dg comments

please empty your brain below

Some are probably planning Crossrail 2 to be named Charles Line and any new line to be called William Line.

Patrickov | 24.02.16 - 5:23 a.m. | #

Hah! You need to live in the colonies where practically everything is named after English Royals or possibly high ranking Military Officials. In the state of (Queen) Victoria the Capital is (Lord) Melbourne and the main streets are Queen, Elizabeth, King, William, etc. There is a whole suburb called Elizabeth in another state, the Capital of which is Adelaide, and the main street is King William. In (Lord) Sydney the main streets are Elizabeth and George (not forgetting Kent and York).

I actually think the Elizabeth Line sounds quite nice - beats 'Crossrail' anyway. Shame about the demolition of affordable housing that enabled it, but thst's a different issue.

On another note, this was yet another article that I wasn't sure was fact or fiction - I had to Google to see if it was fact!

Antipodean | 24.02.16 - 6:06 a.m. | #

Thankfully this has nothing at all whatsoever to do with the current implosion of the Conservatives. I mean there really, really, really isn’t any link, is there?

Sprout Eater | 24.02.16 - 6:14 a.m. | #

Fawn, fawn, tugs forelock, well she's just better than us mere mortals, isn't she?

Andrew Bowden | Homepage | 24.02.16 - 6:23 a.m. | #

The precedents are that you’re meant to do this to a project with a name like a crap bus, which I suppose would need to be the New Tube for London.

Sprout Eater | 24.02.16 - 6:29 a.m. | #

Major delays occurring for Charles standing in the Elizabeth Line due to an ongoing signal failure near St James's Park

Royal Control Room | 24.02.16 - 7:24 a.m. | #

They could just call Crossrail 2 'Elizabeth 2'

Also, when you say we will start to call it Elizabeth, Geofftech disagrees with you!

Tube Geek | 24.02.16 - 7:25 a.m. | #

It must feel more than a little insulting to have worked on the construction project for years with you and your team under the name "Crossrail" only to have your achievement suddenly renamed in honour of someone who had nothing to do with it? The excuse that she needs a "lasting legacy" - she's the longest reigning monarch is modern history (as far as I'm aware), so I think her legacy is sorted already.

Call me a ridiculous liberal but if you were going to name it like a tube line (something which it isn't) I think a name celebrating the level of diversity on the Crossrail project team compared to other engineering projects, something the company put a fair deal of effort into achieving, would at least be good as a nickname. After all, Waterloo Bridge sometimes gets called "The Women's Bridge".

Bemused | 24.02.16 - 7:29 a.m. | #

Naming it after royalty shows a lack of imagination, they could have named it after someone like Alan Turing instead.

| 24.02.16 - 7:30 a.m. | #

I agree Andrew. All this fawning and super person status put on just ordinary people. I will never understand it myself. If a Martian landed on planet Earth how could we possibly explain what the Royal family is or what they meant. These people are special, why, because they were born into a special family. So what makes them special...I don't know, they just are. So we give them huge amounts of money, privilege and power, for what? So they can patronise us and look down on the little people. It seems a very one sided deal. As for the Elizabeth Line...You cannot be serious!

Bernie | 24.02.16 - 7:39 a.m. | #

Link between Turing and heavy engineering is a bit tenuous.

Greathead Line is probably too geeky.

Brunel Line at least has some sort of connection with what the line does. Plus massively over-engineered expensive projects.

Max Roberts | Homepage | 24.02.16 - 7:40 a.m. | #

I don't want to be pedantic, but I think it is the wrong shade of purple in list of names to the right.

Tube Geek | 24.02.16 - 7:46 a.m. | #

oooh! I was just about to suggest the Brunel Line!

Antipodean | 24.02.16 - 7:47 a.m. | #

No doubt some bunch of civil servants can look forward to OBEs for burdening the rest of us with such as name. "It's sycophancy gone mad."

But just wait until she dies - every tin pot official will name every thing in every provincial backwater the Elizabeth this and the Elizabeth that....

PeteC | 24.02.16 - 7:51 a.m. | #

Anyway, people woud just assume the Greathead Line was named after Boris.

Sprout Eater | 24.02.16 - 7:55 a.m. | #

It'll be the Lizzie line to everyone anyway

John B | 24.02.16 - 8:08 a.m. | #

And in the rush hour it will be known as the Busy Lizzie!

Sara | 24.02.16 - 8:15 a.m. | #

@JohnB you beat me to it but you and I cannot be the only people to come to that description. Lizzie Line is far easier to say.

B | 24.02.16 - 8:38 a.m. | #

The para beginning “The Queen loves trains” has a link to a story in the Lynn News with a photo of the Queen wearing a headscarf. It took me years to cotton on to the fact that the headscarf indicates “Her Maj is currently off duty”. Headscarves were a hot fashion item in the 1950s-60s. Nowadays not so much. Some people must be puzzled at the sight of the head of the Established Church wearing such an article.

Great Aunt Annie | 24.02.16 - 8:40 a.m. | #

The Lizzie Line sounds quite nice.

Leuconoe | 24.02.16 - 9:11 a.m. | #

"She has also ridden on an Underground train on precisely three occasions"
I was going to say four, but on her visit to Baker Street in 2013 she didn't go anywhere (a concept familiar to many user of the Underground)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21856546

dg writes: ...which is why I didn't say four.

timbo | 24.02.16 - 10:46 a.m. | #

The "Queen" is one of 39 people whose wealth is greater than the combined wealth of the other 7.3 billion people on this earth. Yes, 7.3 billion people put together cannot equal her bank account and assets. Her money could eliminate poverty and starvation with the click of a finger. But never mind that, lets name a railway line after her

Martin | 24.02.16 - 10:57 a.m. | #

1. I'm not keen. What's wrong with Crossrail? If another one is built surely it could be Crossrail 2 or Crossrail B. Yes, the A line, I quite like that. I hope Geofftech is right. Guessing it depends how much this is rammed down our throats. Midttown (?) still hasn't caught on, thankfully.

2. 'I look forward to Elizabeth's tube opening up' Ooh, you are awfull.

3. Tenuous personal anecdote. I did once see that queen get on a train. Late one evening in the 1990's as I departed UCL Union on Gordon Street a large archaic looking vehicle bearing no number plate, went past surrounded by motorcycle outriders. The motorcycle chaps blew some whistles and stopped the traffic on the Euston Road, the car went straight ahead onto Melton Street beside Euston station. I followed on my bicycle at an unsuspicious distance and arrived just in time to see through a side entrance the car parked up next to the train. The lady got out, boarded the train, some flunky shut the door, someone else blew a whistle and the train departed immediatley

I'm pretty sure such a service will not be offered on CROSSRAIL (dwell time/ lack of parking on platforms).

Lorenzo | 24.02.16 - 11:07 a.m. | #

I'm going to call it the "Betty" line.

I know naming things is hard, but surely "Chapel line" (Whitechapel) or "Abbey line" or "Court line" or "PaddlingPool line" (Paddington and Liverpool St) would have been better?

Sykobee | 24.02.16 - 11:39 a.m. | #

I wonder if some tourists think Bond Street is named after James Bond?!

Working Class Hero | 24.02.16 - 11:55 a.m. | #

I expect people will call it "Crossrail" for quite some time to come, whatever it is called officially.

Andrew | 24.02.16 - 12:00 p.m. | #

For pity's sake I hope they don't call the Overground routes after other dysfunctional family members of Brenda's.

James | 24.02.16 - 12:28 p.m. | #

I'm confused - is Crossrail now effectively a new London Underground line?

I assumed there were enough things different about it (i.e. frequency, heavy rail trains, pricing structure, multiple termini) to present it as separate transport project, more like Thameslink 2000 which I believe will have a similar capacity when completed.

James | 24.02.16 - 12:39 p.m. | #

Here is someone suggesting "Queen Elizabeth Line" in December 2012, more than 6 months before Boris's first announcement.

And I think this is the Telegraph article on which the ES one was based - he does not say explicitly "[Queen] Elizabeth line" but rather "...who better to give her name to that line than someone who has served her country so unfailingly and well for 60 years?"

Andrew | 24.02.16 - 12:43 p.m. | #

@WCH - tourists generally know that Bond Street wasn't named after the fictional secret agent. They think it's named after a square on the Monopoly board!

Frank F | 24.02.16 - 12:46 p.m. | #

Hmm. Yes, this is highly unsatisfactory.

My suggestion would be the Silk Line or similar. The Silk Road followed an east-west alignment, broadly. Hence, by analogy...

shirokazan | 24.02.16 - 12:49 p.m. | #

We've all know it as Crossrail for years, their branding has been consistent - on signs, clothing, machinery, posters, website - and now sits happily in our psyche. But now an unwanted or consulted name change dumped on us at the personal whim of some ingratiating forelock tugging sycophants.

It'll always be Crossrail to me and in honour of all the technical and physical achievements, all the hardworking men and women, the complex machinery, the hours spend over details plans, timelines and shift work, I will continue to call it thus.

Dave K | 24.02.16 - 1:17 p.m. | #

This is excellent stuff.

I was aghast at the thought that we'd only have 2 tube lines in a row named after royalty. Thank god this fine tradition of last minute tory turnabouts is carrying on. After all, crossrail is so beneath her...

daveid76 | 24.02.16 - 1:35 p.m. | #

Shirokazan, with that name and that colour scheme it could be seen as the return of Cigarette advertising by stealth!

Also, are any pedants not bothered that they didn't choose the Elizabeth II Line? Even more of a mouthful for the announcements

James | 24.02.16 - 1:36 p.m. | #

It isn't an Underground Line, it's a Regional Railway very unlike the Underground and should have a title that makes that quite clear. Just like the title of it's North-South counterpart 'Thameslink' does. Crossrail was a perfectly fine name and I agree with Dave K completely on this.

The Queen is, by the way, not a good role model for public transport users in London, with just three journeys in nigh on eighty years.

I would have prefered that a 'proper' LU line had been named after her pothumously and found yesterday's grovelling pretty demeaning.

I think 'Elizabeth Line' will look pretty stoopid in Reading and Shenfield and maybe The Mayor of London should have thought up another way to ensure a Knighthood for himself and others.

IsarSteve | 24.02.16 - 1:40 p.m. | #

@Antipodean "Shame about the demolition of affordable housing that enabled it, but thst's a different issue." Assuming you mean physical demolition, can you point to some evidence for this?

dg writes: Please don't bother, wildly off-topic.

Alex | 24.02.16 - 1:53 p.m. | #

It may not be technically an Underground Line, but it will appear on the tube map, in its own distinctive colour, and it will take Oyster cards, so the general public will have no problems with calling it the "Something Line".

As for the choice of "Something", further comment is superfluous. We get no choice.

Malcolm | 24.02.16 - 2:00 p.m. | #

Martin,

The "Queen" is one of 39 people whose wealth is greater than the combined wealth of the other 7.3 billion people on this earth.

This sort of sentiment is popularly banded about but her personal wealth is not that great (by the standards of the rich). The Times Rich List used to include property of "the Monarch" but that effectively belongs to us. So she can sell of Sandringham (personal property and hers to dispose of as she thinks fit). She could not have sold the Royal Yacht when it was about and neither Buckingham Palace nor Windsor Castle are hers to sell or bequeath as she thinks fit.

Pedantic of Purley | 24.02.16 - 2:39 p.m. | #

I think the renaming is ridiculous and it will remain as Crossrail as far as I am concerned. Still DG's table top burning acidic wit and humour gave me a good old laugh.

PC | 24.02.16 - 3:46 p.m. | #

And it seems that as TfL cannot spell Crossrail they also can't spell / type "people" or properly punctuate the bullet points in their "Notes to Editors" section of their press release. Sigh - proof readers missing in action yet again.

PC | 24.02.16 - 3:54 p.m. | #

More fawning over our unelected. It's enough to make you vomit.

Adam | 24.02.16 - 5:11 p.m. | #

@James
"I assumed there were enough things different about it (i.e. frequency, heavy rail trains, pricing structure, multiple termini)"

Plenty of Underground lines have some or all of these features.

"I hope they don't call the Overground routes after other dysfunctional family members of Brenda's."
I've seen worse suggestions. But I suspect you think there is already a line named after the entire Royal Family - the Wat-Eus line.

timbo | 24.02.16 - 5:19 p.m. | #

Forgot I'd already been here today so, reading on, I see lots are going to be right fuddy-duddy's and continue with a name we've never used. No, you haven't used Crossrail have you? Or X-rail which looks exactly like someone forgot the name. Busy Lizzie, Lizzie Line, Betty Balls-up....we shall shortly find out shan't we? Crossrail it won't be.

B | 24.02.16 - 5:30 p.m. | #

It's a delightful shade of purple/lilac.

And it seems that I'm probably almost the only one who thinks it's a good choice of name (despite not particularly being a Royalist).

Blue Witch | Homepage | 24.02.16 - 5:43 p.m. | #

@Antipodean
Today's post is a fine piece of apparently fictional non-fiction.

Bob Lindsay-Smith | 24.02.16 - 6:12 p.m. | #

Do TfL consider how a name is announced on tannoy systems or pronounced by staff? I see it's the first line that begins with a vowel and when preceded by "the", it's not the easiest of phrases to enunciate. I can imagine "the Elizabeth line" eliding to "....thelizabeth line...".

On the plus side, the four syllables of Elizabeth does mean that non-alert passengers have an opportunity to figure out, from a half-heard announcement, which line is not running a good service.

Mars Bonfire | 24.02.16 - 7:50 p.m. | #

Best Geezer ever!

TKO (In the Baltic region) | 24.02.16 - 8:26 p.m. | #

Not sure why can't have Crossrail 1, 2, etc.

We already have HS1, HS2, HS3.

Karl. Dover | Homepage | 24.02.16 - 8:34 p.m. | #

I wonder if the Canary Wharf estate will keep it as Crossrail plaza or rename the shops above the station.

Jon | 24.02.16 - 9:45 p.m. | #

Just realised we are near the end of The Count. http://daytum.com/dgeezer

Update?

Andrew | 24.02.16 - 10:05 p.m. | #

Gosh, is everyone else here a republican? Am I the only one who thinks it's lovely idea?

Hedgehog | 24.02.16 - 10:05 p.m. | #

Yes.

Noel | 24.02.16 - 10:22 p.m. | #

Hedgehog,

I like the Queen, but just think it's a poor name for a regional underground railway line.

Jon | 24.02.16 - 10:31 p.m. | #

I like the name too. I also feel respect for our Queen - we are a lucky country to have had her selling us for so long. Sure, it will be Lizline or Lizzieline. Why not? Or maybe LizRail. I am just glad that I shall not need to be crammed into it every day.

Herbof | 24.02.16 - 10:34 p.m. | #

@ Hedgehog & Noel. No I too think it's a good idea. The 'kingdoms by the sea' (UK BE NL DK SE NO) are special in a Europe dominated by republics, not necessarily for the better. Londeners will give the line their own name, to cope with polysyllaby (h/t StationMaster Marshall @geofftech ).

My worry is that the eponymous about-to-be nonagenarian will be gathered to her forefathers before the full opening.

Old Buccaneer | 24.02.16 - 10:35 p.m. | #

@Timbo
Love it - yes the WatEus has them to a T

James | 24.02.16 - 10:35 p.m. | #

Anyway, I've always felt that 'Crossrail' perfectly describes my feelings about railway companies that can't get their act together.

Herbof | 24.02.16 - 10:38 p.m. | #

Apparently there is a woman named Elizabeth Line in New York City who became quite worried when her name started trending on Twitter!

James Webber (@jimweibo) | 24.02.16 - 10:42 p.m. | #

@ Hedgehog - ambivalent about the Monarchy. I just think Crossrail is the right name as it's been used for 40+ years since the scheme's initial inception. The renaming is a parting gesture from the Mayor - yet another daft decision to try to create a "Legacy". Unfortunately nothing short of a revolution or civil war will see the decision reversed.

@ J Webber - the real Elizabeth Line now has a purple roundel based name plate on her office door courtesy of her employer's marketing team. She tweeted about it earlier.

PC | 24.02.16 - 11:12 p.m. | #

I am sure that the roundels will not say "Elizabeth Line" when it opens as none of the other underground stations say line, and TfL marketing love standards. I forecast "Elizabeth"
Irrespective, when it opens properly I bet they take a photo again of the head honcho in front of the only roundel at St James's Park that is grammatically incorrect, as they always do.

DG Why was that roundel changed on the eastbound platform at the east end? Your public need to know!!

Scrumpy | 25.02.16 - 1:08 a.m. | #

Just as the Emirates Airline is "The Dangleway" to most of us, and I have enjoyed dangling, but would not consider flying Emirates with their Expat trolly dollies doing the work that Middle Easterner women would not dirty their hands with.

scrumpy | 25.02.16 - 1:13 a.m. | #

Names Boris overlooked:

The Only Railway Is Essex
Man Who's Havering to You Line
Lisa's Blow Job Line
Bonkers Bankers Line
Paddington Bearing
High Flyers Line
Fit for Humans Now

Sprout Eater | 25.02.16 - 8:39 a.m. | #

Elizabeth Line, what an embarrassing, cringeworthy, forelock tugging, brown-nosed squirm.
Of course, as several have commented, it will be known to all Londoners as the Lizzie Line! Sounds like a drag queen...very appropriate.

winsleigh | 25.02.16 - 10:57 a.m. | #

If Elizabeth is just another Underground line, shouldn't the stations bear the more usual, and nicer looking, Underground roundel?

Alex McKenna | 25.02.16 - 11:05 a.m. | #

They should combine Clean for the Queen with this, and let everyone have a quick rub and polish of Elizabeth's tube.

Arctic Troll | 25.02.16 - 11:42 a.m. | #

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