Crossrail: How London’s Tube map will look after the launch of the Elizabeth Line, running from Shenfield and Abbey Wood to Reading
Get ready Londoners: the Tube map is about to undergo another big change, ahead of the launch of a new line crossing the capital from east to west.
The project formerly known as Crossrail was rebranded the Elizabeth Line yesterday, in deference to our good lady monarch.
The Elizabeth line will provide a lasting tribute to the UK’s longest serving monarch #Elizabethline pic.twitter.com/oW5vHMjcxN
— TfL (@TfL) February 23, 2016
The Elizabeth Line is due to launch fully in 2019 when it will run from Abbey Wood in east London and Shenfield in Essex to Reading in the west.
It is expected to shave minutes off journey times to key stops including Heathrow, Bond Street, Canary Wharf and Liverpool Street, carrying half a million people a day.
Here's how it will look on its own.
The first section – between Shenfield and Liverpool Street will launch this year, but here's how it will look by the end of 2018, when it will be fully integrated into the rest of the Tube map.
Some people are excited about the prospect – others are more sardonic.
As brand new Crossrail is named "Elizabeth Line", irregular rail replacement service will be re-branded as "Andrew Buses".
— Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) February 23, 2016
If they'd only named it after Charles, the Elizabeth Line could've been known as the Line of Charlie.
— Mr Roger Quimbly (@RogerQuimbly) February 23, 2016
New TFL line to be called The Elizabeth Line as it costs the taxpayer a lot and doesn't really do anything useful.
— TechnicallyRon (On all the platforms) (@TechnicallyRon) February 23, 2016
Here's the full timeline for when the Elizabeth Line will launch:
May 2015
TfL Rail services opened between Liverpool Street Main Line and Shenfield.
May 2017
The first new train enters passenger service.
May 2018
TfL Rail service opens between Paddington (National Rail) and Heathrow Terminal 4, replacing the existing Heathrow Connect service and part of the Great Western inner suburban service.
December 2018
The Elizabeth Line opens between Paddington and Abbey Wood.
May 2019
The Elizabeth line extends from Shenfield to Paddington.
December 2019
The Elizabeth line is fully open, extending to Reading and Heathrow Terminal 4.