Crossrail - operating discussion and opening day 24th May

[345 050]

Yes trains can really make up a lot of time (5-6 minutes) between Abbey Wood and Paddington at the moment.

Yes they will also reduce dwell times if running behind schedule.

 

[Acton1991]

Seems like beggars and tissue sellers have found the central section and how fabulous walk-through trains are for their custom. Had 3 separate incidents today during my commutes

 

[Joliver]

There may not be any TSRs, but there obviously is a lower line speed through the platforms, presumably to reduce pressure on the PSDs

Trains can run through at 43mph

 

[Bikeman78]

That's suprisingly fast, presumably because the PSDs make it safer?

I'm pretty sure the Victoria line trains used to arrive at some stations at 40 mph. They used to belt into Victoria heading south. It's rare now owing to the increased frequency and having to wait for the previous train to clear.

 

[LB2]

Noticed there’s a new TfL_Wi-Fi network available to join on the trains, but once connected it’s dead. Perhaps the front end has been installed before the back end connectivity is ready? Seems a weird way around to launch it!

 

[ijmad]

Noticed there’s a new TfL_Wi-Fi network available to join on the trains, but once connected it’s dead. Perhaps the front end has been installed before the back end connectivity is ready? Seems a weird way around to launch it!

The Wifi base stations on the trains forward traffic via cellular 4G, which still isn't switched on in the tunnels. Once it is, devices on most of the UK major mobile networks will be able to stay connected like like in the Jubilee Line tunnels without even resorting to wifi.

The wifi works on the outside sections as they just talk to standard cellular towers like everything else, in the tunnels there is a dedicated 'leaky feeder' system which was deactivated just before the line opened in May due to potential signalling interference (if I recall correctly?). My guess is it's near the bottom of the priority list of things they need to get done 2023!

 

[Pete_uk]

Seems like beggars and tissue sellers have found the central section and how fabulous walk-through trains are for their custom. Had 3 separate incidents today during my commutes

Can they not be removed by security at a station or is that asking a bit much?

 

[ijmad]

Can they not be removed by security at a station or is that asking a bit much?

Wrestling people off trains tends to delay the service

 

[alf]

TCR has a proper connection to the Northern Line, it's only the Central Line which doesn't have the decent connection, as Bond Street was always earmarked for this.

I had this post in mind when I diverted my tube journey yesterday to enjoy the “decent connection” at Bond Street described above by Mikey C.

In fact the Central/Elizabeth connection is shockingly long & designed to turn fit but elderly walkers into cripples!

The wonderful speed & directness of the Elizabeth line is entirely destroyed by the long labyrinthine interchanges at almost all the stations.
They cry out for travelators which even second rate airports enjoy abroad.
The Liz line should be called the Hiking Line.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

In fact the Central/Elizabeth connection is shockingly long & designed to turn fit but elderly walkers into cripples!

Surely a long walk is more likely to turn fit people into athletes rather than cripples? Exercise being good for you and all that

I agree with you though that designing the stations to make the connections so far to walk seems unnecessary and inconsiderate to the people who need to use the EL to get wherever they need to go.

The wonderful speed & directness of the Elizabeth line is entirely destroyed by the long labyrinthine interchanges at almost all the stations.

On the subject of long walks, I'm baffled by the huge separation between the Eastbound and Westbound tracks at Tottenham Court Road. Why have them so far apart? As far as I can tell, it just adds more unnecessary walk to get from either platform to the central concourse that leads to the exits/other lines.

 

[ijmad]

On the subject of long walks, I'm baffled by the huge separation between the Eastbound and Westbound tracks at Tottenham Court Road. Why have them so far apart? As far as I can tell, it just adds more unnecessary walk to get from either platform to the central concourse that leads to the exits/other lines.

The space between is earmarked for banks of escalators and lifts down to Crossrail 2. Large enough so these can be constructed safely without having to shut the existing station.

 

[dosxuk]

It feels like some people (here and elsewhere) are starting to come around to why TfL didn't want to describe the Elizabeth Line as a tube line. It's designed for speed and capacity for medium to long distance journeys over the convenience for central area stations or for speeding up local journeys inside the Circle Line.

 

[BahrainLad]

The walks between RER and Metro in various Parisian stations are not exactly short, it’s just a function of fitting new mainline trains and platforms around a much older and smaller in scale metro network.

 

[alf]

The walks between RER and Metro in various Parisian stations are not exactly short, it’s just a function of fitting new mainline trains and platforms around a much older and smaller in scale metro network.

But they could have provided moving walkways in the very long wide high Liz line pedestrian tunnels.

I wonder if a second reason for the Elizabeth line in central London is to provide air raid tunnels ..like in the generously sized Kiev metro.

There are sometimes second purposes for building tube lines.
The jubilee line extension at Westminster provided a disguise, & a budget, for a pedestrian tunnel from the 10 Downing Street complex to the House of Commons.
Occasionally the darkened window cavalcade sweeping out of Downing Street for the Commons has no PM aboard. He/She has walked underground at times of a heightened security alert.

As well as sampling the new escalators yesterday I also used the Liz to Central line lifts at Bond Street.
The button stops & printed guides on an least one of the lifts between the Liz & the Central are confusingly marked “Crossrail”
If I spotted this why haven’t TfL?

 

[ijmad]

It feels like some people (here and elsewhere) are starting to come around to why TfL didn't want to describe the Elizabeth Line as a tube line. It's designed for speed and capacity for medium to long distance journeys over the convenience for central area stations or for speeding up local journeys inside the Circle Line.

I think it's interesting to compare the interchange between the tube and Thameslink which is a much more similar mode to the Elizabeth Line. Interchange at St Pancras, London Bridge and Elephant and Castle are rather long walks similar to some of the longest EL interchange walks. Blackfriars and Finsbury Park are still medium length walks where you still end up going through ticket gates. Farringdon is the 'easy' interchange. It's a very similar proposition.

 

[Railwaysceptic]

I think it's interesting to compare the interchange between the tube and Thameslink which is a much more similar mode to the Elizabeth Line. Interchange at St Pancras, London Bridge and Elephant and Castle are rather long walks similar to some of the longest EL interchange walks. Blackfriars and Finsbury Park are still medium length walks where you still end up going through ticket gates. Farringdon is the 'easy' interchange. It's a very similar proposition.

By using the spiral staircases at Finsbury Park, it's possible to transfer between NR and the tube without going through ticket gates.

 

[Horizon22]

The walks between RER and Metro in various Parisian stations are not exactly short, it’s just a function of fitting new mainline trains and platforms around a much older and smaller in scale metro network.

And existing Zone 1 infrastructure of course too that has since built around those early 20th century metro stations.

 

[Benjwri]

But they could have provided moving walkways in the very long wide high Liz line pedestrian tunnels.

Travelators would mess with the design as the Elizabeth line carries far more passengers in one train than other lines, so stations need to be bigger for evacuation, accessiblity etc. adding travelators reduces the space, and slows down the crowd, reducing crowd flow in an emergency and also just in general.

 

[absolutelymilk]

Don't suppose anyone has done the change from the Victoria at Oxford Circus to the Elizabeth Line at Bond Street and knows how much time it takes?

 

[Bald Rick]

Don't suppose anyone has done the change from the Victoria at Oxford Circus to the Elizabeth Line at Bond Street and knows how much time it takes?

I did today, although I didn’t time it. If you are the right (east) end of the EL train it’s about 5-6 mins platform to platform. Quicker if you walk up / down the escalators. The Hanover Sq escalator is very long!

 

[AlbertBeale]

But they could have provided moving walkways in the very long wide high Liz line pedestrian tunnels.

I wonder if a second reason for the Elizabeth line in central London is to provide air raid tunnels ..like in the generously sized Kiev metro.

There are sometimes second purposes for building tube lines.
The jubilee line extension at Westminster provided a disguise, & a budget, for a pedestrian tunnel from the 10 Downing Street complex to the House of Commons.
Occasionally the darkened window cavalcade sweeping out of Downing Street for the Commons has no PM aboard. He/She has walked underground at times of a heightened security alert.

As well as sampling the new escalators yesterday I also used the Liz to Central line lifts at Bond Street.
The button stops & printed guides on an least one of the lifts between the Liz & the Central are confusingly marked “Crossrail”
If I spotted this why haven’t TfL?

Are you sure you're not confusing this with the pedestrian link which certainly does exist between the Houses of Parliament and the parliamentary offices above Westminster station? There are behind-the-scenes links between Downing Street and the Cabinet Office and so on; if there is a Downing Street link to parliament, I suspect it might be by going under Whitehall to Portcullis House (above Westminster station), and thence to parliament. Or is your theory based on actual evidence of a direct link?

 

[Basil Jet]

Don't suppose anyone has done the change from the Victoria at Oxford Circus to the Elizabeth Line at Bond Street and knows how much time it takes?

According to Diamond Geezer,

Oxford Circus crossroads to Hanover Square entrance: 3 mins
Oxford Circus crossroads to Crossrail platform: 5 mins

https://diamondgeezer.blogspot.com/2022/10/bond-street-opens.html

 

[345 050]

Don't suppose anyone has done the change from the Victoria at Oxford Circus to the Elizabeth Line at Bond Street and knows how much time it takes?

Yes sir, I did this yesterday and it was 6'32. That's platform to Platform. I wasn't running, but also I wasn't exactly hanging about either.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Oct 2022 ==

Are you sure you're not confusing this with the pedestrian link which certainly does exist between the Houses of Parliament and the parliamentary offices above Westminster station? There are behind-the-scenes links between Downing Street and the Cabinet Office and so on; if there is a Downing Street link to parliament, I suspect it might be by going under Whitehall to Portcullis House (above Westminster station), and thence to parliament. Or is your theory based on actual evidence of a direct link?

There are multiple tunnels under Whitehall linking all of the government buildings, likely going as far south as the new location of the Home Office on Marsham Street according to some sources.

 

[317 forever]

In a way, I think the thread regarding the improved links being introduced on November 6th is becoming more relevant than this thread.

Maybe this thread can be closed once the through running starts on November 6th?

 

[Taunton]

Well if we want a comment about the current Elizabeth operations, it has been decided to close it for the whole weekend in the last few weeks. Not just Sundays, the case since May, but also Saturdays as well. This right into the Christmas shopping period, which is now well under way in London, and invalidates all the stuff about Bond Street "opening in time for Christmas shopping" when it's closed for the two busiest shopping days of the week. It will be doubtless shut next Saturday, this time due to strike, as well.

 

[Bald Rick]

Well if we want a comment about the current Elizabeth operations, it has been decided to close it for the whole weekend in the last few weeks. Not just Sundays, the case since May, but also Saturdays as well. This right into the Christmas shopping period, which is now well under way in London, and invalidates all the stuff about Bond Street "opening in time for Christmas shopping" when it's closed for the two busiest shopping days of the week. It will be doubtless shut next Saturday, this time due to strike, as well.

No, next weekend it’s open. This weekend it Is closed for testing.

I would say November and December are far more important for Christmas shopping than October.

 

[Bigbru]

No, it’s open all weekend.

I would say November and December are far more important for Christmas shopping than October.

After today the next closure in the Abbey Wood to Paddington section is Christmas day.

Planned line closures & service changes

Track closures - six month look ahead. Find out if planned closures could affect your journey

tfl.gov.uk

 

[Taunton]

No, it’s open all weekend.

 

[Bald Rick]

It will be doubtless shut next Saturday, this time due to strike, as well.

I was referring to your last sentence.

 

[DC1989]

View attachment 122860

But this is the last weekend this is the case I believe. From Sunday it's a full 7 day service