by May 2023 and passengers / taxpayers are expected to be impressed?

I think he has been quite consistent with his messages and updates.  He started at one point for the first part (Paddington / Abbey Wood) as "we are planning for"  he is now sending out a much more confident message as "we are well on track for"

Also he is now say what the final stages are with expected time lines.

This phase of Crossrail was left a bit of mess by the previous 'construction' senior leadership who had totally forgot about commissioning and integrating a highly complex system

The plan has several stages of opening, and I don't think they have ever succeeded in putting this across clearly. It may not even be possible. For one thing, when passengers start using the central tunnel, they will still have to change at Paddington to and from the west. Paddington station was finished recently, will be an important interchange for the surface station for a few months, and will then become somewhere to whizz past unseen. So for passengers from Taplow (especially those going to Bond Street) the first opening is not a lot of use.

There's an IanVisits report on that that includes a simpler statement of the phasing, as it affects Paddington, which may help:

When the line opens next year*, people coming in from the east via Canary Wharf will use the new station, while services coming in from the west will continue to use the mainline station.

Later next year, it’s planned that all services will use the new platforms, with a slightly better service for the Abbey Wood branch than the Shenfield branch, and then the whole lot is linked up in early 2023.

*A report in July has Mark Wild giving "early February 2022" as the earliest date for that step.

[IndustryInsider]

If anyone wants to watch how the testing is going, the signalmaps site has the best detail I've seen:

https://signalmaps.co.uk/#crossrail:946

Trains, signals, routes, berth occupation all shown (though the route set can be a little difficult to interpret).

[stuving]

If anyone wants to watch how the testing is going, the signalmaps site has the best detail I've seen:

https://signalmaps.co.uk/#crossrail:946

Trains, signals, routes, berth occupation all shown (though the route set can be a little difficult to interpret).

Plus there's still the odd glitch like a train appearing where it is and where it isn't at the same time.