Crossrail - Through Running confirmed for November

[345 050]

The 'Fast' trains probably need a bit of thought on how they are displayed. The list of stations the train is not calling at is really long, it would be quicker to list the stations it is calling at!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I was watching a video about the through running (purely because I wanted to hear what Anne announcements re. the core sounded like), and it might have been A-Lister Geoff's video in which he spoke with someone very senior in the operation who stated there will be some Shenfield services that continue beyond Paddington from the May timetable change.

Very good news if so, as currently the Shenfield Crossrail services do not "cross" London, they go from the east and into the centre, and then stop at the very end of the centre. Direct services from Stratford to Heathrow will certainly be welcomed from my personal perspective. I don't care if you decide for me that it's easy enough to lug my bags and cases off of one train and onto the other at Whitechapel/Paddington purely because it's on the same platform, that is hassle that I myself would rather do without when carrying all but the kitchen sink to/from the airport

 

[DC1989]

There's an almost 20 minute wait between trains at abbey wood this evening. Reliability certainly has taken a knock since through running began

 

[samuelmorris]

There's an almost 20 minute wait between trains at abbey wood this evening. Reliability certainly has taken a knock since through running began

And despite being somewhat isolated from it, it's now taking almost 20 minutes to get from Stepney Green Junction to Stratford. If this is what the journey times are going to be like most evenings I think I might need to reconsider my route...

 

[thomalex]

There's an almost 20 minute wait between trains at abbey wood this evening. Reliability certainly has taken a knock since through running began

Due to a broken down train at Whitechapel apparently. That’s a broken down train in the central section each day so far this week.

 

[345 050]

It was a bit odd at Paddington this evening. There was a rather long gap, maybe about 10 minutes. Then they came through as normal for a bit. And then the Shenfield trains were missing. And then normal service again, and then a couple of services were missing. When it restarted again, everything was a couple of minutes late. This was 1700-1820.
Put it this way, from what I could see, in terms of passengers joining at Paddington, it was working ok. They didn't realise that there was any disruption. Except at one point the board got mixed up and the trains came through in a different order.

Edit: This was Westbound services, I wasn't paying enough attention to EB

 

[Acton1991]

Not sure who designed these new diagrams but the blue boxes denoting the limited service from National Rail platforms is almost illegible unless you’re stood on top of it. I wonder if TfL actually understand the day-to-day traveller when they’re designing these!

 

[Sunil_P]

Yeah, they really need Tube-style line diagrams. I zoomed in on this updated Lizzie Line one (car 340408).

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What's the longest time you've been delayed since the through running started? Thinking of using the Lizzie Line to get from Ilford to Heathrow next week in order to catch a 9pm flight.

 

[samuelmorris]

Yeah, they really need Tube-style line diagrams. I zoomed in on this updated Lizzie Line one (car 340408).

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What's the longest time you've been delayed since the through running started? Thinking of using the Lizzie Line to get from Ilford to Heathrow next week in order to catch a 9pm flight.

Today, 24 minutes. Not exactly enormous but it's been a while since I've been on time

 

[Acton1991]

I travelled Bond Street to Acton Main Line this evening. Lots of people waiting on the platform and letting the Paddington trains pass before boarding one heading out west. Left Paddington and stopped underground for around 2 minutes. Stopped again in Westbourne Park. Not ideal or very seamless, but I’m sure it’ll improve and get more slick in the future. Definitely demand for more frequent westbound service though.

 

[ijmad]

Considering only 4 trains per hour go to Reading anyway. Would the would the people of Shenfield really put up with an hourly or less service to Reading

If I were a betting man I'd bet that it'll be the peak time Reading semi-fasts introduced next May that connect to Shenfield, and at other times you'll be told to change. Infrequent travellers will use the timetable and show up at the station for a specific train. Savvy commuters will take the first train and change anyway, rather than waiting.

 

[lawried123]

Definitely demand for more frequent westbound service though.

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Of course, there are additional GWR services from Paddington Main line but as there is nothing about them on the Elizabeth platforms, how would passengers know about them ?

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[matt_world2004]

I went to Paddington mainline at about 20:00 today and it was dead. Looked as about as busy as during the second and third lockdown .

 

[coppercapped]

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Of course, there are additional GWR services from Paddington Main line but as there is nothing about them on the Elizabeth platforms, how would passengers know about them ?

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The same way that they knew about them before the ends were connected to the middle?

(Hint: Paddington is a main line railway station and trains have been running to (some of) these stations since, ooh, 1838 and was connected to the Metropolitan Railway in 1863; Crossrail is simply an addition to the mix. People aren't (generally) that dumb and if they need to be spoon fed then they shouldn't be allowed out in central London without adult supervision).

This may seem harsh, but don't underestimate people's knowledge and experience.

 

[matt_world2004]

Why do the reading services enter the core significantly later than Heathrow services on Sunday. Surely if the core is open , the core is open for all services

 

[VauxhallandI]

Queuing to get down the escalators at Liverpool St this evening

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Not sure who designed these new diagrams but the blue boxes denoting the limited service from National Rail platforms is almost illegible unless you’re stood on top of it. I wonder if TfL actually understand the day-to-day traveller when they’re designing these!

There is absolutely no need for the blue boxes (or additional squiggles that stop at Paddington/Liverpool St) to be there. If you arrive at the High Level and want to go on (and most that do will have missed that train and waited for a through service anyway), you quite simply walk down to the Elizabeth line platforms to keep going. If you’re leaving from those two stations, you don’t really need to know that the high level services run, because if you walk down to the Elizabeth line platforms, trains will still be frequently running.

 

[Horizon22]

I travelled Bond Street to Acton Main Line this evening. Lots of people waiting on the platform and letting the Paddington trains pass before boarding one heading out west. Left Paddington and stopped underground for around 2 minutes. Stopped again in Westbourne Park. Not ideal or very seamless, but I’m sure it’ll improve and get more slick in the future. Definitely demand for more frequent westbound service though.

Although the westbound services are exactly what they were several months ago. Is there suddenly an influx of people that want Ealing and Hayes? The only increase might be people coming off the Piccadilly to now go to Heathrow.

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There is absolutely no need for the blue boxes (or additional squiggles that stop at Paddington/Liverpool St) to be there. If you arrive at the High Level and want to go on (and most that do will have missed that train and waited for a through service anyway), you quite simply walk down to the Elizabeth line platforms to keep going. If you’re leaving from those two stations, you don’t really need to know that the high level services run, because if you walk down to the Elizabeth line platforms, trains will still be frequently running.

Not true for early mornings and late at night and Sunday start up.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Not true for early mornings and late at night and Sunday start up.

Would a sign on the Elizabeth line platforms not suffice?

 

[Horizon22]

Would a sign on the Elizabeth line platforms not suffice?

It would need to be a mobile sign, brought out as and when required And what’s wrong with a sign/box on the line diagram?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It would need to be a mobile sign, brought out as and when required And what’s wrong with a sign/box on the line diagram?

Not really. Those on the train aren't mobile. And nothing's necessarily wrong with it, it just makes it look cluttered for the sake of two or three trains per day (for an every five minute service) that go to different parts of the station. Battersea Park isn't even shown on many Overground maps, and that's an entirely different station.

 

[JonathanH]

Queuing to get down the escalators at Liverpool St this evening

Needs some people to realise that they can get in at the Moorgate end.

 

[345 050]

I travelled Bond Street to Acton Main Line this evening. Lots of people waiting on the platform and letting the Paddington trains pass before boarding one heading out west. Left Paddington and stopped underground for around 2 minutes. Stopped again in Westbourne Park. Not ideal or very seamless, but I’m sure it’ll improve and get more slick in the future. Definitely demand for more frequent westbound service though.

Having watched PM peak on Monday at Liverpool Street, with Shenfield trains leaving passengers behind, I think it's fair to say that East is still busier by some margin. Paddington (this evening) was busy, but even after the 3 terminating trains, it wasn't completely rammed, and no one got left behind - everyone got on the train that they wanted to get on. At the moment there are a couple of Abbey Wood-Paddington services in the peaks, which I assume are extended as Reading Fast services in the new timetable. They really should advertise these as SemiFast like on met line, there are way too many confused passengers at the moment.

 

[Basil Jet]

There is absolutely no need for the blue boxes (or additional squiggles that stop at Paddington/Liverpool St) to be there. If you arrive at the High Level and want to go on (and most that do will have missed that train and waited for a through service anyway), you quite simply walk down to the Elizabeth line platforms to keep going. If you’re leaving from those two stations, you don’t really need to know that the high level services run, because if you walk down to the Elizabeth line platforms, trains will still be frequently running.

For decades Kings Cross suburban services ran from the suburban station, except late at night when they ran from the main station. No map ever bothered showing the two, so I don't know why the Elizabeth Line team feel the need to be so informative about the various platforms at Liverpool Street and Paddington served by Liz at various times.

 

[matt_world2004]

Although the westbound services are exactly what they were several months ago. Is there suddenly an influx of people that want Ealing and Hayes? The only increase might be people coming off the Piccadilly to now go to Heathrow.

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Not true for early mornings and late at night and Sunday start up.

People could be diverting from Northolt to Hayes particularly if they live south of Northolt Station, likewise people could be diverting from Uxbridge to west Drayton as well

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It would need to be a mobile sign, brought out as and when required And what’s wrong with a sign/box on the line diagram?

Crossrail already had a mobile departure sign at Paddington that showed departures from the mainline station.

 

[Acton1991]

People could be diverting from Northolt to Hayes particularly if they live south of Northolt Station, likewise people could be diverting from Uxbridge to west Drayton as well

As well as people finally changing from the Central line in Ealing and Acton.

 

[Horizon22]

As well as people finally changing from the Central line in Ealing and Acton.

True but I’ve not seen much in extra loadings from those stations.

 

[Sleepy]

I bet early morning passengers from Shenfield branch were thrilled to discover their train wouldn't call at Liverpool St. (or any core stations) due to tube strike those stations were shut !!

 

[Horizon22]

I bet early morning passengers from Shenfield branch were thrilled to discover their train wouldn't call at Liverpool St. (or any core stations) due to tube strike those station were shut !!

Fast Stratford / Canary Wharf - Paddington! All those other core stations are ultimately managed by London Underground and didn’t open until circa 0700.

 

[samuelmorris]

I bet early morning passengers from Shenfield branch were thrilled to discover their train wouldn't call at Liverpool St. (or any core stations) due to tube strike those stations were shut !!

A lot more thrilled than people on the surface lines that had no service at all...