Why Did It Take 13 Years To Build The Elizabeth Line? | The Trouble With Crossrail | Spark

Crossrail is Europe's biggest engineering project, a new train line linking east and west London that was meant to open in December in 2018, but it is years behind schedule, billions over budget and dogged by all kinds of problems. This documentary tracks the troubled project from the very beginning, featuring interviews with former workers, politicians and transport experts, as well as people who were promised that Crossrail would bring huge benefits.
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[@77Catguy]

13 years to build and open a heavy rail subway as long, complex and modern as the Elizabeth line? I wish commuter rail construction here in Los Angeles would be that productive and speedy! Still waiting for them to open a less than 2 mile rail link with three stations that's been in construction for over a decade with multiple opening deadlines already unmet. Actually it claimed to have been substantially completed a year ago--but still not opened. They finally learned though--that is, they've stopped giving any updates or promises when/if we'll ever see it come on line!

[@gnnascarfan2410]

For any Brits thinking Crossrail was embarrassing, please come to New York City and look for the 2nd Avenue Line - oh wait.

[@mikeshoults4155]

I can't believe they even debate on whether they should finish a project. Of course your finish. Always finish what you start.

[@ctrl-del630]

I live in the Netherlands. Here it is no different. Probably everywhere in the western world. Big building cooporations know that these projects will have to get finished anyway. Governments cannot oafford to stop halfway. Therein lays the threat of corruption. No matter what happens. Too much money is earned by the wrong people. Another problem is that there are no people in governments with technical knowledge onm this level. But I am stupid. I know nothing ;-).

[@lostinmuzak]

I don’t care if it is over budget. That system is going to be there for next 100 years at least. And damn! Look at the tunnels and the stations. As the British always like to say - bloody amazing. 😂😂

[@MrJoegotbored]

This is what people miss. Big projects cost big money and I could have told anyone a decade ago that 18 billion pounds was too low for a project this scale. However, the amortization of construction costs over time makes this one of the single best investments the city/country could possibly make. Big numbers are easy for small minds to comprehend; big timescales are not. I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment. And on your style point, I agree that the new stations are elegant and well designed. The workers have done a great job making their mark and preparing the Tube for the next 100 years of ridership. The naysayers and near-term penny-pinchers will be long gone while this project continues to deliver value.

[@redrubi3942]

This is so typical of the British mindset. This is an extraordinary piece of engineering. It is now pretty much finished and should be celebrated. But the Brits just have to trash everything they do. Every project of this scale has issues. Just look at the New York Subway infrastructure projects. These cost overruns are tiny compared to what is happening there. Also, this is a 2 year old documentary - I would like to see it today. I know it is fantastic.

[@MsCorky2]

The Elizabeth line is brilliant. I use it every day, arrives every 7 minutes, air conditioned, on time, clean and with stunning stations.

[@Mars-ev7qg]

I thought the story of the DC metro's silver line extension project was a mess. Cross rail makes DC metro's problems with the silver line look like minor inconveniences.

[@fahood350]

but it opened in the end and i bet it looks nicer and has a better overall experience cos way better connections

[@gryff8400]

If you think Crossrail is embarassing... check out Germany's rail and airport projects of the past ten years! Two years late? BER airport said "Hold My Beer" - opened nine years late, hugely over budget, just in time for Covid to stop travel.

[@marianokrause-merkel1840]

And the worst part just happenned on Stüttgarter Hauptbahnhof, same story, lots of corruption, well over budget, but finally after 10 years we have a HSR terminal. If it's not a shame, anyone can tell me what is a shame

[@littleb9298]

Why Did It Take 13 Years ONLY To Build The Elizabeth Line USA : YES

[@dchan19362]

I actually rode the Elizabeth line when I went to London in December 2022. Wow. Coming from TTC (the Toronto transit) man, Elizabeth line was amazing. Platforms were big with enough room, the station were well lit, safety barriers. And our construction subway extension projects was way worst, 8.2km long extension for 1.9 billion pounds, taking 9 years just to complete. You guys got the Elizabeth line for a steal at $17 billion pounds for 118 km.

[@TheRailwayDrone]

And now Crossrail is one of the most convenient ways to get across London, and from the airport.

[@josephlori4625]

There is no reason to feel disheartened, here. Cincinnati, Ohio started their own subway during the 1920's and ran into problems during construction while running out of money due to delays. The long, vast subway remains incomplete and unused to this very day !!!

[@sebassolislpz]

Everyone said it was failed but if you see how Paraguay tried to built a metrobus and fail. This subway is a huge achievement

[@jamesjohnmoss8130]

I really need to say, that any major project of this size is going to run into issues, as lots of folks have noted in the comments. I guess it’s a British thing to trash everything we do? Why, it’s up and running and the costs and overruns will soon be forgotten because of the benefits it will bring. Let’s be proud of what we have built! Finished, unlike the odd airport or two elsewhere!

[@edwardjones4870]

The 11.8 mile (18.8 km) segment of the Washington, D.C. Metro Silver Line to Dulles Airport took longer to build than the 1,911 mile (3,075 km) transcontinental railroad. A rail link was first proposed in the early 1960s, and it didn’t open until November 15, 2022. By comparison the Elizabeth Line was rather speedily built!

[@williambryant5946]

Still not fully open yet. Excepted now to be totally open may 2023.

[@rdkcar8836]

In San Francisco it took them 15 years to build .25 miles, and yes, you heard that right a quarter of a mile. And y’all complaining about a whole line! Geez, don’t we all wish….😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@MusicSounds]

the project isn't a failure!

[@Tk1NE]

Eh 🧐 perhaps the railway engineers, were descendants of those, who built the Lunatic Express ? 🚂

[@zdenkokovac2896]

Imam svi skupa da se primema posla rešenje je tu❤️🥺👏

[@hypercomms2001]

Little did they know what was to come in early 2020....

[@giorgoschatzakis6056]

Athens Line 3 : 45 km took 29 years...

[@jrkc9218]

Why post this if it’s not current?

[@zdenkokovac2896]

Največi problem su gradovi živi na selu ok ko živi u gradu ko neče da radi

[@hypercomms2001]

27:64... what he is really saying is..."There goes my Knighthood, and seat in the house of Lords....".....

[@jamesjohnmoss8130]

Ok me again, commenting as I watch, a bad thing really. Who decided why the bond street station needed to be constantly changed, pretty sure not government!

[@GuiltyOne]

R.I.P Elizabeth you will be forever missed!!!

[@zdenkokovac2896]

Nahrani te ljudi 🥨

[@einbaerchen2995]

Absolutely no shame in 13 years build time and delays... Building a railroad underneath a densely populated area with a lot of existing infrastructure, including complex and grand stations, with state of the art technology in construction and operation takes time and effort and delays are to be expected. Propably the original timeframe was just to small... When I think about great transit, I think of London as a example for opportunistic and forward-thinking planning.

[@Lucky32Luke]

Why is this content not available from the UK? Isn't it strange? Lucky I got VPN. This has been filmed in 2019. I was working on this project at it's early stage as a surveying civil engineer. Some update would have been very useful from the content creators in the description box below this video. 3,5 year delay is not unusual on this scale of construction projects at all. After the UK has decided to leave the EU in 2016 many I know decided their new home is no longer provide them the promise of a great future (or not felt welcomed anymore) and went back to their native homeland Poland, Romania, Germany, Austria, Hungary and so on. Crossrail was struggling to replace these workforce numbers quickly sourced from the UK. Here is some update if someone is interested: "In the first half of 2021, Crossrail entered trial running stage of construction. Crossrail, in partnership with TfL, ran trains to a timetable through the core section, to check the reliability of the railway. In November 2021, Crossrail entered trial operation which is the final stage before opening. The Elizabeth line opened on Tuesday 24 May 2022 with a new passenger service between nine new London stations from Paddington to Abbey Wood, using the Class 345 trains through new tunnels under central London."

[@Guangrui]

Thank you for the timely update

[@aaabbb-py5xd]

@@Guangrui And why did you care for his update, I mean, let me update you on the fact that my underwear is xxl sized

[@Guangrui]

@@aaabbb-py5xd only if you wear it on the train, wear only that 🤒

[@aaabbb-py5xd]

@@Guangrui why I don't wear it outdoors, it's a hindrance, if you know what I mean, lmao

[@Guangrui]

@@aaabbb-py5xd Public domain v. Private domain, something everyone should know isn't it

[@scottbuckley8586]

Terlalu bertele-tele not good

[@JitzyJT]

Why the Brits are pessimistic and judgemental these days? This is some amazing engineering marvel. Complex engineering will take time and go over budget. It's not just a British problem.

[@sarahbethany4469]

My greatest happiness is the $26,700 profit sent to my portfolio every 10 days recently.

[@sarahbethany4469]

@Tracy Seth

[@jackwilliam7176]

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[@jackwilliam7176]

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[@jwat2396]

Yes and that would be everyone's happiness if they knew what you do

[@jasminespencer3992]

Sarah, did you get out of prison already?