Phase 2 of the Elizabeth Line is NOW OPEN! THROUGH RUNNING From Heathrow to Central London & BEYOND!

On 6 November 2022, the Elizabeth Line (Crossrail)’s next phase opened for passenger use, which means trains from Heathrow and Reading in the west and Shenfield in the east now join with the central section from Abbey Wood to Paddington to create and link the line in (near) full! I went up to Heathrow Terminal 5 that morning to ride the very first Eastbound service through the new tunnels, with the new links being very useful indeed… so join me as we go through the full Elizabeth Line experience!
*NOTE: There is an error with the voiceover at 12:30 - was meant to say the Circle Line as opposed to the District Line! Apologies and many thanks to those of you who have made me aware of this.*
Journey Details:
Date of Travel - November 2022
Operator - Elizabeth Line (MTR Crossrail)
Train type - Class 345 “Aventra”
Origin - Heathrow Terminal 5
Destination - Abbey Wood
Price - £9.40 (off-peak single, inc. Railcard discount of 1/3)
Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoyed the video!
Music from EpidemicSound and is used under license.
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#elizabethline #crossrail #tfl #transportforlondon #mtr #throughrunning #heathrow #reading #abbeywood #shenfield #centrallondon #tripreport #vlog

[@popnozstuff6099]

I managed to get this train from ealing broadway. It was quite the experience.

[@MrJordanSDean]

It goes to say that you don't *have* to switch at Whitechapel for Shenfield, but you can do it at any station between Paddington and Whitechapel. With TfL telling/suggesting Whitechapel as the change point, you'll get heaps of people changing there.

[@OMtheRails]

Indeed - Whitechapel seems to be the interchange that TfL are pushing people to use from my experience so far, with it being packed this morning during the morning peak.

[@user-xo3hw6bb9k]

Whitechapels in zone 2 so ofc they're gonna advise people to go there. For example, if you're tryna get from Canary Wharf to Stratford, then you can the train to Whitechapel then a train to Stratford as you won't be going into zone 1 therefore trains are cheaper.

[@mudchute4dlr]

They say whitechapel as it is apparently the least used out of the six where you can change

[@jacobporrett]

Looks good mate. Great video. I enjoyed watching.

[@aviationtrainsfc1]

7:48 there is internet connection in the core section, although it is only for EE users. There may be a network for other users, but I am not too sure.

[@highpath4776]

Ahh, was trying Virgin and TfL_wifi, wondered why it didnt work

[@kelakuan]

nicely edited video and well presented. you got yourself a new follower. cheers!

[@amanda_wm_3261]

Fab video as always. Thanks a lot

[@Kent-trucker]

Thank you for the vlog, very informative in voice and video. Was a resident of west ealing was so handy even before crossrail to have heathrow connect at west ealing and the Piccadilly tube line at northfields station. so many airport staff used there services and now its better. The coming of crossrail perked up falling property prices and as heathrow 3 rd runway would be immediately over my roof. I sold up

[@leenabalance]

No particular views on the Elizabeth Line but am enjoying knitting along with my purple yarn

[@timmarsh4029]

Loving your videos!

[@GeoffWilliams1]

Many thanks ML, this is a very informative video. So pleased to see the ‘link-up’ at last, but as I’m travelling from Reading or Twyford I really regret their decision not to include toilets.

[@ajs41]

Excellent stuff. I was on the first train from Shenfield to Paddington. Departed at 7:11am.

[@ReubenAshwell]

That was a very wet journey you had indeed. This is exciting stuff and I look forward to trying out the Elizabeth line in full (done the central and abbey wood bits already and they were good) when I get around to it. :)

[@ajs41]

I was there and it was torrential rain.

[@highpath4776]

The 70mph speed would explain why the expected up to 7min delay outside Paddington was only a couple of mins at a stand.

[@trainlagged]

Excellent video mate, always quick to release them too 😎

[@OMtheRails]

Cheers pal! Wouldn’t say this one was as quick as the others though 😂

[@highpath4776]

I can remember the "Airbus" bus routes from KingsX/Russell Square and Paddingtonish to LHR , and the A1 Airbus from Hounslow (later Hatton Cross) , plus the BOAC buses from Buckingham Palace Road (now National Audit Office Building) (did some run from Gloucester Road "coach station" for a while ? and the BEA Buses from the West London Air Terminal at Cromwell Road.

[@joshuahalla.k.a.controlla6333]

Great video. ☺️

[@gordonb5571]

I can get wifi on a British Airways flight but not on a newly-released multi-billion pound Liz Line train. International travellers and the new long-distance commuters need wifi for those last-minute urgent tasks - and the latest Strictly. When will it be retro-fitted?

[@jacksdjfam]

The technology is already fitted but it's down to what mobile network you're with unfortunately. They should make it open like tfl rail

[@rugbydazz2264]

Take the HR express, problem solved! It could be worse you could bectrying to get to JFK they can only dream of having a SELECTION of options to get there

[@johnrafferty8087]

My favourite station outside of zone one is Hanwell. Hasn't lost any of its character . And is still accessible with lifts. On the core I Love Whitechapel

[@DIEMLtdTV]

I've been pretty impressed travelling in for a week recently from Ealing to Liverpool Street and Bond Street. However, it's back to sardines at rush hour in the morning.

[@ashleyjiscool]

The 315s er still in service huh? Thank you for telling us that information

[@michellebell5092]

As I caught the very first Abbey Wood to Paddington in May, I decided to take my first trip on full journey from Abbey to Reading ( on day 3).

[@neville132bbk]

Very good video... approved in LevIn NZ.

[@johnrafferty8087]

I was on the first through train too

[@PeterWTaylor]

Yes the seats are hard, in line with all modern train rolling stock. Ouch! Was a time when train companies took pride in passenger comfort, and no USB points which new overground trains by same manufacture do have.

[@rosalindluper2801]

So glad it's not just me. I have taken this train twice from Paddington to Reading and was shocked at how uncomfortable it was, and the seats are quite narrow too and I'm only a small person. I thought it was going to be fabulous but was badly disappointed.

[@mudchute4dlr]

tips: - if you are coming from reading, change at bond street or farringdon for servkces to shenfield, not whitechapel as advertised - from heathrow airport terminal 5, if you need to go towards central london or the east, and a heathrow express will depart before the elizabeth line service, get on the express and change at central, you can do this on a free transfer ticket, PAYG or elizabeth line paper ticket (if they exist) and its a little more fun, although the 387 has iron boards they are nicely shaped (of course you cant sit in business first but you can oass through it to get to the next unit), still better even if you dont get a seat on the purpletrain - if you are coming out of reading and need to go to heathrow or vice versa and a lot of people are alighting at hayes and harlington, get off at ealing broadway, most people alighting there will be changing to the district (or central but more go to district i think) or exiting and few waiting for the other westbound service - if you are coming out of shenfield and need to go towards abbey wood, change at farringdon, same reason as above - as mentioned in the video, try to sit in a transverse area, more comfortable than longitudinal section now that the shenfield to heathrow service has arrived, the elizabeth line is complete, but i still think the heathrow to abbey wood should be removed for extra frequency, only having two routes being shenfield > heathrow and abbey wood > reading, shenfield > reasing is really really long, and abbey wood > heathrow is pretty short. i also think they should have added a terminating platform at paddington and liverpool street, perhaps in the layout that north greenwich has (for some reading trains to not have to go all the way to abbey wood). i also think that in the core, westbound should have 4 different sections, and instead of showing the forst three trains to arrive, the first train to each destination (heathrow airport terminal five, heathrow airport terminal 4, reading and paddington) with the right side being what it is already, and on the scrolling part on the bottom of the screen, it should show everything that is said in announcements for people with hearing difficulties

[@laurenceskinnerton73]

Interesting.

[@4555_Warrior]

When I went to bond Street they did a test alarm telling us to the leave the station immediately.

[@explorewithlorenzo9940]

Went on that day!

[@mudchute4dlr]

2:20 Sinple solution: Touch out at Hatton Cross, then touch right back in. You get charged the cheaper fare of Zone 1 to 5, instead of the heathrow fsre and no payment at the Heathrow Zone, whoch includes Hatton X

[@miahaskurti4539]

I Wish Elizabeth Line Trains Went From Reading To Shenfield

[@remyfarson6559]

It will May next year 👍

[@Scottish_Transport_Explorer]

Well don't worry, there are plans to start running trains between Reading & Shenfield in May of 2023

[@miahaskurti4539]

@@Scottish_Transport_Explorer Ok

[@unknownartist7204]

i think, and i could be wrong, the only route they won't do is shenfield to heathrow

[@londonitv902]

@@unknownartist7204 you will have to change at whitechapel station

[@zombie676]

how much is a single use ticket now in London in my last visit in 2007 was £2.20 I think

[@JohnGaleLondon55]

Interesting video. One thing I love about the line is that those of us with a Freedom Pass can use the line all the way from Shenfield to Reading for free! What app is that showing the speed etc. ?

[@garyjackson1264]

Great video, I will be travelling with a big suitcase, is there provision for storage.

[@kylesmcl]

12:32 Anyone noticed the dirty walls behind seating in the central section stations? I wonder if they will be regularly cleaned or if seat backs will be added …

[@Batters56]

Maybe the Government should label the inexplicable non reinstating of a station to serve City Airport as a green measure?! Were they worried no one would use the DLR anymore?

[@mudchute4dlr]

You didn’t atop at Westbourne Park sidings as the reason for this is due to signalling (i think), it must have been clear ahead so you just went.

[@highpath4776]

I wonder if the interchange at Stratford is now going to be too busy for its own good - is there a case to make Maryland and Stratford one station ?

[@MikeWillSee]

Excellent video! Can I ask, which app is it you're using for the speedometer shown at 10:05 (and various other points throughout the video)?

[@highpath4776]

The line shows up a lot of the missing essex railways , such as Chelmsford to Malden and Braintree to Saffron Walden , which would have been well used to interconnect into services.

[@iainmorrison582]

Chelmford to New Malden? or maybe you mean Maldon which has not had a Train service since the 1964. The line was Braintree to Maldon but was cut back to Witham.There was also line to south woodham ferris and wickford to the southminster line. 15 billion would be more than enough to restore both of these links

[@highpath4776]

@@iainmorrison582 I was being so aware of not entering Morden ( which is both Norther Line area and I think somewhere near cambridge) , I got my vowels mentally muddled. (CR2 services to NE London / Essexy places from New Malden / Malden Manor area of course are in the pencil and financial planing stages ).

[@Mortigosaaa]

Hello, thank you for confirming we can take the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow directly to Liverpool Street - I've been so confused by the train switches with the Heathrow Express! How long will this travel typically take? Also, are we able to book this trip in advance or do we have to pay in person at Heathrow? Thank you!!

[@batman51]

I really dislike the back to the window seating on mainline trains. I am sure the limited number of conventional seats will be the most popular.

[@GeoffWilliams1]

Agree 100% batman51. I only use the ‘back to the window’ seats if all the conventional seats are taken. Traveling from Reading to central London on side seats is uncomfortable, having tried it just the once!!

[@eastlancsesteem]

The whole Shenfield-Reading line will be connected in May.

[@mudchute4dlr]

Shouldn’t the trrain be 2XXX or 3XXX headcode until Paddington, as they run on the slow lines?

[@christasmith6004]

From Whitechapel will I need to change at Paddington or can I get a direct ride from Whitechapel to Heathrow?

[@KonRud5]

@MidlandLondon I'm a bit confused. According to the map it's possible to go to Maidenhead using the Elizabeth line. Is that true or I miss something?

[@fredstrainandbusvids.]

I wasn’t able to go 😢

[@issalj2661]

WEST EALING: Have I been demoted?

[@hype9056]

What app did you use to see the speed?

[@ozbolli]

When’s your next video bro?

[@hitchrestsfm4493]

whats the app you use to track speed?

[@85rainbow]

Wish the connection between Ealing Broadway and Paddington was faster. Even without that extra 7 minutes it used to take 9min with trains moving very slowly or even coming to a stop when approaching Paddington. It would take no longer than 5 min if trains were going at the full speed.

[@OMtheRails]

Fortunately the stop is not very long and only affects limited trains - the range is between 1 to 7 minutes, and is a temporary measure pending the final phase integration in May 2023 👍

[@136ctrh]

Your train didn't have a stop scheduled outside Paddington but had a 3 minute layover at the station. I think it affects weekday services more than Sundays.

[@85rainbow]

@@OMtheRails I was not referring to that extra 7 min. Even before the merge, the journey used to take minimum 9 min cause the train slows down so much when approaching Paddington.

[@wulla2]

All good progress but it’s really disappointing that connections to LHR T5 only run half hourly. Not really good enough for a major airport to city centre link.

[@f.g.9466]

There's a train to the airport every 15mins at the moment and that's pretty decent. All the Elizabeth line services stop at Heathrow T2&3, then half proceed to T4 and the other half proceed to T5. Once at T2&3 you can also use the Picadilly to transfer to either T4 or T5. When the next phase is rolled out next year the frequencies are meant to increase, at least in the core section, I'm not sure if it will affect much the Heathrow branch services.

[@cmdrquillon9398]

Which app do you use to tell you the speed, speed limit and weather etc? A very good video, and just as informative, thank you.

[@OMtheRails]

Many thanks for your comments! The app is called speedmeter 👍

[@running179]

Thank you for this. I was going to use the Eliz tom'w (8 Nov) coming back home from Heathrow. But *does* it stop at Tott Court Road? You skipped that station as if the Eliz doesn't stop there...? (I'd need to get off there to change for the Northern up to Euston.)

[@LuperSoop69]

It will stop at TCR, if not, get off at Liverpool Street, walk to the western end of platform (Moorgate) and get the northern line there.

[@OMtheRails]

Many thanks for your comments and glad it was of help - yes it will and did stop at TCR, the footage just didn’t make the final cut! The only stations to be skipped will be Acton Main Line, West Ealing and Hanwell on services bound for either Maidenhead and Reading.

[@philiphowell1505]

Is it the same as The Onedin Line?

[@davidthorne7712]

Q: you mentioned that LHR to Abbey Wood was about an hour. What would the timing be for Shenfield to Reading (once that opens)?

[@trainspotting101]

Probably nearly 2 hours

[@OMtheRails]

My guess would be around 1 hour and 50 minutes based on both previous timings and the time it takes to get through the core section 👍

[@Benjamin.Jamin.]

Lack of toilets is silly. They may have to reconsider when people who've had a skinfull get on the last train to reading and get caught short!

[@angelaalexander5819]

Not only silly but I think a case could be brought that it is discriminatory

[@highpath4776]

Question - Should Paddington and Liverpool Street stations be called Paddington (low level) and Liverpool Street (low level) to avoid passenger confusion ?

[@OMtheRails]

Shenfield refers to Liverpool Street Crossrail as Liverpool Street Low Level, so can imagine overtime it will be referred to as that.

[@meetmeinva]

Can someone explain: will the Elizabeth line no longer run to T5? Confused on this one.

[@OMtheRails]

T5 will still be served half hourly by the Elizabeth Line - this was a late addition to the project resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, as a result of trains previously diverting there whilst T4 was closed.

[@eddieyeoh4098]

Shame it’s been marred by strikes and cancellations!!

[@devon896]

Would you say this service is better than Hex? I'm thinking as it's more a metro service and if you had lots of luggage Hex would be worth the extra £15 for convenience?

[@f.g.9466]

If you book 3 months in advance you can get HEx tickets for £5.50 Where does your journey end? That's what will dictate convenience. No point in taking the HEx because of luggage if then you arrive to Paddington and have to transfer to the Tube or Elizabeth to reach your destination.

[@devon896]

@@f.g.9466 I have to transfer anyway onto a GWR train or off one to get onto a Heathrow bound train.

[@nathancruz9982]

Will services from Shenfield go to Heathrow

[@OMtheRails]

Not 100% sure - as far as I’m aware they’re only going to Reading and not Heathrow.

[@class43matty]

I would assume so..As Abbey wood has got reading and heathrow services now...Shenfield might get Heathrow services when the line is complete.

[@OMtheRails]

@@class43matty I believe the Reading services to Abbey Wood are temporary until the Shenfield Branch links beyond the Royal Oak Portal, after which services will be Heathrow to Abbey Wood and Reading to Shenfield.

[@class43matty]

@@OMtheRails Sounds about right.

[@Sophiebryson510]

Does this mean the end for the 315s?

[@marcdavey]

Pretty much.

[@Sophiebryson510]

@@marcdavey oh no

[@OMtheRails]

They’re still operating on Gidea Park peak services, but unsure as to how long for. My guess is until the December timetable change.

[@Sophiebryson510]

@@OMtheRails oh…

[@jcabral6231]

join the movement, return the much loved pacers. #returnthepacers #ilovepacers #blovedpacers

[@danielspencer6174]

Shenfield to reading is to long . Elizabeth line should not go terminal 5 because Heathrow express does a good service terminal 5 .because Elizabeth does good service to 4 were the Heathrow express does not go terminal 4 .in future Heathrow express go Windsor Eaton quick service than South west train for same price.

[@PK-yf3hd]

2 nations still. the only hope for the north is in the total collapse of the country ,which is well underway ,and the re-balancing of power through devolution and proportional representation ..we have been sidelined and ignored since forever(unless ,of course we're needed to fight for the nation(s?).

[@mikeysoft7]

Hard seats and no toilets? Maybe they could of spent a little of that money catering for basic human needs? Excellent video, but very poor line.

[@OMtheRails]

Many thanks for your comments! I have always argued the exclusion of toilets, especially as the line runs the Reading GWML stoppers, however I guess there's the argument that not that many regular commuters will run the full length of the route. Still a downgrade to the 387s they replaced though.

[@englishjona6458]

Wow 1 billion 😂 British rail are used to make their own trains in house now they pay £1 billion 😂😂😂 Can you say corrupt Conservatives