|
Post by riverside on May 24, 2022 15:36:07 GMT
So I’ve went out to ride it this morning and hats off to those involved because I’m very impressed with it overall. Trains were running on time and they were busy, not just with enthusiasts but also with regular people especially on the central station, with comments universally happy with what they’ve seen. Like with Nine Elms & Battersea Power Station, the stations are bright, airy and very pleasing aesthetically. My only gripes and they’re really nitpicky are why is it not Woolwich Arsenal and just Woolwich and the on board announcements need to tad refining when announcing the stop the train is at and the line diagram on the display. I even may make use of it after trying the interchange at Tottenham Court Road from Elizabeth to Northern and how remarkably close it is - 2 minutes max I make it via a small flight of stairs or a lift. Here are a few pictures I took - www.flickr.com/gp/vjaska/H5La17Thanks Vjaska for the photographs. Looks amazing. Next time I am down in London, hopefully I will be able to travel on the Elizabeth Line myself. Here in Liverpool we are waiting for our new Merseyrail rolling stock.
|
|
|
Post by buspete on May 24, 2022 15:42:40 GMT
I was out on the Elizabeth Line today.
Instead of commuting for my late turn shift at Baker Street and catching Southeastern from Bexleyheath where I caught the 13:36 train. So I got to Abbey Wood where I just missed a train, no worries as I only had a 5 minute wait, compared to 30 minutes at Bexleyheath.
So train moved off from an impressive Abbey Wood and I was at Woolwich in a flash, then moving off again and above ground again for a bit of natural lighting, shame there isn't a London City Airport Station, but then I was in Custom House, then back underground through Canary Wharf, Whitechapel, Liverpool Street and finally my destination Farringdon, a mere 20 minutes after leaving Abbey Wood. The station was very spacious and impressive, the escalator from the platform is really long, then up a much smaller escalator to street level, no direct link between The Lizzie and the Underground, I had to exit one station and re-enter another, which in itself is very symbolic as I went from the newest metro in the world to the oldest.
The trains are impressive with good information and handy I can walk straight through, I was the wrong end of the train. Though not as comfortable as older trains and no real wi-fi (I spent most of the time looking out of the window, sure this won't last long once the novelty wears off) But the quickness of the journey made up for that, as I shaved 15 minutes off my commute.
Going home later I will cycle on the Santander Bike to Liverpool Street, used to cycle to London Bridge and will be prepared to be blown away once again.
|
|
|
Post by galwhv69 on May 24, 2022 16:00:39 GMT
WiFi is available in the core, however seems to be mostly broken. I managed to connect for a few minutes on one journey out of 6
|
|
|
Post by Eastlondoner62 on May 24, 2022 16:37:57 GMT
WiFi is available in the core, however seems to be mostly broken. I managed to connect for a few minutes on one journey out of 6 It depends on your phone, much like the rest of the Underground. Mine had no issues, would connect before we'd even pulled in and wouldn't disconnect until we had fully left.
|
|
|
Post by richard on May 24, 2022 16:41:01 GMT
WiFi is available in the core, however seems to be mostly broken. I managed to connect for a few minutes on one journey out of 6 You should try the 710s WiFi it's utterly useless
|
|
|
Post by Busboy105 on May 24, 2022 16:55:59 GMT
Will Bond Street be open before or after the Shenfield trains go to Paddington?
|
|
|
Post by wirewiper on May 24, 2022 17:21:36 GMT
Will Bond Street be open before or after the Shenfield trains go to Paddington? There is no fixed date for either event and neither is dependent on the other, so it could be before (most likely), or after - or possibly around the same time.
|
|
|
Post by WH241 on May 24, 2022 17:23:47 GMT
Just had a quick ride from Custom House to Whitechapel and back! 7 mins each way which is impressive! Trains very busy but manageable. I know the trains have been in use on TfL rail for several years but they felt so different on the Elizabeth Line!
I look forward to travelling onto central London soon!
|
|
|
Post by snowman on May 24, 2022 17:29:37 GMT
Will Bond Street be open before or after the Shenfield trains go to Paddington? Nothing is confirmed, which will be ready first However Bond Street is said to be 3-4 months delay (there is no official confirmation if this is accurate) The opening of through trains (stage 5b minus) requires 16 weeks notice (about 3.7 months), but probably depends on the weekend tests in mid June
|
|
|
Post by WH241 on May 24, 2022 17:34:11 GMT
Noticed Canary Wharf platforms are numbered 8 and 9? Surprised they consider all 3 stations as one.
|
|
|
Post by wirewiper on May 24, 2022 17:42:23 GMT
Noticed Canary Wharf platforms are numbered 8 and 9? Surprised they consider all 3 stations as one. It helps the emergency services - if someone states a platform number they know precisely which station to attend.
|
|
|
Post by mkay315 on May 24, 2022 18:04:46 GMT
I just came off the train and I've been around canary wharf. All I can say is WOW. The stations are HUGE!!!. It's worth the wait but I'm glad it's somewhat opened now. Get on it folks!!!
|
|
|
Post by greenboy on May 24, 2022 18:16:36 GMT
I got to Paddington just as it was being evacuated, not sure if it was a faulty alarm or a fire drill? Anyway I got a ride through to Abbey Wood eventually and all very impressive, smooth fast ride and I look forward the full opening.
|
|
|
Post by WH241 on May 24, 2022 19:19:07 GMT
Is there a reason TfL fares are different on the tube compared to the Elizabeth Line? For example Zone 3 to Zone 6 is £1.90 on the Underground compared to £2.50 on the Elizabeth Line.
|
|
|
Post by Eastlondoner62 on May 24, 2022 19:22:51 GMT
There's obviously two very different ways to take a look at what's happened today, I used it both times on my commute. This morning from Whitechapel to Moorgate and then in the evening from Moorgate to Custom House.
It is an engineering feat, the stations are huge and the trains are long. They'll get the job done amazingly and the convenience will probably be unmatched. I managed to get from Moorgate to Custom House in 9 minutes. Previously 9 minutes from Moorgate I'd still be sitting on a DLR at Bank awaiting departure. My Instagram certainly was awash with pictures today, not just from myself but many people who aren't even enthusiasts who ended up going for a ride. Although something I think that shouldn't be overlooked are certain stations where the walk is huge from the platforms underground to street level. The walks at Whitechapel and Moorgate are not short ones, those unable to walk long distances should probably keep this in mind.
However there is the flip side. While an engineering feat, this railway is very much not world class. A country such as China or the United Arab Emirates would have pulled this level of engineering off in less than half the time, and probably avoided a lot of the budgeting issues along the way too. The stations on Crossrail are lovely, however I'd be pushing it if I said they're as nice as the stations on the Dubai Metro which again was built in far less time, and they don't hang about with extending it. Crossrail has gone over budget, taxpayer money has been spent again and again on something which shouldn't have cost anywhere near the amount it did. While the pandemic has provided a lot of those responsible a lovely wall to hide behind the entire planning and introduction of the service has been nothing short of a total shambles. Initial opening in 2017, just for a cost agreement to delay it to 2018 before an unspecified opening date was provided until the pandemic and now we finally have it open almost 4 years later. I think Londoners have grown so tired of waiting for this that generally everyone has settled for a "we'll take anything" phase and therefore ignoring the hurdles that needed to be overcome to reach where we are today. It shouldn't have opened like this, the line should have been operating for a few years by now. Taxpayers alongside commuters who have been paying their fares have seen their money mismanaged multiple times.
TfL have no doubt got a powerhouse of a year planned, the Bank upgrade is going to be completed this year. The Elizabeth Line is finally open and the Barking Riverside extension of the Overground is soon nigh upon us. They are also investing notably in the river network too, not to mention we had the Battersea developments happen too. The network has taken a huge leap, and will continue making strides however these strides should have all been bigger and sooner.
All in all I am very happy to see the line that said, and while I do think a minority of people up there who are the ones probably getting the glory for the line opening today should actually hang their head in shame the true heroes of this line are those who worked and laboured to get this to us. It's certainly not easy doing all the heavy lifting and working multiple hours in the day during all sorts of weather. Really do hope that those who worked on the ground do get some actual form of recognition in the near future for all the work they've done over the years.
|
|