Crossrail - Construction updates and progress towards opening (now expected 24 May 2022)

[Taunton]

Coming up to halfway through 2021 now. Has anything useful at all been achieved this year?

What happened to Andy Byford's initial look at whether a minimalist opening by the end of 2021 could be done? All seems to have gone quiet (as indeed has, uncharacteristically, Andy B himself, other than in those photo-ops above with the mayor).

 

[Ianno87]

Coming up to halfway through 2021 now. Has anything useful at all been achieved this year?

Trial Running has started, and several stations handed over to TfL. I'd say that was pretty useful.

 

[samulih]

One of the latest videos talked about opening early -22 .... Like what you wanna see, they are testing so nothing to video about

 

[BrianW]

https://twitter.com/MayorofLondon/status/1405911257379753986?s=20

Will it be clear to folk that this is the Elizabeth Line, other than the colour purple? Am I right in thinking that eg the District and Circle lines use those words on signs at the Lawn etc? And I'm trying to picture a person (esp someone unfamiliar) standing at the Lawn looking at 'next train' displays ...
I guess it will be 'alright on the night' when that time eventually comes.
Time to get the signage right ready for GBR.

 

[Pshambro]

Trial Running has started, and several stations handed over to TfL. I'd say that was pretty useful.

And tunnel portals handed over and full length units running ?.

 

[Taunton]

Trial Running has started, and several stations handed over to TfL. I'd say that was pretty useful.

Let us just be clear about this "handed over" mullarkey. All it means is that one department of TfL has paper-shuffled things across to another department of TfL. That doesn't gain anything. Under normal circumstances that doesn't even merit a minor press release. It's like at an aircraft builder saying that in the assembly line the wings have been handed across to the fuselage builder. These stations are not in use, are they? The one at Custom House still has its scaffolding up from years ago.

 

[Ianno87]

Let us just be clear about this "handed over" mullarkey. All it means is that one department of TfL has paper-shuffled things across to another department of TfL. That doesn't gain anything. Under normal circumstances that doesn't even merit a minor press release. It's like at an aircraft builder saying that in the assembly line the wings have been handed across to the fuselage builder. These stations are not in use, are they? The one at Custom House still has its scaffolding up from years ago.

In spite of your cynicism and negativity, it does mean that Crossrail is just that bit closer to opening.

 

[Taunton]

In spite of your cynicism and negativity, it does mean that Crossrail is just that bit closer to opening.

I think I'm entitled to be this way (which I would characterise as honest and truthful) as we here at Canary Wharf are grossly impacted by the inability to get this project in any way meaningfully addressed. To remind, it was within four months of opening date in 2018 when it was announced that it would be delayed, now, three years on there's still zero clarity of what they are doing or when they might be finished. Even the latest "start of trial running" has been persistently pushed back, rescheduled, rescheduled again, had further major possessions introduced, and appears to have made little or no progress.

Remember this, related to the current "start of trial running"?

It was announced on 31 August [2018] that Crossrail will open in autumn 2019 rather than December 2018 due to delays in completing infrastructure and testing.

Quoted from:

Sir Terry Morgan resigns as chairman of HS2 Ltd and Crossrail Ltd | The Independent | The Independent

 

[Ianno87]

I think I'm entitled to be this way (which I would characterise as honest and truthful) as we here at Canary Wharf are grossly impacted by the inability to get this project in any way meaningfully addressed. To remind, it was within four months of opening date in 2018 when it was announced that it would be delayed, now, three years on there's still zero clarity of what they are doing or when they might be finished. Even the latest "start of trial running" has been persistently pushed back, rescheduled, rescheduled again, had further major possessions introduced, and appears to have made little or no progress.

Remember this, related to the current "start of trial running"?


Quoted from:

Sir Terry Morgan resigns as chairman of HS2 Ltd and Crossrail Ltd | The Independent | The Independent

You asked what useful progress had been made this year.

I stated examples of useful progress.

What more do you want?

 

[Taunton]

You asked what useful progress had been made this year.

I stated examples of useful progress.

What more do you want?

None of what little was stated can be considered useful and significant steps forward. It's a real "The Emperor has no clothes" situation.

 

[rebmcr]

I think I'm entitled to be this way (which I would characterise as honest and truthful) as we here at Canary Wharf are grossly impacted by the inability to get this project in any way meaningfully addressed. To remind, it was within four months of opening date in 2018 when it was announced that it would be delayed, now, three years on there's still zero clarity of what they are doing or when they might be finished. Even the latest "start of trial running" has been persistently pushed back, rescheduled, rescheduled again, had further major possessions introduced, and appears to have made little or no progress.

Remember this, related to the current "start of trial running"?


Quoted from:

Sir Terry Morgan resigns as chairman of HS2 Ltd and Crossrail Ltd | The Independent | The Independent

Unfortunately, the British electorate in its infinite wisdom decided to make much of Crossrail Ltd's workforce decide not to return from their summer holidays back home in Europe. Even without chaining that situation into a pandemic, it was a severe setback — of course, due to the political tensions it's not ever been officially pointed out, and indeed they really mishandled it by trying to pretend for far too long that nothing had slipped.

Crossrail Ltd is of course an entirely separate company that at times has even been in conflict with TfL, but please, don't let me get in the way of you having a good old non-factual rant.

 

[OxtedL]

None of what little was stated can be considered useful and significant steps forward. It's a real "The Emperor has no clothes" situation.

The stations were all delayed in the construction phase, and this all signifies the absolute categorical end of the construction phase.

So despite your hyperbole, this is significant progress versus where they were.

 

[alf]

You asked what useful progress had been made this year.

I stated examples of useful progress.

What more do you want?

More than shuffling paper between TfL empires required.
Useful means useful to the public, to Londoners.

 

[Starmill]

More than shuffling paper between TfL empires required.
Useful means useful to the public, to Londoners.

How is a construction site or a railway in testing ever any direct use to the general public?

If that's your bar you know for sure you won't have any updates for more than six months yet, as opening this year hasn't been considered viable for some time.

 

[stuu]

More than shuffling paper between TfL empires required.
Useful means useful to the public, to Londoners.

The stations being handed over means they are finished, and ready for opening. That is a solid achievement, as is trial running of trains. All of this has to happen before the line opens

 

[Taunton]

Crossrail Ltd is of course an entirely separate company that at times has even been in conflict with TfL, but please, don't let me get in the way of you having a good old non-factual rant.

Crossrail Ltd is indeed a separate company, although probably not qualifying for the word "entirely", as it is owned by ... TfL. The official registered office is at the TfL offices at Endeavour Square in Stratford. There is a further company called Transport Trading Ltd which is interposed between Crossrail and TfL, which also has its registered office in the legal department of the TfL Stratford offices. The board members comprise various familiar TfL names. It is not apparent what this complex arrangement achieves other than being able to pretend Crossrail is independent, when it isn't.

Standing by for an apology about any "rant", "hyperbole", and other inaccuracies - just like the Crossrail progress reports, actually.

 

[Horizon22]

The stations were all delayed in the construction phase, and this all signifies the absolute categorical end of the construction phase.

So despite your hyperbole, this is significant progress versus where they were.

Not to mention trial running has already gone up from 4tph to 8tph so is in a good position to go into Trial Operations as planned in the timetable.

 

[pacenotes]

Has he associated himself with Crossrail in previous tweets or is it only now because there's light at the end of the tunnel?

He has been elected again, He has 4 years to finish Crossrail, doesn't matter about bad PR now. As much as the torys tried to blame him for the delay of Crossrail it was obvious it was never going to finish on time way before during Borrises watch.

 

[Meerkat]

He has been elected again, He has 4 years to finish Crossrail, doesn't matter about bad PR now. As much as the torys tried to blame him for the delay of Crossrail it was obvious it was never going to finish on time way before during Borrises watch.

If it was obvious why didn’t Khan immediately call that out so he could avoid blame rather than (allegedly) get involved in covering up the delays?

 

[SynthD]

It’s also more true than before. Iirc Crossrail Ltd had a degree of separation from oversight, which Dft and TfL corrected about two years ago.

 

[quantinghome]

You asked what useful progress had been made this year.

I stated examples of useful progress.

What more do you want?

Tutting, eye-rolling and the occasional 'typical' would probably be better received than actual progress updates.

 

[MotCO]

He has been elected again, He has 4 years to finish Crossrail, doesn't matter about bad PR now. As much as the torys tried to blame him for the delay of Crossrail it was obvious it was never going to finish on time way before during Borrises watch.

I think you'll find that he only has 3 years to finish Crossrail - the mayoral term this time is three years to offset the 5 years of the last term when elections were delayed by Covid.

 

[Geogregor]

 

[matt_world2004]

Let us just be clear about this "handed over" mullarkey. All it means is that one department of TfL has paper-shuffled things across to another department of TfL. That doesn't gain anything. Under normal circumstances that doesn't even merit a minor press release. It's like at an aircraft builder saying that in the assembly line the wings have been handed across to the fuselage builder. These stations are not in use, are they? The one at Custom House still has its scaffolding up from years ago.

Crossrail is partly owned by the DfT and TfL control of sites is handed by crossrail to the lead contractor on site for each of the various sites.


When it is handed over to TfL it is removed from the contractors control and from the dfts control to TfL and they become responsible for its operatoration.

 

[Taunton]

I think you'll find that he only has 3 years to finish Crossrail - the mayoral term this time is three years to offset the 5 years of the last term when elections were delayed by Covid.

For those from outside London, the recent mayoral election made not a single mention of Crossrail. Not one.

 

[59CosG95]

Woolwich is station no. 4 to be handed over to TfL. https://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/ar...nsfers-from-crossrail-to-transport-for-london

 

[Ianno87]

Some TfL bus papers have seemingly revealed the currently planned Crossrail opening date: 14th May 2022: https://twitter.com/thomasbowell/status/1411301700934291460?s=19

Have seen in some other TfL documentation that the planned launch of Crossrail services will be the 14th of May - (2022). A bit clearer than the rather opaque "first half 2022" we've had thus far.

I would assume a provisional date only at this stage, potentially later, or even earlier with a "soft" launch.

Tweet posts a screenshot of the paper (https://t.co/IXDtNr3NxC?amp=1)

Route 95 - extend and reroute when Crossrail opens – currently 14 May 2022 • Route 427 – will be rerouted to terminate at Southall Station when Crossrail opens – currently 14 May 2022. The target date for the extension to Montague Waye is 27 April 2025. This assumes the road network in Quayside Quarter will be available

 

[matt_world2004]

Some TfL bus papers have seemingly revealed the currently planned Crossrail opening date: 14th May 2022: https://twitter.com/thomasbowell/status/1411301700934291460?s=19



I would assume a provisional date only at this stage, potentially later, or even earlier with a "soft" launch.

Tweet posts a screenshot of the paper (https://t.co/IXDtNr3NxC?amp=1)

Looking at those bus papers they are not the date the core opens but the date that the western section is connected upto the core. The 427 isn't Effected by the core opening

 

[ijmad]

Looking at those bus papers they are not the date the core opens but the date that the western section is connected upto the core. The 427 isn't Effected by the core opening

That would be pretty impressive, the previous plans suggested there'd be a six month gap between the core opening and Shenfield trains running 'through' to the core, and then another six months between that and Reading trains running 'through'. If they could compress that timetable and open full service more aggressively, I'd forgive some of the delays.

 

[reddragon]

I little birdie told me (who should know) that there is an aspirational date in the week before Christmas and the giveaway if this is likely to be met is when staff are called for passenger trials