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Post by route53 on Jul 18, 2021 20:22:06 GMT
If you actually bothered to read my earlier post, I said that such a service could either do the same stops as the old Gillingham semis or run semi fast up to Dartford then Abbey Wood, also you’re ignoring that I also said that this service isn’t about getting people from Maidstone to the West End quicker, it’s more about ferrying people to CrossRail, of course you could do away with the Rainham Thameslinks entirely and have the old Medway semi fasts with a Maidstone portion as was the pattern up until the 1970s. But to have a TfL service to Maidstone and what would be next? Thameslink coming under the TfL banner? Might as well become TfSE at that stage. I've read it all..... increases in other services mean that there is no longer the capacity to run Gillingham to Charing Cross semi fasts. I'm sure this has all been covered before on here. The Woolwich line still has 8tph, Thameslink just replaced the old Gillingham service is all, adding loads of minor stations. Regardless of which CrossRail is the real game changer on the line, and at the very least there will be some changes to accommodate people heading to Abbey Wood. |
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Post by richard on Jul 18, 2021 21:06:42 GMT
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Post by route53 on Jul 18, 2021 21:36:42 GMT
Good news, let’s hope it keeps on track to open even if it’s Paddington to Abbey Wood |
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Post by richard on Jul 21, 2021 19:47:21 GMT
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Post by WH241 on Jul 21, 2021 21:03:51 GMT
Testing really seems to be ramping up now. Every time I pass Custom House Station there seems to be trains in both platforms.
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Post by wirewiper on Jul 28, 2021 8:40:15 GMT
Crossrail could now open potentially in February 2022.
Full trial operations (where trains run at the full service frequency) could commence in November, if the final software is released from the laboratory and works as expected. Trial operations would last 10-12 weeks. If all goes well, a mid-February opening date would be the earliest possible allowing for train crew rostering.
The initial service would be Paddington (Crossrail) - Abbey Wood. Reading/Heathrow Airport - Abbey Wood and Paddington (Crossrail) - Shenfield could follow in Autumn 2022 and the full service would be delivered as part of the May 2023 National Rail timetable change.
In other news - Whitechapel Station is set to be handed over to TfL on 23rd August. This will see the new entrance and ticket hall brought in to use and step-free access to Underground and Overground platforms (and of course Elizabeth Line in due course). It is not known what will happen to the temporary entrance but it could be retained as an emergency exit.
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Post by route53 on Jul 28, 2021 17:32:04 GMT
Crossrail could now open potentially in February 2022. Full trial operations (where trains run at the full service frequency) could commence in November, if the final software is released from the laboratory and works as expected. Trial operations would last 10-12 weeks. If all goes well, a mid-February opening date would be the earliest possible allowing for train crew rostering. The initial service would be Paddington (Crossrail) - Abbey Wood. Reading/Heathrow Airport - Abbey Wood and Paddington (Crossrail) - Shenfield could follow in Autumn 2022 and the full service would be delivered as part of the May 2023 National Rail timetable change. In other news - Whitechapel Station is set to be handed over to TfL on 23rd August. This will see the new entrance and ticket hall brought in to use and step-free access to Underground and Overground platforms (and of course Elizabeth Line in due course). It is not known what will happen to the temporary entrance but it could be retained as an emergency exit. Great News! I figured that CrossRail would open in stages until 2023 anyway, but at least the core + the Abbey Wood branch will be up and running, the outer bits to Reading and Shenfield will be connected in time. I do wonder if there’ll be a consultation regarding the 2023 timetable changes soon? |
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Post by richard on Aug 9, 2021 14:55:51 GMT
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 10, 2021 17:43:13 GMT
Paddington Crossrail was formally handed over to TfL on Monday 9th August. That just leaves Whitechapel, Canary Wharf and Bond Street.
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Post by M1104 on Aug 22, 2021 13:08:09 GMT
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Post by wirewiper on Oct 25, 2021 10:49:50 GMT
"Trial Operations" set to begin next month, the is the final stage of testing before the line can open to the public.
Bond Street has been sufficiently completed that it can act as an evacuation site if needed, therefore even if it doesn't open initially the line will still be able to operate with passengers whilst complying with the safety requirements for evacuating trains in tunnels.
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Post by M1104 on Nov 30, 2021 14:13:52 GMT
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Post by snowman on Nov 30, 2021 21:39:47 GMT
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Post by wirewiper on Jan 10, 2022 16:38:31 GMT
The Crossrail Team is now pushing hard to open the Elizabeth Line for public service "by the end of March". The team is confident that the latest testing, and the works over Christmas to update the ventilation and train software, mean that the line could potentially open as soon as 6th March. There is a drawback to this however. The opening would be "Stage 3" - which means only the Paddington Crossrail to Abbey Wood service would be operating through the central core, at 12 trains per hour. This could mean there is "insufficient time to gather reliability evidence from operational service, and 24tph service trials, to support the Stage 5C timetable bidding process". This matters, as it is the two later stages of opening with trains from Reading/Heathrow and Shenfield operating through the central core that will start to generate "meaningful financial rewards". So delaying the initial opening to May could paradoxically be better financially for TfL, and it would also increase the chances of Bond Street being ready on the opening day. www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/crossrail-pushing-hard-for-a-march-opening-date-50740/ |
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Post by WH241 on Jan 10, 2022 16:56:16 GMT
The Crossrail Team is now pushing hard to open the Elizabeth Line for public service "by the end of March". The team is confident that the latest testing, and the works over Christmas to update the ventilation and train software, mean that the line could potentially open as soon as 6th March. There is a drawback to this however. The opening would be "Stage 3" - which means only the Paddington Crossrail to Abbey Wood service would be operating through the central core, at 12 trains per hour. This could mean there is "insufficient time to gather reliability evidence from operational service, and 24tph service trials, to support the Stage 5C timetable bidding process". This matters, as it is the two later stages of opening with trains from Reading/Heathrow and Shenfield operating through the central core that will start to generate "meaningful financial rewards". So delaying the initial opening to May could paradoxically be better financially for TfL, and it would also increase the chances of Bond Street being ready on the opening day. www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/crossrail-pushing-hard-for-a-march-opening-date-50740/With so much negative news about cuts it’s really good to see positive news about the Elizabeth Line! Looking forward to a super quick journey to Tottenham Court Road and of course the start of route 304 and other bus route changes in the local area. |
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