please empty your brain below
That "will be" in the second to last paragraph is awfully optimistic considering how the project has gone!

anon | 09.07.21 - 7:19 a.m. | #

Another advantage to the change is that it will free up space in Paddington mainline station a bit earlier.

anothertim | 09.07.21 - 8:01 a.m. | #

Crossrail A and Crossrail B drop the Elizabeth

John | 09.07.21 - 8:06 a.m. | #

Johnson pushed for Crossrail to be named Elizabeth Line.
Following on from that, Crossrail2 will be named Boris Line, alongside Victoria, Elizabeth and Drain. Thank goodness, I'll be dead before it happens.

IsarSteve | Homepage | 09.07.21 - 8:59 a.m. | #

This does look a bit brave, as any interface problems between the core and the two existing sections (which all use different signalling systems) will inevitably affect both services, as they will be sharing tracks through the core. The previous plan would have kept the western section isolated until it was certain trains could transition reliably between the eastern section and the core.
The second link-up will be more robust, as trains from both the core and the main line will be able to turn back at Paddington if something goes wrong

timbo | 09.07.21 - 9:32 a.m. | #

It is strange that Paddington Crossrail station is shown north of the mainline when it is actually on the south side. I can't see any reason why that couldn't have been geographically correct.

Martin | 09.07.21 - 9:40 a.m. | #

I honestly thought that it was determined Stage 5b would be the final picture anyway - I thought for operational reasons it was thought they would run only Abbey Wood trains through to the GWML anyway. Obviously now this is not the case. So I wonder how the service pattern is going to work...

Muzer | 09.07.21 - 10:47 a.m. | #

I don't understand why they wouldn't end at separate but overlapping.

How many people in reality would need single seat travel from Sheffield to Reading. Some would want Heathrow but a change half way on a longish route, via the same platform, wide doors, level boarding is still *much* better than today, arguably good enough.

I wonder if a 4 overlapping route set up is an even better fit to likely ridership, post pandemic. I.e. trains from the west run through to Liverpool St (or just beyond), trains from the east run though to Paddington or just beyond. 2-4 separate route trained driving pools.

MilesT | 09.07.21 - 1:19 p.m. | #

timbo - The transitions ought to happen at Stratford and Westbourne Park, neither of which are shared between the two Lizzes, so a failed transition shouldn't disrupt the other line.

Graham | 09.07.21 - 1:19 p.m. | #

Some reports suggest the final plan is for trains to run Shenfield to Reading and Abbey Wood to Heathrow. (Although some would turn back at Paddington). At stage 5b the Reading line services would still be split at Paddington

timbo | 09.07.21 - 1:43 p.m. | #

There's an issue with "all Shenfield trains terminate at Paddington" and also with "all Reading/Maidenhead trains run to Shenfield" that means that neither will be the final service unless something changes with the planned service frequencies.

Having to provide 15 minute headways at West Drayton and Terminal 4 while also wanting to provide even 10tph service east of Whitechapel makes the off-peak service very difficult unless those 4tph routes are 2 trains per hour to each branch.

Timetabling convenience will give Stratford a half-hourly service to Heathrow Terminal 4 and Maidenhead. But until 5c happens, there will be 9 minute waits for trains at stations west of Whitechapel.

Si | 09.07.21 - 2:14 p.m. | #

Are the stations ready yet?

Paddington: ✖✖ handover imminent
Bond Street: ✖✖✖✖✖✖ massively behind
Tottenham Ct Rd: ✔ fully integrated
Farringdon: ✔ fully integrated
Liverpool Street: ✖ handed over to TfL
Whitechapel: ✖✖✖ 3 months from handover
Canary Wharf: ✖✖✖✖ a long way to go
Custom House: ✔ fully integrated
Woolwich: ✖ handed over to TfL

diamond geezer | Homepage | 09.07.21 - 2:25 p.m. | #

That whole piece was worth it just for the gag at the end.

Scott | Homepage | 09.07.21 - 3:12 p.m. | #

I don’t understand why this is all so much more difficult than Thameslink. Essentially 2 branches to the North, presumably different signalling systems, and 2 branches to the South with a different power supply system as well.

RogerB | Homepage | 09.07.21 - 10:48 p.m. | #

Nowadays the most difficult part of a railway is stations, and Crossrail has 9 new ones compared with Thameslink having only 1 (City Thameslink. They did not pester KXSP, Farringdon and Blackfriars until decades later). Also, the TL branches are made easier by the fact that TL, GN and SE are all under Govia.

IMHO this new plan is actually braver than the original. I assume the delay in stations caused the signalling and pathing issues able to be resolved before official opening, instead of after.

Patrickov | 10.07.21 - 3:11 a.m. | #

"Canary Wharf: ✖✖✖✖ a long way to go"
Wow, how could this happen?
The surface building with the restaurants and the roof garden opened in 2015.
I visited the station itself in 2018 at the open days, and it looked "almost done".

dg writes: a major issue is "fire systems no longer meet current regulations".

Greg S | 10.07.21 - 12:28 p.m. | #

Afaik the planned frequency in the core section is higher than Thameslink, which is the reason that Crossrail uses different signal system than the existing Shenfield and Reading/Heathrow lines. Also as RogerB hints at, Thameslink probably used grandfathererd approvals and also for example Farringdon is kind of a sunken at ground station rather than an ungerground station, probably making fire safety rules easier to comply with. Actually building escape routes would also be easier and cheaper for a subsurface station than a deep level station as you kind of (dumbed down) only need to poke a hole in the cut-and-cover and install a staircase plus lift or so.

MiaM | 11.07.21 - 4:31 a.m. | #

(final) Stage 5c expected May 2023, MPs told.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 19.07.21 - 8:46 p.m. | #

11 days later, and this story is top of the Evening Standard website.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 20.07.21 - 11:16 a.m. | #











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