Elizabeth line trains start running in south-east London

Testing: An Elizabeth line train in tunnels beneath south-east London
TfL
Robin de Peyer26 February 2018

An Elizabeth line train has made a journey through the tunnels of south-east London for the first time.

Rail Minister Jo Johnson hailed the “milestone moment” as the train was tested along tracks between Plumstead and Abbey Wood.

The line, named in honour of the Queen, is expected to open in phases just before Christmas with passengers set to use 10 new state of the art stations across London and the south east.

“The maiden journey of a brand new train through the Elizabeth line tunnels is a milestone moment in one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the UK,” Mr Johnson said.

Testing: An Elizabeth line train on tracks in south-east London
TfL

Testing on lines in south-east London will now continue until the line opens in stages from December this year.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan added: “This is a hugely exciting moment in the construction of the Elizabeth line.

How much quicker will a Crossrail journey be?
Destination Current time Crossrail time
Paddington to Tottenham Court Road 20 4
Paddington to Liverpool Street 23 10
Paddington to Canary Wharf 34 17
Bond Street to Paddington 15 3
Bond Street to Whitechapel 24 10
Canary Wharf to Liverpool Street 21 6
Canary Wharf to Heathrow 55 39
Whitechapel to Canary Wharf 13 3

“When it opens later this year, the Elizabeth line is going to transform travel across London and the South East, helping to improve the lives of millions of Londoners, stimulating much needed housing development across the capital, and providing a huge boost to our economy.”

The train, which was driven at low speeds, was built by Bombardier engineers in Derby.

More than 200 million passengers will be carried through 26 miles of tunnels on the Elizabeth line every year, adding 10 per cent to central London’s rail capacity.

The first stage of the line’s opening will see Paddington’s new Elizabeth Station open and link with Abbey Wood via central London.

The first Elizabeth line trains came into service in east London between Liverpool Street and Shenfield in June last year.

Route: The Crossrail Elizabeth line route.
Crossrail

And its first Tube roundels were recently installed at stations across the capital, nine years after construction first began.

The £14.8 billion rail line will run from Reading and Heathrow in the west, to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, slashing journey times into central London.

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