Elizabeth line: Behind the Scenes of Liverpool Street Station | Hidden London Hangouts (S05E08)

[@TheTimGowen]

This station is incredible, especially when you remember what Liverpool Street was like when I first went there in the 1980s. The Elizabeth Line is more wonderful than most people realise!

[@skyrules2007]

Chris Nix, correct answer on the Cream Vs Custard question 😄

[@danielscott524]

17:00 - “Bring me sunshine”: so here for the joy!

[@darrenshell3466]

The eurotrash tune followed by “ribbed for your pleasure” 🤣🤣. Brilliant as ever

[@alexgrundon2346]

We couldn’t resist! 😉

[@DonPraveen]

That was hillarious! 🤣 Also, @AlexGrundon, other sources suggest the Eurotrash theme (2:06) is called "Saint Tropez", though Brigitte Bardot does feature in the song details 😬. I'll shut up and run away now! 🤐 kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIvEknlslr2tkKs

[@kevinreed9232]

Great Episode. Liverpool Street Crossrail Station is massive. Beautiful Engineering Hats Off to every Worker who helped to build it. It will be worth visiting London just to ride on Crossrail when it opens soon. Thank You fantastic four. and the cameraman who filmed the episodes.

[@jacksugden8190]

Too bad it has crap trains with hard seats, and the rest, ridiculous that there’s no through service to/from Essex/Reading, having to change at Paddington don’t you think?.

[@davidbarrett1487]

Yes, the marvellous British workers, a work of art and practical use too! 🇬🇧

[@EngineerLewis]

Those wavey ceilings are lovely and thankfully we no longer live in a smokey environment so will not go yellow like it did in the past. Oh and I just enjoyed my ice-cream cone 😋 whilst watching the crew ride up the sideways lift!

[@daveharris7224]

Thank you team for a fabulous episode. I should be able to get my required daily exercise by walking those corridors twice a day! I'm surprised that there is no travellater along that long corridor. Maybe it just isn't big (wide) enough! The amount of effort that has been put in to make these stations look so wonderful is amazing. As has been said, in these difficult times it is exactly what London needs as a major project to help the recovery from Covid & war. Don't anyone say that it should have been built more cheaply without all the beautiful touches.

[@damiagunbiade]

You did a wonderful job of checking the station. And I'm happy that's Laura did this one too. I miss when she's not there. It is absolutely fantastic. And now today people can check it out.

[@DesiroDriver]

Awww thanks for the photo and mention guys! Hello 👋🏻 😁

[@tedcopple101]

People of London, please please please look after these beautiful stations. You don't know how lucky you are!

[@jacksugden8190]

Only time before the graffiti artists and vandals get together - vomiting 🤮

[@shaiyanomamo3705]

@@jacksugden8190 TBH I would argue that this is less of a problem in London when compared to other public transport systems in Europe (many of which are fantastic too).

[@jacksugden8190]

@@shaiyanomamo3705 Think the new interchange at L Street would be nice for those in the area, or passing into Stratford, in my case, the new arrangement was unworkable, even going to Stratford on the Central line was a no no, if there were peak huts trains AM/PM from the platforms into Essex, then that’s a good thing, but not off peaks if no trains.

[@damiagunbiade]

Haha can I say that's the best introduction ever. Haha Laura and Alex that was the best thing I've seen. By the way it's good to see Laura back on the Elizabeth line. Liverpool Street is so large. Jesus. Holy it's incredible how large this thing is. You guys are great.

[@laurahilton3210]

Thanks! Lovely to hear you enjoyed the intro & episode 👍🏻🤣

[@paulwheeler4283]

From incline lifts to yellow pages maquettes, MIKA references and interesting Dr who facts definitely one of my favourite episodes so far thank you all once again for another uplifting I've had a really painful week so I needed this pick me up love you all dearly ps Alex enjoy you're Christmas pudding with Brandy butter and maybe some cheeky custard 😋 have a lovely weekend xx

[@RWL2012]

*inclined* lifts

[@ulazygit]

Ribbed for your pleasure … Chris, you’ve been hanging out with Alex for far too long!

[@jacksugden8190]

What about the ladies…?

[@Shalott63]

Another great episode as usual! I agree these new stations are game-changers; the older deep-level stations are going to seem very 'snug' [read 'cramped', ed.] once we're used to using the Elizabeth line ...

[@daveharris7224]

I look forward to using the link between the Central Line at Liverpool Street & the Northern Line at Moorgate, without coming out of one station & into the other or hoping on the Met Line for one stop.

[@danielscott524]

33:20- ‘238m’. I do like the idea of measuring platforms in radio wavelengths. Liverpool St, the ‘Leicester Sound’ of the Lizzy Line… I’ll get me coat…

[@alexgrundon2346]

LOVE THIS!

[@railenthusiast88]

Thank you all for a great episode. As a regular user on the Shenfield branch it has been really interesting to see what the new central london stations will be like. I missed a number of the recent episodes so have some catching up to do! For future episodes if time permits it is worth doing episodes on the improvement works that have been done to the outer London stations on the Elizabeth line. The improvement to accessibility in particular is noticeable.

[@alexgrundon2346]

Yeah could do actually!

[@jimpinckney9432]

Stunning wasn't it. I used to go to school in Woolwich (now flattened). The new station used to be in an area behind very large gates. The wall (now gone) went all the way to Plumstead station. I used to work in Finsbury Circus. You are right to say that London only gets bigger with more people travelling. The Tube needs to make a statement. Much of the current system is too small but I guess that it was big enough at the time of opening (of each part). Who knows, we may get to the situation where it gets crowded. People will use what is there. When the M25 was complete there was a guy on a TV interview stating that it would be a white elephant and nobody would use it. How wrong.

[@mrcogginsgarage7062]

Alex the chap was called Harry Worth.

[@mrcogginsgarage7062]

Found it for you Here you go 😁 m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHqzmpuond-lY7c

[@jacksugden8190]

I also noticed the error

[@paulgiffen6836]

Just superb, can not wait to see this gorgeous station, love you team 💖

[@jacksugden8190]

Did not like the Moorgate tunnels and stairs, resembling an office block, as looked under budget, ticket area looked fine.

[@jacksugden8190]

Reminder set, as eventually when I do make summer trips back to my old home town at Brentwood, might be using the station.

[@mapala78]

That's my old home town also, only left when I got married as it was cheaper to live in Kent where my wife lived.

[@jacksugden8190]

@@mapala78 I spent 27 years at Ingrave, long association with long gone Thermos in the Ongar Road, even The Castle pub opposite was no more, and Selo (Ilford Films) in Woodman Road, enjoyed a drink in The Brave Nelson and the SELO Social Club. It’s interesting how times have changed, no living in London since 1983, and now an OAP, pensioner with a London Freedom Pass, and very happy, I couldn’t live in Brentwood anymore, could you?. Best regards…

[@mapala78]

@@jacksugden8190 Talk about coincidences, Used to live on the Three Arch estate 1951 - 1964. Moved to Masefield Court in 1964. Worked at Thermos in 1962 & 63 Prep Dept Then again in 1966 in plastics, the last shift being the morning of the in 1966. (No I didn't start it) I was at Selo works during 1963, Often used the Castle for a drink, also the White Horse, White Hart, Railway Tavern, Brewery Tap, and The Alexandra.. Used to go back to visit my parents, since they have both gone,had no reason to go back. the last few occasions I thought that I was glad that I had out. I remember that anything you wanted there was a shop for it in the high st but not now. Alan

[@jacksugden8190]

@@mapala78 Think you are older than me, I also worked at Thermos, first as a silver servicer loading bottles on a conveyor belt, master nights in the injection moulding shop, in 79 spent 4.5 years until 83 - redundancies at Ilford’s in Woodman Road, then I moved to London and had the time of my life. I used to also drink in the now demolished Castle pub, never the Alex pub, my first job at Ilford’s was in the Pan Wash in the emulsion block, later I transferred to the coasters, mainly working in the reeling chambers of rooms 12 and 13, sometimes in 14. I lived at Pondfield Land and used to drink in The Chough, done lots of other jobs in town, not one employer exists in Brentwood, at least I can sit back and relax, as now retired, no need to work anymore.

[@mapala78]

@@jacksugden8190 78 now, had some good and happy memories times during my time in Brentwood , being single at the time had a good bunch of work, school and council estate friends,. So much has changed and NOT for the better. Retired in Dec 1994 on health grounds, But doing alright now.

[@SamFelstead]

A video of you guys just talking about track and infrastructure with carto metro map, would be great!

[@daveharris7224]

It's nice to see that Laura has made the site visit, but no Siddy today? If all four of you turn up, does the station fall down in fright!

[@alexgrundon2346]

You never see all of us at the same time - we travel like the Royals 🤣

[@jacksugden8190]

Laura did not take an interest in those dull plain tiles, she might in a 10,000 years time thou.

[@olly5764]

Imagine if Broad street had still been open too, and it would have served Three main line stations!

[@jacksugden8190]

I remember Broad Street - just think 🤔

[@benjamindenton]

At Euston, the parallel southbound Victoria and southbound Northern travel in opposite directions.

[@alexgrundon2346]

They do. You know why?

[@petercompo]

It was great to see Liverpool Street/Moorgate station. One thing that concerns me as I am ambulant disabled is the massive marches one has to do on tubes these days. I cant wait to see Lizy line Stratford, heard there a problem making signaling comparable. Whitechapel to Stratford will give an emergency route if London Bridge is out due engineering.

[@woodyjmw]

SIDs actually start at street level, which is level 1, so level 4 is 3 below ground.

[@ShuttleDiscovery]

Great episode, once again! Looks like a very long walk from Elizabeth Line to the Northern Line on the Moorgate side, I wonder why they didn't make a wider passage with travelators here?

[@chatteriscl4502]

Excellent episode. Have you thought about getting the designer of the Elisabeth Stations on your show? How did they ever come up with those intricate angles and lighting of even the most unusual spaces. Would be interesting to hear their thoughts.

[@gazritchie6077]

Another fantastic episode guys. Ribbed for your pleasure 😉

[@Listenerandlearner870]

Greater Northern services can be reached from Liverpool Street via the Liz Line though the Circle/Met/Hamm+City line avoids the long walk.

[@BobGronenberg]

Hi Everybody, While at Acton Depot last Saturday, smiling Keith R. and James helped me purchase a beautiful Knightsbridge tile 462945 (teal) and wrapped it for me to hand-carry back to the US! Since international shipment is not offered, I may have the only Knightsbridge tile in the western hemisphere as of now 😊

[@olly5764]

Acton is itself, in the Western Hemisphere so if they have any more, maybe not

[@BobGronenberg]

@@olly5764 OOPS! I stand corrected.

[@jacksugden8190]

Get some bidding on eBay

[@Powerdrummer1972]

I must stop drinking tea when I watch these, I nearly choked several times at the innuendo (other Queen albums are available).

[@jacksugden8190]

It’s paranoia that other brands are also available, daft as no one earns from such silly statements.

[@geoffreymartin2764]

Hey Alex, I wear hi-vis most of the time. I like colour and either you can't get bright colour or it costs a mint. I was in KMart one day and a staff member suggested hi-vis. That was a few years ago. Still wearing them. 🏳‍🌈

[@woodyjmw]

Surprised you didn't mention at the start that the new Moorgate Ticket Hall is already in use by passengers, you can see one or two in the background at the start of the video. Moorgate Ticket Hall was the first new permanent Ticket Hall built by Crossrail, on an LU Station, to open, in July 2021. That was a huge challenge in itself, with building demolition and reconfiguration of the existing Ticket Hall, whilst keeping pedestrian routes open through the station and building the new Station's Operation Room and transferring all the systems to that room.

[@alexgrundon2346]

You did it! Our work here is done! Onto Woolwich!

[@my__socrates__note]

New tv series idea: Alex Grundon and the Underground Banana Hammock

[@alexgrundon2346]

Needs the word “tummy” in there somewhere 😉

[@johnwood2448]

Next year is the 50th anniversary of John Betjeman's Metroland. You guys could look at this for a video. What's changed and how much has stayed the test of time.

[@PJsWorld]

I have a question, after the Elizabeth line is fully open which services will use the newly dissued Elizabeth Line platforms at Liverpool St and Paddington?

[@jacksugden8190]

Welcome team. Without a doubt, it’s an amazing engineering project never to be seen again in my lifetime. Some impressive escalators down to what looked like a modern day Buckingham Palace, amazed at the depth of both sets of escalators, reminded me of Angel, wasn’t keen on those totems at all, as clutter, made that tunnel untidy, maybe they were for crowd control, with passengers in both directions… liking strip lighting seen at the Moorgate end, and cctv/tannoys fittings elsewhere would have worked. Of interest here was that we can walk between both stations into Moorgate Street, so if raining out… not care much at the Moorgate end tunnel and stairs, as very bland, looking like an office block/quite featureless + no moving stairs, probably not possible to build due to rises. Was that 8 levels down by the lift?. At least there was a connection to the tube and possibly to the Northern City Line. Laura, I still intend to go on the Moorgate tour. Such a shame that there was no through service from Brentwood to Reading, which just one of those things… what about evacuations?. Well I shall miss coming off the London Overground at Liverpool Street and walking to along to catch a TfL Rail train to Brentwood, this is currently so fast, so for myself, a thumbs down, although the project was well spent, except a longer journey time from/to Essex.

[@laurahilton3210]

Hope you get on the Moorgate tour!

[@jacksugden8190]

@@laurahilton3210 Hello Laura, how much would I pay, as a pensioner on a freedom pass please? 🤓.

[@jeremybuck1818]

There will still be some trains in peak hours from Liverpool Street high level station to Brentwood/ Shenfield,

[@jacksugden8190]

@@jeremybuck1818 Yes found this out after watching this video, think there might be some 315 EMU’s

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Regarding the floor counting: After Geoff Marshall's infamous 15-stoery-buidling video I made a list of the number of floors corresponding to the number of steps and the height or depth of a building. (It's actually a table of 18.) Happy to share it: Storeys ... Steps ... mrs 1 ... 18 ... 3,06 2 ... 36 ... 6,12 3 ... 54 ... 9,18 4 ... 72 ... 12,24 5 ... 90 ... 15,30 6 ... 108 ... 18,36 7 ... 126 ... 21,42 8 ... 144 ... 24,48 9 ... 162 ... 27,54 10 ... 180 ... 30,60 11 ... 198 ... 33,66 12 ... 216 ... 36,72 13 ... 234 ... 39,78 14 ... 252 ... 42,84 15 ... 270 ... 45,90 For details on measurements and calculations please see Geoff's video and the comments.

[@alexgrundon2346]

I need to give you more homework, clearly… 🤣

[@WagDemTails]

31:38 That sneeze made me jump 😳

[@Blade_Daddy]

My Scottish gran used to make Christmas puddings with brandied hard sauce - YUM!]

[@ljrigsbee]

You can never have too much totem, can you?

[@alexgrundon2346]

Absolutely true. The more and the bigger, the better

[@donald4557]

I came here to learn how to invest after listening to a guy on radio talk about the importance of investing and how he made $460.000 in 4 months from $160k, somehow this video has helped shed light on some things, but I'm still confused, I'm a newbie and I'm open to ideas.

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[@shenequalacewell692]

@@walterj915 Interesting, I have a lump sum doing absolutely nothing at all in my bank account, I wanna get something started with it. You seem to be doing excellent for yourself, how do you achieve this?

[@walterj915]

Exactly, the trick is to diversify your investment, don't panic when everyone else is and invest consistently.

[@shenequalacewell692]

@@walterj915 Do you trade on your own?

[@walterj915]

I’m trading with expert Mrs Kristina A McFadyen, a regulated broker. Met her sometime early last year at a startup funding event. She had some interesting things to say about the state of algorithmic trading today, very obviously I'm seeing the results. Am trading with expert Mrs Kristina, a regulated broker. Met her sometime early last year at a startup funding event. She had some interesting things to say about the state of algorithmic trading today, very obviously I'm seeing the results.

[@suell1090]

1665 Bethlehem was the burial site of the "great plague" (Black Death).

[@alexmckenna1171]

Nestles tinned cream used to be great with xmas pudd..

[@alexgrundon2346]

Oooh new one on me!

[@petercompo]

I noticed that you looked at the map of lifts. As I am dyslexic I find them confusing.

[@chrisstephens6673]

Those platforms and passages are ridiculous, it may all be "step free" but still a f*cking route march for those with limited leg use.

[@aaronmread]

Nerdy question time. How long would it take by walking to go from the existing high level platforms to these low level platforms?

[@pb4rton]

I am curious to know.. When the Elizabeth Line opens, will Angel station still have the longest escalator on the network and will Hampstead still be the deepest, or will Elizabeth Line beat them both?

[@alexgrundon2346]

I’ve not come across anywhere which has longer, from memory, although happy to be corrected. Angel’s are epic.

[@richardmellish2371]

Several comments from me, but the first is that I'm confused. You started at the Moorgate end. At 9:57 you passed a sign pointing back to where you had come from for the Northern Line, and onward for the Central Line (at Liverpool St) all of which makes sense. But then at 15:04 Alex says "Let's go to Moorgate" and you apparently continued in the same direction, coming to a flight of steps, not the escalators that you had come down. Which end is which? The signs on the totems apparently direct passengers for the Met etc both ways: at 29:40 towards Moorgate, at 30:19 towards Liverpool St. But at 26:30 you're on the westbound platform, apparently near the western end of that platform and the sign on the wall there shows Met etc in the same direction as Central. Someone who's arrived on a westbound Elizabeth train and wants the Met etc is more likely to be continuing westward, so why does that sign directe them to the Met at Liverpool St rather than at Moorgate? One very obvious question to raise: with such long passages, why are there no moving walkways? One more: you commented about the lighting in the wide space between the platforms being better than old-fashioned strip lights, but around 40:50 there are strip lights (probably LEDs, but general effect like the old ones).

[@alexgrundon2346]

Lots of observations there! Both Liv St and Moorgate are on the sub-surface lines (obvs) so signage directs you to the nearest. Northern line is signed from both ends and in all honesty it’s not that close to either Liz line Moorgate or Liv St. No moving walkways, just escalators and i don’t recall seeing a “florri” or similar anywhere on the station. But have a good look when it opens and it will all make sense

[@woodyjmw]

Richard, to get to the Northern Line from the Elizabeth Line Moorgate Ticket Hall, you can either take 2 lifts, or take the escalators and then you have to turn back on yourself along the platform (heading west at this point) and you'll find the corridor leading to the stairs, which then takes you up to the link to the Northern Line. From the Ticket Hall, it would be much quicker to go through the existing Moorgate Station to get to the Northern Line, so it's not likely to be used much for that, more for interchange for Elizabeth Line Services and maybe some going all the way to the Central Line etc, at the east end of the station. I think the signs direct to whichever station is closer, for the Met Line, so yes, you could end up walking up to Liverpool Street and catching the Met Line for one stop to Moorgate, instead of walking to the west end of the station... The passages actually aren't that long, the Central Concourse is much shorter than the platforms themselves. The Northern Line Link is a smaller diameter tunnel, with quite a change of level along it, to fit in a travelator would have been a significant cost.

[@richardmellish2371]

@@alexgrundon2346 Thanks for those responses. It would indeed make sense to direct people to whichever is nearer for the Met etc, and the signs on the totems (as far as can be seen from the video) do exactly that; but the sign that is visible at 26:30 is (apparently) at the Moorgate end of the platform yet pointing towards the Liverpool St end. Likewise at 26:45.

[@richardmellish2371]

@@woodyjmw Thank you. I reckon I'd better visit idc.

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

You should have Camera Chris as a geust one day, don't you think?

[@alexgrundon2346]

I would love Camera Chris to come on the show. He’s quite a shy boy but he is fabulous, creative and lovely

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Wouldn't wanna 'force' a shy person into something s/he doesn't want to do. :)

[@woodyjmw]

Need to correct 'small boxes', Liverpool Street has the deepest on Crossrail at 42m (Blomfield Box) and the largest by volume, the very impressive Moorgate Shaft, 35m wide and almost as deep as Blomfield - I believe the largest excavation in London without internal spanning props. Great video overall though, well done. Need to give more credit to the people who designed and constructed the station, so congratulations to Laing O'Rourke, Bam Nuttall Kier JV, Taylor Woodrow and BBMV JV and all their suppliers. Main designer's Mott MacDonald and Arup and all their subconsultants, many thousands of people overall.

[@alexgrundon2346]

Looks like you just did!

[@benjamindenton]

"Look at the length of that....!"

[@alexgrundon2346]

Could resist, Jaaaaaag. Sorry 😉

[@Why24244]

I use this walkthrough every Friday I get of the northern at morgate and walk to Liverpool street I prefer this to get on the central line it still feels like a cheat

[@kurudyr]

can't believe no one picked up on my suggestion of naming it Livergate

[@alexgrundon2346]

It sounds offal…. 😉

[@davidstone408]

Visited Liverpool Street the other day, first time in 40 years, and saw the fire doors, thought Elizabeth Line, but when is Liverpool Street going to clean the rest of the roof, it just lets down the station.

[@alexgrundon2346]

I can lend a bucket and mop if that helps?

[@scottglenn7715]

Overall a great episode but really surprised how little likes you have received despite well over 2,200 views. As much as the new London Stations are fabulous I do believe you should alternate between new and historic content to get the mix right. At the end of the day you need to need to get 'Likes' from your episodes so the 'You Tube' algorithm will pick up on the popularity of your broadcasts and share them. I would encourage all your viewers to 'like' your posts on KZbin to help improve the channel.

[@alexgrundon2346]

You’re very sweet. We’re having to hurtle through the Liz line content due to the opening date but the heritage stations re many and varied and are yet to come. Fear not and thank you for the prompt to like. We don’t ferociously chase the numbers, nor viewers but they are lovely numbers to see - and Patreon numbers are going up too, which is great for museum coffers. Keep watching and enjoying.

[@gen12345able]

By the time it is fully open delay will equal 50% of the original planned construction time.

[@thomasday3256]

I pity the poor sods who change to the Northern line here!

[@woodyjmw]

It's in the order of 200 metres and 2 flights of stairs (or 2 lifts), if you get off in the right place, the alternative would be going up 2 escalators to the Ticket Hall, then walk to the existing LU Moorgate Ticket Hall and back down 1 escalator etc, so probably slower than the new link.

[@stephensaines7100]

Laura's got a great pair of legs...

[@jacksugden8190]

So has Siddy

[@alexgrundon2346]

WHAT ABOUT NIXY AND ME??? 🤣

[@jacksugden8190]

@@alexgrundon2346 Morning Alex, of course you and Chris, a crisp morning in London -1C, just backing up the iPhone after watching the latest BBC Persian news broadcast on iPlayer, hope your well, off out a little later to Trent Country Park, might go for dinner in the afternoon, nice being retired, as now have a Freedom Pass. I saw some members of the TfL Revenue Protection team along with BTP recently at Southgate tube station, never knew that one of their investigators had helped design the iTap system to help catch fare evaders, possibly the team, your good self, Chris, Siddy and Laura could all go off to their office at Southwark and do a documentary on all their amazing work to catch fare evaders, had seen the Fare Evaders: At War with the Law 👍.

[@andrewnelson4057]

Bespoke panels...? No wonder it's 4 years late, and billions over budget....

[@chrisnix7981]

And yet the panels aren't the cause of the delay.

[@andrewnelson4057]

@@chrisnix7981 Mass production saves time and money. So TFL does the exact opposite.... Lol.

[@andrewnelson4057]

@@chrisnix7981 Thanx for the reply though Mr. Nix.

[@jacksugden8190]

Increased costs and the checking the IT and safety equipment, it’s all been in the news, almost a white elephant 🐘.

[@jacksugden8190]

@@andrewnelson4057 The stations are bland as compared to the Moscow metro