First trip on Elizabeth Line

[satisnek]

I journeyed to Gravesend yesterday. Now Gravesend is just 25 minutes from St. Pancras, and indeed that was the way I went last year. But like all things HS1, speed comes at a cost and it didn't represent good value for money for me. The alternative of fiddling about via Thameslink or the 'Southern' terminals and all-shacks services didn't appeal at all, so I hit upon a third option. Two stops on the Bakerloo from Marylebone to Paddington then pick up the Elizabeth Line all the way to Abbey Wood and thence to Gravesend.

First of all, the name. It's certainly fitting, particularly in the light of events shortly after opening, but 'Elizabeth' just doesn't have the same 'ring' to it as 'Victoria'. It's probably why the major station rebuilds of the second half of the 20th Century passed it by. Birmingham Elizabeth or Leeds Elizabeth, anyone?

Anyway, arriving at Paddington, the first thing I noticed was that the platform seemed to go on for ever! I boarded the train near the front and did the same on the return journey at Abbey Wood, so I don't know if there was any 'spare' platform behind the train (and these are pretty long anyway). I can't really comment on the Class 345, not being a modern rolling stock enthusiast. To me it's just another 'bendy train' (we even have these in deepest Worcestershire now!), but the acceleration did impress. Despite going out as far as Reading they don't have toilets but do have USB charging points. Human needs have changed since last time I looked.

The journey itself was of course just tunnel for most of the way, but for those of us who remember the old North Woolwich branch, passing through Silvertown on, by the standards of what used to be there, a 'main line' was certainly a experience! I don't know what's special about Abbey Wood, just a convenient place to build an interchange I suppose. The whole return trip from Marylebone to Abbey Wood cost just £6.40 on my Oyster card - I can't work out how but I'm not complaining!

A stark contrast with the Class 345 was the beaten-up 1972 tube stock on the Bakerloo. Even with a mid-life refurb, it looks every bit like clapped-out junk on its last legs. After all, it has now managed to outlive the legendary 1938 stock!

Now I can remember reading about the Crossrail plans in Modern Railways when I was a schoolboy, and I've now taken early retirement and hurtling towards Senior Railcard age, so please forgive me for being less than completely awestruck. But the Elizabeth Line is certainly very effective in providing a fast link between two parts of Greater London which didn't have a fast link previously. Yes, as far as Gravesend is concerned it took a lot longer than HS1 (indeed, just the Abbey Wood-Gravesend leg takes a little longer), but for both convenience and value for money I was well impressed.

 

[TFN]

I think both Southeastern (DfT) and TfL were surprised on how quickly Abbey Wood would become very popular with interchange once the Elizabeth Line opened.

 

[Cricketer8for9]

I’m still awestruck; less at the time taken but more at the magnificence of the stations and seeing full size trains underground on modern infrastructure. The platforms are longer than the trains by the way. Watching the world go by at Stratford is also great. Tube trains, DLR; Elizabeth Line, Mainline and London Overground all heavily used.

 

[satisnek]

I’m still awestruck; less at the time taken but more at the magnificence of the stations and seeing full size trains underground on modern infrastructure. The platforms are longer than the trains by the way. Watching the world go by at Stratford is also great. Tube trains, DLR; Elizabeth Line, Mainline and London Overground all heavily used.

Indeed, it has been built to accommodate traffic levels which would have been impossible fantasy figures to the Tube planners of 120 years ago - and it does seem to be very well patronised.

 

[stadler]

I journeyed to Gravesend yesterday. Now Gravesend is just 25 minutes from St. Pancras, and indeed that was the way I went last year. But like all things HS1, speed comes at a cost and it didn't represent good value for money for me. The alternative of fiddling about via Thameslink or the 'Southern' terminals and all-shacks services didn't appeal at all, so I hit upon a third option. Two stops on the Bakerloo from Marylebone to Paddington then pick up the Elizabeth Line all the way to Abbey Wood and thence to Gravesend.

First of all, the name. It's certainly fitting, particularly in the light of events shortly after opening, but 'Elizabeth' just doesn't have the same 'ring' to it as 'Victoria'. It's probably why the major station rebuilds of the second half of the 20th Century passed it by. Birmingham Elizabeth or Leeds Elizabeth, anyone?

Anyway, arriving at Paddington, the first thing I noticed was that the platform seemed to go on for ever! I boarded the train near the front and did the same on the return journey at Abbey Wood, so I don't know if there was any 'spare' platform behind the train (and these are pretty long anyway). I can't really comment on the Class 345, not being a modern rolling stock enthusiast. To me it's just another 'bendy train' (we even have these in deepest Worcestershire now!), but the acceleration did impress. Despite going out as far as Reading they don't have toilets but do have USB charging points. Human needs have changed since last time I looked.

The journey itself was of course just tunnel for most of the way, but for those of us who remember the old North Woolwich branch, passing through Silvertown on, by the standards of what used to be there, a 'main line' was certainly a experience! I don't know what's special about Abbey Wood, just a convenient place to build an interchange I suppose. The whole return trip from Marylebone to Abbey Wood cost just £6.40 on my Oyster card - I can't work out how but I'm not complaining!

A stark contrast with the Class 345 was the beaten-up 1972 tube stock on the Bakerloo. Even with a mid-life refurb, it looks every bit like clapped-out junk on its last legs. After all, it has now managed to outlive the legendary 1938 stock!

Now I can remember reading about the Crossrail plans in Modern Railways when I was a schoolboy, and I've now taken early retirement and hurtling towards Senior Railcard age, so please forgive me for being less than completely awestruck. But the Elizabeth Line is certainly very effective in providing a fast link between two parts of Greater London which didn't have a fast link previously. Yes, as far as Gravesend is concerned it took a lot longer than HS1 (indeed, just the Abbey Wood-Gravesend leg takes a little longer), but for both convenience and value for money I was well impressed.

The platforms on the Elizabeth Line core all fit 11 coaches. The trains are only 9 coaches. This is to allow for future lengthening if necessary. They are extremely long. Especially standing on a quiet empty platform at one end you really do notice the massive length.

 

[Horizon22]

The platforms on the Elizabeth Line core all fit 11 coaches. The trains are only 9 coaches. This is to allow for future lengthening if necessary. They are extremely long. Especially standing on a quiet empty platform at one end you really do notice the massive length.

Up to 11-car, 30tph service is what the core (Central Operating Section) can handle, although I wouldn't want to be there when something even when a tiny bit wrong and that level of service was running!

 

[generalnerd]

First of all, the name. It's certainly fitting, particularly in the light of events shortly after opening, but 'Elizabeth' just doesn't have the same 'ring' to it as 'Victoria'. It's probably why the major station rebuilds of the second half of the 20th Century passed it by. Birmingham Elizabeth or Leeds Elizabeth, anyone?

Well, to be fair on late 20th century station namers, she was very young

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

A stark contrast with the Class 345 was the beaten-up 1972 tube stock on the Bakerloo. Even with a mid-life refurb, it looks every bit like clapped-out junk on its last legs. After all, it has now managed to outlive the legendary 1938 stock!

The Elizabeth Line/Crossrail was built to emulate the RER in Paris (limited stop main line trains via a central tunnel).
I first encountered the RER on line B from CDG airport in 1982 and it was magnificent, compared to the old, slow metro.
But 40 years on (on the same trains) it is not so pleasant - a crowded, dirty, smelly (the Paris drains), dim (poor station lighting) and rather hostile environment.
The brand new EL in London seems light years ahead in ambience. But it will age like the RER and the Bakerloo.
DFT/TfL will have to maintain the service to a high standard to make it last 40 years or so before train replacement and general refurbishment.

Paris is building a new route to the airport from Gare de l'Est which will improve over RER line B.
They have also built several other RER-type links across the city, and are up to RER E, the fifth route, compared to our two equivalents (EL and TL).

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I worked on Crossrail 1 - which was cancelled of course - but spent some enjoyable meetings to do with the station designs - and am deeply impressed with the present Crossrail or Elizabth line. It saddens me though that some of the LUL managers I worked with (excellent people) , did not live to see the eventual completion of what is basically a better project than we we planned back in the early 1990's. I always think of them when travelling on it , and how delighted they would have been with it , and especially the loadings on it. In retrospect , not going to Aylesbury via Amersham was right - not enough traffic for the very substantial cost.

With regard to Paris - not been for a few years , (health reasons + lockdown) , but I always thought the RER was well engineered , but very badly lacking in ambience and felt a bit sketchy to say the very least. The Metro , did and presumably does , feel a lot better , partly as a result of the historical stations and seemed much better maintained. .

 

[satisnek]

Well, to be fair on late 20th century station namers, she was very young

Manchester Victoria, 1843, Norwich Victoria, 1849, Sheffield Victoria, 1851 - she was even younger. But OK, what about the major station rebuilds during the privatisation era? Reading Elizabeth would have been a fine tribute, particularly as she officially opened it and it would later be served by the line of the same name. Or Leeds (again) Elizabeth? Nowadays it seems a bit of a shame that our longest-reigning monarch was never commemorated in this way.

The Elizabeth Line/Crossrail was built to emulate the RER in Paris (limited stop main line trains via a central tunnel).
I first encountered the RER on line B from CDG airport in 1982 and it was magnificent, compared to the old, slow metro.
But 40 years on (on the same trains) it is not so pleasant - a crowded, dirty, smelly (the Paris drains), dim (poor station lighting) and rather hostile environment.
The brand new EL in London seems light years ahead in ambience. But it will age like the RER and the Bakerloo.
DFT/TfL will have to maintain the service to a high standard to make it last 40 years or so before train replacement and general refurbishment.

Paris is building a new route to the airport from Gare de l'Est which will improve over RER line B.
They have also built several other RER-type links across the city, and are up to RER E, the fifth route, compared to our two equivalents (EL and TL).

Indeed, everything ages, but the Bakerloo has the oldest passenger rolling stock in routine service in the UK (?) which is now in a particularly battered condition. Scariest of all is that it was built within my own lifetime!

 

[jfollows]

The whole return trip from Marylebone to Abbey Wood cost just £6.40 on my Oyster card - I can't work out how but I'm not complaining!

£3.20 off-peak single each way per https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/tube-and-rail-fares/single-fare-finder

 

[satisnek]

£3.20 off-peak single each way per https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/tube-and-rail-fares/single-fare-finder

Yes, I get it now... my return journey was during the evening peak but because it was into Central London it didn't count and I was charged off-peak.

 

[jfollows]

Yes, I get it now... my return journey was during the evening peak but because it was into Central London it didn't count and I was charged off-peak.

PS My first trip on the Elizabeth Line was last month, Farringdon to South Kensington via Ealing Broadway which was under the time limit for a zone 1 journey and subsequently hit the zone 1 fare cap. So not expensive at all.