The New Custom House / Woolwich / Abbey Wood Stations

The last video in the series of all the NEW stations on the Elizabeth line, and that last three I've combined into one video with the help of my friend James as we take a look around Custom House, Woolwich and the end eastern end of the line at Abbey Wood.
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[@Banglish123]

How ironic that Woolwich Station on the EL is the only one of the three Woolwich railway stations that doesn't refer to the Arsenal even though it is the only station actually sited on the old Arsenal grounds. Of course the two non-Arsenal stations, DLR and National Rail, are called Woolwich Arsenal...

[@JivanPal]

It's because the stations/terminals are sufficiently far apart that they warrant different names (though I can't explain the likes of Waterloo vs. Waterloo East, which are essentially the same station). I originally thought they would be using the same entrance as for Woolwich Arsenal DLR. EDIT: There is also Woolwich Dockyard station.

[@louisejordan5392]

It would be confusing though, it's caused befuddled taxi drivers with just the two stations

[@Javerz887]

What about Woolwich dockyard??

[@Banglish123]

@@Javerz887 that's about a mile away. Nothing to do with the Arsenal.

[@eldqvist]

You didn't do Woolwich justice, so much history and heritage - I wanted more

[@louisejordan5392]

I agree the view across the square is lovely to. Especially in the evening

[@PokhrajRoy.]

The banter between Geoff and his friends in videos brings a smile to my face.

[@martinsedgwick5778]

What's not to like about railways

[@buzzukfiftythree]

Honestly, given the time they've taken to construct the line, you'd think they would have thought about the 'tap-out' issue at Custom House.

[@toyboy887]

they wouldn't have made such a bundle opening week if they'd solved that

[@ajs41]

@@toyboy887 My 82 year old father was with me on day one, and when we got to Custom House he discovered this problem straight away even though he isn't a train enthusiast.

[@lfewell2161]

@@toyboy887 I think you are correct and this was deliberately planned, TfL are so short of money that they will resort to unjust and possibly illegal means to ease their financial problems. I was directed by the police into the congestion charging zone when Extinction Rebellion blocked Tower Bridge on the 30-8-21, no charge should be payable under those circumstances but TfL fined me anyway, when challenged they just lied and said there were no police diversions into the charging zone. I'm almost certain to lie like that is actually illegal.

[@toyboy887]

@@lfewell2161 they manage to make so much through unused credit and cards that can no longer be returned must hold millions

[@TheKlink]

@@toyboy887 they end up having to refund incomplete journeys.

[@neilio84uk]

Yay, well done, Geoff. Thoroughly enjoyed this miniseries. Can’t wait for Bond Street to open and to see your episode on that.

[@Karlinski73]

Aah, Abbey Wood. Brings back fond memories of that chaotic opening morning…. 🥰

[@unraffled]

Having gone to the same conference at Excel this year as previously, the purple train is a Godsend. Much larger, more frequent, huge impact on the crowds. I think the usage of Custom House will be very variable - maybe usually quiet, but huge numbers when Excel has big events on

[@davidtutty4322]

The red & blue, plus red, blue and yellow tiles are a nod to the colours on the stable belts that the Royal Enginneers and Royal Artillery wear.

[@philipbrown4192]

Embiggen is a perfectly cromulent word.

[@peabody1976]

Bond Street is going to be this year's Isle of Wight! One day you'll get to see both! Thank you for the great series... so far, Geoff!

[@lam6786]

he's been to the isle of wight and he made a video about it

[@Tom-iz4kc]

@@lam6786 It's a running joke, he's never been to the Isle of Wight (!) :)

[@pointthree3]

The DLR station has not been there "since the DLR was created" but rather was opened in 1994 as part of the extension of the DLR network out to Beckton.

[@cholmondley1152]

Brilliant series. Can't wait for the Elizabeth Line to run on Sundays. I had to use the Bakerloo, Southeastern and replacement bus from Paddington to Abbey Wood last weekend and it took an incredible 1 hour and 40 minutes! I kept thinking that it's taken 70 minutes longer this way and cost more!!!

[@LyricalWax]

Yes indeed, and preferably later trains too. After a gig at Emirates Stadium, ended up missing the last train at Whitechapel at around 23:30, which increased the journey home from 25 mins to over an hour!

[@railwaydragon]

I'm impressed that not only did you keep all those Oyster wallets, you also remembered where you'd put them and could find them 4 years later.

[@edwardwilliamson1]

Woolwich is awesome - I love the brickwork!

[@NickBadley]

Absolutely loved seeing this series! Can't wait for Bond Street soon hopefully!

[@corleth2868]

So it's not just TFL who treat south Londoners as 2nd class citizens, Geoff does it too with his Elizabeth line stations videos :P

[@lesfuller5984]

My thoughts exactly! I’m sure the London Transport Museum crew will do these South London stations justice in their videos!

[@chelseacomps829]

🤣🤣🤣

[@ejasmith]

I mean, when I visited there is a lot less to talk about as the stations are smaller, but yeah this did seem a little rushed in comparison

[@zachmakesstuff9866]

South London gets worse the further out you go

[@jamesnbd57]

Completely unfair

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Out of Context Geoff Marshall: “We’re at the end. There’s nothing here.”

[@GoranNewsum]

A noble spirit embiggens the smallest station!

[@Sim0nTrains]

Love the three in one video, When visited Woolwich on the opening day and found the station to be nice but different as it only has one way out. Sad to see the Purple Train Mania come to a end.... until Bond Street opens.

[@thryduulf]

I noticed Shenfield in black at Custom House on Friday and was hoping this video would have the answer!

[@lohphat]

Ha! I've stayed at that Ibis hotel over your shoulder in the opening shot when I worked the HPE trade shows in 2016 and 2017. I've been in that lift at the crossover too. I remember looking at the station and line construction then and was wondering when I can experience it. I CAN THIS WEEK! I'm off to London from NYC this week after 2.5 years of no international travel.

[@stevebennett7844]

Watching through all this stuff, it occured to me that no one has done anything like the quality of your work looking at the railway here in Leighton Buzzard. It would be awesome to see your take on the narrow gauge railway here, it's amazing history, the now closed railway that used to connect it to the WCML at Leighton Buzzard, the midland mainline at Luton (part of which is now a busway) and where that line went from Luton (such a waste imagine how useful that line connecting the WCML, the Midland Mainline and beyond would have been. Well worth a visit Geoff

[@memofromessex]

Poor poor London Assembly workers, they've been moved from the South Bank to Newham. I'd feel suicidal if that happened.

[@macra_]

I don't think Custom House will be the least used station as it'll be mainly used by people going to Excel events which would probably bolster out the numbers

[@ejasmith]

Maybe the least used on this section but probably not overall. It will be super busy on event days but I imagine the quietest on the rest

[@Dinoteddi]

Yeah, i doubt it will be the least used station as i think that will be either Taplow or Iver, unless he meant as in the new section.

[@makkari1]

@@ejasmith, There will be people travelling to the council offices coming from Central and other parts of London who will now use the Elizabeth Line rather than tube/DLR. I think it will be much busier than people think. Of course, as an ex Custom House-ite, it opened 11 years too late...

[@quintuscrinis8032]

Is Hanwell going to get a more regular service with Crossrail? Because if not I'd put money on that being the least used, given how low the current usage is.

[@fraseraitken1837]

@@highpath4776 bond st higher than whitechapel perhaps ?

[@folksinger2100]

Looking at the Elizabeth Line Videos I just sit and wonder as I watch this on my mobile sat on a station bench next to a ticket machine that does not work waiting for the last train home, which is part of a 1 hourly timetabled service throughout the day, with still missing services from the Timetable. Mind you we do share something with the Elizabeth line, no Sunday Services and no Sunday Bus Services either!!! What a country!!!

[@cephalopod7300]

It's worse still, because the Sunday closure of the Elizabeth line is only a transitional arrangement so they can use Sundays for testing

[@Eunos]

I imagine the Elizabeth line will be full of Cosplayers on the last weekends of May and October. ;D

[@stephenhester9804]

There were a good few on the first Weekend when Comicon was on.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I will not stop mentioning I’m LIVING for the Elizabeth Line (DEFINITELY NOT A TUBE STATION) Updates!

[@PootisHasBeenEngaged]

There are many reasons to live other than Geoff and crosssrail, although it may be hard to see

[@RollerbazAndCoasterDad]

Abbey Wood will be this pair of out of towner's most used station. We may live in Scotland but the extreme SE of GL is where we return to to see the fam.

[@jacobporrett]

I used another entrance/exit at Abbey Wood which brought you out by a road and some shops/houses.

[@chandlerbstransport422]

Have you seee the Elizabeth Line wrapped buses used on Route 301 (Bexleyheath - Woolwich via Abbey Wood and Thamesmead). They are LJ11 EFK and LT63 UJH

[@drsteele]

I was staying in the Custom House hotel, featured heavily in the background, when it caught fire - that was an interesting night.

[@RichardWells1]

Great series Geoff! Hope you got some rest...💤

[@Sam__05]

Well done Geoff on crossrail series! Throughly enjoyed it and it’s been very informative greatly appreciated 😊

[@Nooticus]

Really great series! Thanks for all you work you've put in Geoff!

[@JamesSavage07]

Well done Geoff! Great series! You also finished it the day I arrived for my England holiday and get to ride it myself!

[@JamesSavage07]

Speaking of which the Elizabeth line is clean, much quieter, I had just come off the bakerloo line that is screaming the whole time. It is comfortable fast and just the perfect line.

[@havingalook2]

Oh, that James is lovely, where did you aquire him then? He's a keeper.

[@LudiXP]

I'll miss this series - I very much enjoyed the the videos =)

[@robingorenc9903]

what do you do on your free time, i will like us to have time for chat ...sorry for being so inquisitive, just want us to get together as good friends. i hope i can get to know you more though cause i hope to make honest friendship and more with you

[@will16320]

Thoroughly enjoying your Elizabeth Line series. Thanks Geoff!

[@barttheanorak]

Thanks for doing all these Geoff. Enjoy a well earned rest now but I hope you'll do Bond Street and the portals once they're open. Also a series on the safeguarded Crossrail 2 locations would be fab.

[@tallbaldpaul]

Have really enjoyed these Geoff, thanks for all the effort & info.

[@lakelady57]

Loved it had a great time with this series xxx

[@LostintheMagic]

Thoroughly enjoyed this series. Thanks for all your hard work!

[@daviddirom7429]

Thank you Geoff and your guests for all your hard work

[@fraseraitken1837]

thanks Geoff. Very informative as always

[@artel6225]

I really liked these updates Geoff 😊 thank you 😊

[@comicus01]

I think the Thameslink has the same issue with tapping in and out as the DLR. At least 3 years ago it did. I road a train from Faringdon to Elephant and Castle. When leaving Elephant and Castle I expected to see a gate, but there wasn't one, and I didn't see a place to tap out. I got charged something like 8 pounds for the journey. (I later caught a bus from near the Imperial War Mueseum, no issues there, but I'm sure the Oyster Card tracker didn't like me for my 'escape' from Thameslink).

[@arnoldspottingvideos5269]

Great video Geoff. Just to let you know that Heathrow Terminal 4 is reopening on Tuesday the 14th of June so yeah that will be a great news for Elizabeth Line and the Piccadilly line

[@ReubenAshwell]

Enjoyed this mini series, looking forward to when I get around to riding the Elizabeth line. :)

[@horsenuts1831]

Just astonishing. I arrived in Woolwich some 39 years ago as a student when it was on the arse-end of the suburban line. Who could have imagined such an amazing service would serve Woolwich? I'm envious from a 40-year separation. I now want to move back there. I remember in the 1980s that a French friend of mine had to write the note that appeared in the window of the Abbey Wood ticket office in French for French people using the campsite (I think there are only two campsites within the M25, and one of them is close to Abbey Wood station (hence the requirement for notices in French, German, etc). I see that the campsite is still there.

[@iwasborn8470]

Thanks for sharing! could you share a timestamp for the French signs please?

[@guillaumemaurice3503]

Brilliant video thank you for sharing this.

[@calmeilles]

Nice. James has such a cute smile. 😀

[@tristanmccoppin5761]

I absolutely love seeing how much you love it really see it in your face at the very end there, thank you so much for making these videos, I love Elizabeth line

[@apollosaunders1340]

10:28 @GeoffMarshall This is a complete guess but I think the reason the Shenfield is in black is because it's outside the oyster fare zones. But so is West Drayton to Reading, so they should be in black too. My guess is because it's outside the fare zones.

[@mdhazeldine]

I was going to say the same thing. But he was looking on a map that only shows the stations in the current direction of the platform, so Reading etc. wouldn't have been on that one.

[@ShaiExploresDaily]

Correct, Shenfield is in black because it is not a TFL run station, it is managed by Greater Anglia and is outside the fare zones.

[@eastlancsesteem]

Thanks for covering Woolwich and Abbey Wood!

[@dsgb]

We attempted to use the Elizabeth Line on Sunday to travel from Canary Wharf to Heathrow Terminal 5 (change at Paddington though). Guess what? There was a planned closure! So we took the Jubilee Line to Green Park then a sweaty 1973 stock Piccadilly Line train all the way out. Beyond frustrated!

[@Planet__3]

The Elizabeth line does not operate on sundays until autumn.

[@superfluidity]

It's closed every Sunday - has been since it opened, not sure when they're going to start running on Sundays.

[@acebatlerx4841]

Really enjoying the Elizabeth line service. Used it 4 times during opening week.

[@markweir2988]

Thank you Geoff and the magnificent seven for your tours of the new Elisabeth line stations. Very enjoyable. Will be trying it out very soon.

[@Lisan-al-COYS]

Yet another great video Geoff! - We want more James too! 🔥🔥🔥

[@LancashireLass]

Poor Geoff. It's all been a bit overwhelming for him.

[@beanieshark05]

Geoff Marshall, when Bond Street is open, you should do a least used station episode of least station on the Elizabeth line Bond Street as it isn’t open and will have 0 passengers when it opens

[@grahamwhitworth9454]

When considering whether Bond Street is the least used station, shouldn't passengers using the Central and Jubilee lines be counted?

[@travelswithjess]

Is it just me or does anyone else think to themselves- 'I would love to be in one of Geoff's videos one day'? Great series by the way Geoff! Really enjoyed it :)

[@AtoZbyLocalBus]

The back of my head, did get into one of the All The Stations Ireland videos.

[@NickBadley]

I absolutely do, very often 😂

[@dominateeye]

I live in Houston, Texas and kind of want to start learning about my city's light rail system in the hopes that I could persuade Geoff to come and do a video on it with me haha

[@flp322]

@@dominateeye You could persuade Reece from RMTransit maybe!

[@jeromegudgeon]

Brilliant video and a great way to end the series. James was fab too.

[@IainG81]

Thinks for this great series. You've sure deserved a rest after so many videos.

[@foogly1129]

great videos as always geoff keep up the good work mate!

[@timwayne2256]

Thanks!

[@askinlad]

different subject but did you know their is a open top train tor on the Berlin U bhan. Looks brilliant fun, they could do one on the circle line. Maybe with forward facing seats you can flip at the end like on old trams. the berlin one is sideways facing. search for ( Berlin U-Bahn Cabrio Tunnel Tour Train )

[@appleone1001]

great vid Geoff!

[@HuggyBob62]

Just a few days after the Elizabeth line opened I went from Abbey Wood and changed onto the DLR at Custom House. I'm sure I used an Oyster card validator on my way to the DLR platform. Whatever, my Oyster card statement definitely showed everything charged as expected.

[@RobWVideo]

The issue with the DLR/CrossLizPurp gates reminds me of when I was unable to update details on my Japanese Suica card online because I had started a journey via a transfer gate and then jumped on the train to the Airport using a separate ticket without tapping out. Their system was convinced that I spent 18 months endlessly circling Tokyo on the Yamanote line.

[@kingsroadBLUES]

Nice one Geoff for addressing the tap out issues at Custom House from the DLR platform to the Elizabeth Line platform, how they hell did they not see this? I am off for a week so not using the line, but I hope it’s been rectified when I go to work next Wednesday

[@grassytramtracks]

I changed from the DLR to crossrail at Custom House today, and it's not fixed, and it caught me out. I wasn't the first, and I won't be the last!

[@adamharris-batt6333]

My grandma had a workers cafe right where those flats are across the road from the new City Hall :) TFL compulsory purchased it to build the Jubilee line I think. Crazy how it's changed it was nothing but dock workers and little businesses there not so long ago

[@MrGreatplum]

Really enjoyable series, Geoff - I’m very much looking forward to having a go on the purpleCrossLiz! :)

[@MichaelSebastianTodd]

brilliant video

[@TheStarsInHisHead]

Great video. Great eye candy (hello James lol). Looking forward to using these stations.

[@RJSRdg]

I'd imagine that Custom House could be quite busy depending on what is on at Excel. For example, Formula E will probably bring a lot of passengers to the station.

[@baystated]

I love how Extra Geoff is with his accessories.

[@TheTrainiac377]

I went to both these stations when I was in London, Woolwich is just neat and the area around has changed and Custom House has the above ground platforms so that is cool

[@philipbrailey]

Sound is perfect on my iPhone and I’m in Sydney 🇦🇺

[@OstanAbadeh]

if you were wondering about Shenfield, it's black because... it's out of TFL jurisdiction and operated by Greater Anglia AND in terms of fare, it's outside of the TFL zones and a special additional fare applies.

[@railenthusiast88]

I took a tuba on the inclined lift the day it failed at Liverpool Street. Worked ok going but was out of action head back later. I maintain taking the tuba on the lift didn't cause the lift failure!

[@ocelotsly5521]

If you'd been carrying a grand piano, maybe. But not a tuba.

[@highbury1972]

This week I have to go to Acton Mainline from Brighton and I’ll get to ride the purple train!! I’m very much looking forward to it as my journey is unexpected.

[@neilcobb1731]

Custom House was the first place I visited in London in 2007. Great video as always! Also, you mentioned about platform screen doors being absent at Custom House. Outdoor stations on the JLE have no screen doors either. Think it's just an underground thing.

[@jaybee1921]

Hi Geoff, Great video, informative as ever. Two answers to two quieries, firstly Woolwich is not only famous for it's Arsenal, (where my Mum worked during WW2 as a Holorith punch card operator, on which today's SIM cards are based) but is also famous for it's Free Ferry, North Side-South Side, the only one of it's kind in the Country. I was born in Plumstead, not far from Woolwich and I remember as a young child going to Woolwich Market which still exists to this day... Custom House looks very different now to how it used to look, it had a reputation for not being a very nice place to go to or come from... Secondly, Shenfield's name on the station board is marked in black to show that it is a termination station for that particular route/line/service... Thanks for stirring the memories, Take care, Jon Barnes.

[@137Rita]

James is lovely 😍 Haven't met him in a GM vid before!

[@emmaslater7927]

I enjoyed the video it was fun

[@harry_stw7424]

Shenfield might be black because it’s outside the fare zones and special fares apply. Maybe

[@avinashbhunjun5429]

Amazing work Geoff, hope you can do a feature length video from Shenfield to Heathrow and Reading when it fully opens!

[@DrWhoFanJ]

07:40 I’d say probably Iver; it’s not near anything other than a little village and the huge M4/M25 junction!

[@73Ransome]

Can't wait to see bond Street open and video. Hope you will do a secrets of the Elizabeth line when its fully open.

[@williamlong7188]

I like watching your videos from Scotland ( Ayrshire) . Love the new ones showing the fantastic New Elizabeth Line . Your channel is good . Have you watched the Quorn & Woodhouse Railway Videos? They are very very good at recreating times gone by .

[@itsreeah2663]

I’ve said this before and I’m going to say it again, it’s so cool how the Elizabeth line is open

[@JoeDobisz]

Geoff, as a regular user of the dlr down to beckton I don't think custom house will be the least used station, by a long way, due to all the conferences at the excel centre during the week, it will help relieve pressure on the dlr Also Shenfield could be black because the station is run by greater anglia not tfl unlike the rest on the Liverpool Street branch

[@Larwood.]

If that was the reason for Shenfield you'd expect Reading to be black as well. And I've just had a look, Slough is managed by GWR.

[@JoeDobisz]

@@Larwood. that's a valid point, I was just thinking for the Eastern part as the rest of the stations (bar stratford) got transferred over, I don't know the western branch that we'll so don't know the situation with the stations you mentioned. Oh well that's that idea out of the window

[@zaphod4245]

Least used station will probably be one of the stations on either the Shenfield or Reading Branch, but of the core section my bet would probably be custom house or abbey wood

[@Sel__27__27]

I think Woolwich. No connections to the Arsenal station!

[@DavidKnowles0]

Went on a short trip today and use the Barbican entrance to Farrington station that your showed me. The central line seems to antiquated by comparison. An I didn't think I would hear people say wow when they saw the escalators up to Liverpool street. it really is a impressive sight through.

[@jeremybuck1818]

At Custom House, you have to press the button to open train doors...other central core stations, you don't have to...

[@oysterfarescentral]

Yes, same as Abbey Wood. This is because they're above ground and no platform edge doors.

[@melsterdoom]

You've answered my question about the oyster card wallets without me even asking it 🤣 As for Shenfield being coloured in black, I'd hazard a guess that it's because it's outside the oyster card zone.

[@Steph-oj9xs]

Or that it's not a tube station but instead simply a national rail/elizabeth line line one!

[@paulspinner1679]

Looking forward to a Secrets of the Elizabeth line video 👍

[@Mounta1ngoat]

An issue I encountered, albeit one with a section that's been open for a while now is how unclear it is at Heathrow Terminal 5. I didn't want to tap in and use the Heathrow Express, instead preferring to use the free transfer within Heathrow and then changing onto crossrail. I used a free transfer ticket as the platform encourage me to, but when I got to the other terminal via the Heathrow Express there wasn't anywhere to tap in. The only option was to rush upstairs with bags, leave on the free ticket, then tap back in. It's not clear if I would've be charged for the Heathrow Express or for Crossrail if I'd tapped in at T5, but more importantly left me a little stuck and confused!

[@cephalopod7300]

This is a very good point and I'd like to hear what TfL have to say about it.

[@lordjoesnow]

at abbey wood swapping from south eastern to the Elizabeth is a real pain as you have to walk to the gates, tap in and walk back to the platforms. I dont get why they dont have validates on the platform

[@t.p.mckenna]

During these videos on the EL I've been struck by the tremendous part that lifts will play both in terms of connectivity and accessibility, but I can foresee two issues. One is how embedded lift maintenance is in operational budgets ie. regular checks and supervision (as would be ideal), and what would the response set-up for lift faults be (again an ideal being PDQ). My fear is that maintenance will be as required, rather than ongoing. Further, that in terms of the maintenance contracts negotiated, we may be looking at up to 48/72 hour response times. Then, heaven forfend that parts have to be ordered!!! That OOO lift at Woolwich does not augur well so soon in the day. Lifts are temperamental things and all the more so where they've been tailor made for specific connections such are to be found on the bespoke Elizabeth Line.

[@TheNapalmFTW]

I would assume lifts have a preventative maintenance schedule.

[@JamesJProbert]

@@TheNapalmFTW You're assuming that the government will let TFL pay for such a schedule...