LONDON — The underground portion of London’s long-delayed Crossrail project is scheduled to open May 24, agency Transport for London has announced.
Initial plans for the route to offer 12 trains per hour between Paddington and Abbey Woods Mondays through Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., with continuing work in the off-hours and on Sundays to prepare for increased service this fall.
“I am delighted that we can now announce a date for the opening of the Elizabeth line in May,”: Transport for London Commissioner Andy Byford, the former New York City Transit president, said in a press release. “We are using these final few weeks to continue to build up reliability on the railway and get the Elizabeth line ready to welcome customers. The opening day is set to be a truly historic moment for the capital and the UK, and we look forward to showcasing a simply stunning addition to our network.”
The route, officially known as the Elizabeth Line, will bring a significant increase in transit capacity and cut travel times in London and southeast England. It is initially operating as three separate railways until the new segment opens and the existing portions can be fully integrated. The 73-mile, 41-station system was originally slated to open in 2018. Its cost has risen from £14.8 billion ($18.68 billion) to £18.9 billion ($23.85 billion) since it was approved in 2007. More information is available at the Crossrail website.
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