The New Farringdon Elizabeth Line Station

It's Day 4 on the new Elizabeth line, as we continue to head east exploring each station in depth down the line. Farringdon station is so big and the platforms so long, that is has an entrance/exit at the eastern end at Barbican too ... My friend Louis then joins me to test out the convoluted connection between the Tube and the Elizabeth line.
Editor: Dave Stevenson
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[@geofftech2]

The irony has not escaped me that the caption (That I added at the last moment, late, and tired!) pointing out the error of the lack of Oyster validators has itself got typos/errors in. Apologies!

[@EssexEnviro300]

hey geoff Come to chelsmford the routes have been changed and turned into shuttle service!! Come ans soon as you can

[@daveedee3626]

@@EssexEnviro300 Where is chelsmford and what routes are a shuttle service?

[@EssexEnviro300]

@@daveedee3626 Essex C1-C12

[@Clavichordist]

No worries. Most people will put the words together the correct way anyway. It doesn't help that we have spell "checkers" that manage to put the wrong words in places where they don't belong. Anyway, for someone coming from across the pond who has to deal with a really trimmed down transit and rail system, I have found your channel to be totally awesome. really, really fascinating, and really, really enjoyable.

[@Muzer0]

Similar to "Muphry's Law" - "If you write anything criticising editing or proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."

[@still_guns]

Hey Geoff, here's a quirk about Farringdon Crossrail. Because the new platform is so long, it connects both Farringdon and Barbican (as you showed in the video). But that means you can take the Underground from Barbican to Farringdon, go the Crossrail platforms, walk back to the Barbican end and go back to Barbican station to create a massive useless loop, because you technically never leave Farringdon Crossrail.

[@rickycunningham6368]

Oh god that hurt my head lol

[@nicolasblume1046]

@@rickycunningham6368 you can do the same at Liverpool street and Moorgate

[@fplsupport1251]

I want to know at Liverpool Street if it’s quicker to go from the Northern line at Moorgate using the Hammersmith and City rather than walking the Elizabeth line concourse to the other part of the Elizabeth line and Liverpool Street main lines

[@highpath4776]

@@fplsupport1251 I would take the train from Moorgate to Liverpool Street (depending where I want to end up) as the Met services to Aldgate also run so trains are every three to five mins

[@ajs41]

Don't you get charged the maximum fare if you stay in the system for more than 90 minutes or something like that? I'm not totally sure about it, but I heard someone discussing it once.

[@CameronEvansVincerlab]

Geoff is really dedicated to these new stations and showing us all the little secrets and tips that most of us didn't even know. I love your constant uploading and these amazing video Geoff. Thank you.

[@geofftech2]

thank you Cameron, very kind!

[@CameronEvansVincerlab]

@@geofftech2 You are most welcome Geoff! I hope I'm in the next one 😳

[@whitelined2]

I worked on Farringdon station for five years. It was hell, and most of it was spent in a 3D model of the station or in meetings with many, too many, managers. Still, here we are, and you have made it look fantastic. I'm not sure why they didn't have a passage running through the centre, between the platforms, but from one of the CPs, cross passages, there are various storage rooms as well as a staff kitchen/toilet area. Fun fact, the development over the stations were called the OSDs, over site developments. The Barbican development was a lot quicker to build than the Farringdon side.

[@martinhalling6684]

I agree Farringdon will see a big uptick in passengers, as it is now the main intersection in central London between north/south Thameslink trains, and east/west crossrail services. Three main London airports are now directly accessible from Farringdon - Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton.

[@fatherfountain1906]

and crossrail goes right past city airport too

[@raya1462]

@@fatherfountain1906 dont know why they didnt add a station for LCY when it runs right past😵

[@gnnascarfan2410]

And a one transfer connection from Farringdon to London City Airport via the DLR!

[@ooyah69]

How will the number of passengers using Farringdon be accurately measured? Gateline entry/exit statistics will not capture the passengers with paper tickets using Farringdon solely to change between Thameslink & Elizabeth Line services. These users will not need to pass through the barriers, nor will those tapping in with Contactless or Oyster (e.g. someone going from Canary Wharf EL to Gatwick Airport) 🤔

[@grassytramtracks]

​@@ooyah69 They count interchanges based on tickets and where people are most likely to change for a given journey. However, there is very much a chance for double counting. Paddington and Liverpool Street have become the 2nd and 1st busiest stations in the UK, and I think that's at least partly because of double counted passengers. When I travel up to London, I get into Paddington on a paper or e-ticket and then touch in on the tube, or, critically Crossrail and then often the same when I go back, so that's counting both my mainline and Elizabeth line journeys separately

[@missgfaulkner]

I like how Farringdon, the original terminus of the Metropolitan line and was once one of the most important stations in London, will probably become very important again now that it's one of the most well-connected Elizabeth line stations. don't think it's been as significant as it is now for a while. little bit of a full circle moment 😄

[@mmt44y]

There is no Taxi rank, right? Any Uber pickup points?

[@JBFlytography]

Geoff another cracking video. I’m travelling to London tonight from Edinburgh just to have a look and go on the CrossElizPurp line. Then travelling back tomorrow night 😂Call me sad but I think it’s briliiant.

[@timsully8958]

I must admit, when I first ventured to Farringdon after the commencement of the Crossrail works, I was delighted to see that the station which to me is so utterly significant was, it seemed, destined to once again come to prominence. After all, it was one of the two original termini when the Met opened in 1863. Yet as a kid in a long-before-t’internet age, I was in a vast minority of people that actually knew that, and thus rather than be a significant player so to speak in the grand scheme of things, it just turned into a stop on the circle line section of the subsurface lines (bear in mind at this time in the 70s the widened lines here had been abandoned). Obviously, it became more significant again with the arrival of Thameslink and even more so when it became part of the line through to Brighton 😎 And now, it is essentially at the crux of London. If you’re going north or south through to London but need to get off, there’s a pretty good chance it’s Farringdon you’re going to use to interchange now, and more so when the other tunnels open up and it stops being so truncated. 🤓 So yeah, it is a great station and I am personally glad that little old Farringdon, which as a kid I actually felt a bit sorry for, is now an essential hub at the heart of the City. I still can’t help pity Barbican a bit though. They were both much of a muchness until fairly recently in significance. But now, Farringdon is a hub and Barbican has gone back to being just another stop on the circle 🤷🏻‍♂️ By the way, I suspect that the reason there is no roundel on the sign for Barbican is perhaps because if you are going to join the underground to travel in the clockwise direction, you can’t reach that platform directly via the lift, thus it is much quicker to just get on at Farringdon: and if you are going the other way it makes sense to just go to Farringdon instead as otherwise you’re walking all that way just to go back on yourself…though I may be reading too much into that of course 😉 Cheers Geoff, great stuff as ever mate 👍🍀🍻

[@philipbrailey]

We all appreciate Geoff and his knowledge of London and the rest of UK rail. From Australia 🇦🇺 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@ajnabs]

It great to see Geoff skidding around on the floor, massive commitment to his craft.

[@Rail_Focus]

Crossrail really does seem to have created some crazy station layouts

[@Nooticus]

^^^

[@LancashireLass]

Did I imagine it or did Louis have purple train coloured nails? Awesomeness.

[@JBS319]

Farringdon is probably the closest London has to a Central Station now. When everything is cut in, you'll be able to reach as far east as Shenfield and Rainham, as far west as Reading, as far south as Brighton and as far north as Peterborough

[@ajs41]

Did they consider linking the Elizabeth Line to St Pancras? It would have been nice for people to arrive from Paris and be able to get on the PurpleLine straight away without having to do a journey on the Metropolitan or Circle/H&C lines.

[@memediatek]

@@ajs41 you can use Thameslink services from St Pancras to Farringdon

[@mbrady2329]

It's also a useful interchange for rail services to London's airports: the Elizabeth line will start running services to Heathrow later in the year, whilst Thameslink services stop at Gatwick and Luton Airport Parkway. And the Stanstead Express runs from Liverpool Street, one stop east on the Elizabeth line. It's only a pity that there's no direct connection to London City Airport!

[@grassytramtracks]

​@@mbrady2329 when it literally runs right past as well

[@mbrady2329]

@@grassytramtrackscrazy, isn't it?

[@mike_junmin]

I am an international student living near Farringdon Station and this makes my life so much easier to go to Heathrow! No more Piccadilly line whose squeaks and noise that tears my ears apart nor Heathrow Express or Uber that tears my bank account apart!!

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

What about Met/Circle line to Paddington and TFL Rail to Heathrow?

[@Trapper3000]

Pretty sure the technical name for the angled lift is a Wonkavator.

[@benedettobruno1669]

With his speech, details and enthusiasm Geoff Marshall gets me hypnotised every single video.

[@sambarton5963]

I love love love Louie's purple nails!

[@meltrain]

The plaque called Spectre should have been put near Bond Street.

[@Franchise1107]

Wouldn’t the least used Elizabeth Line station right now be Bond Street technically? ;)

[@richardhutchinson5546]

isn't terminal 4 at Heathrow also closed at the moment ?

[@heidirabenau511]

@@richardhutchinson5546 yes

[@Farleigh1050]

@@richardhutchinson5546 Thats correct but: 1. HT4 was opened before COVID, Bond Street hasnt been opened at all except open days 2. HT4 is reopening June (this month) which will probably make more people use HT4

[@Tom-rw4hr]

@@richardhutchinson5546 re-opened couple weeks ago I believe

[@grassytramtracks]

Bond street still wasn't the least used, despite being open for less than half a year before the the end of the statistical year (1 April to 31 March) as I expected, Custom House was the least used

[@radagastwiz]

If I'm correct that the ONLY link to Barbican Tube is that one lift - no escalators or stairways - then not putting the connector blob makes sense. If it was there, too many passengers would try to connect and that lift would be swamped.

[@inkerilain]

Ignorance is bliss.

[@cephalopod7300]

This works to discourage visitors and people who wouldn't need this connection regularly, but if it comes to the attention of people who can use it to shave some time off their commute it will quickly become a bottleneck despite the efforts of the map designers to keep it obscure.

[@grassytramtracks]

​@@cephalopod7300well if they don't advertise it too much, people won't see it as THE way to change with the subsurface lines and if it's not quicker then people won't use it. The shortcuts on the tube are known by few enough people that it still works

[@Tubekeny1]

That lift is going to be very popular once word gets out.....

[@grassytramtracks]

That's exactly what they were thinking. If they encourage people to use it, the lift will become a massive bottleneck when you can just get the subsurface lines at Farringdon or indeed at Moorgate/Liverpool Street (Moorgate is probably easier)

[@naiyahp]

I went on this train yesterday and Saturday and it’s faster than the underground. 😊😊😊

[@ajs41]

As others have pointed out, you can pretty much walk from Farringdon to Liverpool Street just via tunnels and the Barbican walkways. Can't wait to have a go at it. [I was there on the first day but didn't have time to try it out].

[@natenae8635]

There so much stations in central London, I would be surprised if an underground walkway/bike rout could be possible.

[@captainblinky1249]

If you head from the Crossrail intermediate concourse onto the northbound Thameslink platform and turn left, there is a set of public toilets which Crossrail built. The only public loos built by Crossrail.

[@philipbrown4290]

There is a public toilet built by Crossrail at Custom House too. It's located just inside the gateline, and is a single unisex cubicle.

[@philipbrown4290]

Actually, there's a full set of all toilets in the Abbey Wood ticket hall too - which were also built by Crossrail.

[@highpath4776]

There always were toilets at Farringdon - though often not open and tricky to find.

[@natenae8635]

@@highpath4776 Toilets being tricky to find sounds so good and so bad at the same time. “Like other may not find it but can you find it and has it been cleaned in a while?” 😨

[@Ryanepps86]

@@highpath4776 Really? I think there used to be some inside the gateline of the tube entrance but they closed when the new station was built right? So the ones on the platform are the first on site for several years (i believe) or were there others?

[@rickyzuc]

Loving the ‘secret’ Barbican lift connection.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I did have a feeling that Farringdon was going to be a well connected station.

[@ajs41]

I wonder if they considered connecting the Elizabeth Line to St Pancras.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

@@ajs41 I don’t think St. Pancras was ever an option. I could be wrong.

[@aeronautic2374]

Farringdon is indeed well connected - and it also connects two tube stations too - which I find to be rather amusing

[@aeronautic2374]

@@ajs41 similar to why the Northern Line doesn't go the Clapham Junction - can you imagine the overcrowding if people from St. Pancras went on the Elizabeth Rail? Then there's the issue of tourists getting on at the wrong end of the train and having to walk 250 metres just to leave the platform!

[@highpath4776]

@@ajs41 Its more why the Midland Line now bothers terminating at St Pancras. Get Bi or Tri Modes and run the whole Sheffield Service to the North Kent Coast, and Switch the Nottinghams onto the line into Olympia and down to Brighton. Of course that could break a connection with HS1

[@TheMusicalElitist]

At 11:09, that's my mate Raz - a really cool guy. He was really pleased when you and Louie took a selfie with him. Great vid as always, Geoff!

[@shadylady4829]

Thanks Geoff for this very helpful video which enabled me to easily find my way back to the Elizabeth Line at Farringdon from Barbican Station - I'd made a short detour to visit Hercule Poirot's block of flats and look at the Barbican Estate. Much appreciated. First ride of the purple train today from Paddington to Abbey Wood and back, loved it, managed to get a moquette oyster card thanks to a helpful member of staff, only just got home to Devon, knackered but it was worth it!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

The Geoff Marshall Urge to slide in a station and it’s even more hilarious to see Louie joint in that too lol

[@pgchase4578043026]

With more than 1,000,000 people now having used the EL core section, I'm going to venture the floor is probably not as clean as before...

[@teresahouston2577]

Thanks so much for always putting in lift or escalator information in your videos. My mother is 82. I travel frequently with her. Anytime I’m coming to London I check out the tube stations I am most likely to use and watch your Videos.

[@grahambaker7563]

Makes me and my fellow work colleague want to ckeck out all the Elizabeth Line stations all the more! Thanks so much for these informative videos, Geoff! Maybe we'll see you somewhere!

[@CLechleitner42]

The least used Elizabeth line station is obviously Bond Street ;-)

[@jeremybuck1818]

Also Heathrow Terminal 4-- closed at present...

[@jfcosse1973]

Hi Geoff, I like the idea of the Elizabeth line and all the videos you made leading to it's openning. I work near farringdon and your last video was extremely useful. Now I looooove the Elizabeth line, What a remarkable pièce of British engineering. Thank you

[@christopherbazley9617]

I LOVE the enthusiasm and the information in your programmes.

[@spudwish]

Omg yes!! Another video on the Elizabeth line! 😍 usually not a London fan, but these videos make me wanna go NOW

[@becsterbrisbane6275]

Good lord, I need a bex, a cup of tea & a lie down after all that! I'm not even in London lol- dunno how you keep up with it all, Geoff!

[@Normanabutler1]

I'm going to have to watch all of these vids again and make notes on my phone of all the 'quirks' / secret routes at the stations I use regularly as I am totally lost......

[@SSS92934]

Geoff, you should have a day 11 for when Bond Street Opens

[@guillaumemaurice3503]

Thank you for the video Geoff that was great information.

[@scullytawoody4852]

Loving the videos went on a purple train today wearing purple socks purple glasses with a purple top. Love the look of the stations very spacious.

[@TheNgandrew]

I am pleased you mentioned the lack of tap in/out between the Lizzie Line and Thameslink at Farringdon. I discovered that on Day 2, and asked a group of helpful staff about it. I had to tap out at the gateline a floor above, and then re-enter using my rail ticket. No doubt validators will soon be installed.

[@cephalopod7300]

It does seem surprising that they didn't realise the need for them before opening the station

[@TheNgandrew]

@@cephalopod7300 the staff members told me there were some validators but they had been broken or developed a fault.

[@markfontaine8465]

Love the vids Geoff, very informative. I love the way the stations are connected. I regularly use Moorgate or is that Liverpool Street!

[@richardmccarthy9580]

When I used to live in (and now visit) it’s those smaller facts (particularly if your in a rush) which are so important eg Where are along the platform are the exits and therefore where to board. Another key useful knowledge is where platforms from different lines are conveniently adjacent. Eg I recall but might be wrong at Oxford Circus southbound of Victoria and Bakerloo are adjacent…..brilliant if in a rush or carrying luggage

[@arpwable]

Yes, Oxford Circus has easy across-platform interchange between Victoria and Bakerloo, both northbound and southbound. Similarly at Stockwell between Northern and Victoria

[@MsLancer99]

Yes it's good to know how to get from one line to another Thanks Geoff

[@davidgibson1978]

Another great video Geoff, I travelled to Farringdon twice last week and found when changing from Elizabeth line, if going to Thameslink you don't have to leave the station, but you do for Underground.

[@lohphat]

Funicular is a specific case of an inclined cableway where there must be two connected cars in balance connected to the same cable. Sharing the same track with a crossover is typical but not required.

[@meliaelentari]

Petition for a Secrets of the Purple Train video...

[@Londonproplayer2]

I will say yes for it

[@isashax]

I'm going to London next month, 1st trip since the pandemic started, and I can't wait to see this line!

[@quintuscrinis8032]

That Barbican lift is a lovely little find - used it last week (before seeing this video) and it is wonderfully well hidden but so useful.

[@thomasroell8979]

Thanks!

[@paulattew623]

Well that was such a better done video that the last one about TCR. So much better content interesting shortcuts & ways to transfer between lines involving escalators, lifts and stairs... This is what I was looking for in the previous vid on TCR.. This was a great video all round..

[@linesided]

I'm pretty sure you could get a gig proof of concept testing any new line in the UK. Great instincts for design and people flow :)

[@jasiekzar]

This is so cool. I am a planning a special trip to London just to see the new line. For now, thanks for showing me around via yt.

[@paulnewman7654]

Abbey Wood to Farringdon is now my daily commute and it's even better that I turn the opposite way to 99% of those leaving the train and leave using the Barbican exit (I think those lifts are absolutely amazing). I can honestly say that I am so impressed with the new line and it almost makes commuting a pleasurable experience again!

[@Farleigh1050]

You are lucky, you have to go on the elizabeth line every day

[@ib9rt]

If you really were going to do a "secrets" video, there are all those inaccessible levels on that lift at 0:53 🙂 All those lovely machine rooms, switching rooms and other hidden parts of the infrastructure...

[@ronyinparis]

This is basically one of the reasons why the Elizabeth line was needed

[@fizi247]

Farringdon station is predicted to be the busiest station on the EL and UK, due to its connections to Gatwick, Heathrow, Circle line, Hammersmith and City line, Metropolitan line and National Rail. Future developments, will include Old Oak Common and Tottenham Court Road as potential contenders.

[@matthewbull7]

I visited the Elizabeth line yesterday starting at Farringdon which was so easy from my home in Brighton. Farringdon will certainly become a well used interchange.

[@PltOffPPrune]

Thanks for a great video Geoff. I'm at the Barbican for a conference in a few week's time and am planning to ride on the Elizabeth line just because I can.

[@aDifferentJT]

But what about if you’re on a Hammercircloplitan train and you want to change to the Elizabeth line, what’s quickest? Farringdon OSI, Farringdon via Thameslink or Barbican via the lift? I think you’ll need to test it, and it may well depend on whether you are on an eastbound or westbound train.

[@highpath4776]

I reckon Barbican via the lift. (but I have not done the tunnel walk, I reckon its not too far, and will be less busy than Farringdon.

[@Counttom90]

if you're going west it's probably barbican, if you're going east probably moorgate has the best connection?

[@NatalieLawrence]

I was looking for that and they did cover it after doing the official route. If you’re westbound (going to Kings Cross) you can go down the little stairs to southbound Thameslink and follow the signs. If you’re eastbound (going to Liverpool Street) take the lift up, go straight ahead (basically towards the “back” or western end of the platform) , take a left and go on the bridge. That takes you across the tube tracks, you’ll get to Thameslink platforms and then on to Lizzie Line.

[@amirdiabe]

Barbican could be the quickest at the minute, but once your commuters and locals start knowing about the route, it will be very much hit and miss. Only works out quicker if your able to get on the first lift that comes, if you have to queue up, forget it.

[@busventures]

we ran around barbingdon for 2 hours testing this out the other day. 1) if going to/from CHCM westbound to purpcrosseliz then its quicker to run along the thameslink platform 2) if going to/from CHCM eastbound then you are forced to go into the main upstairs bit anyway so OSI is quickest there 3) if you are fit (unlike me) then you can run from CHCM WB at farringdon to CHCM WB at barbican in around 3 minutes, whereas it takes around 1 and a half minutes to take the tube. so if you are willing to be sweaty and the next train is in >2 minutes then you can beat the tube :P 4) you cant easily get from the NB TL platform to any of the others in the old station, you have to go over to the main upstairs bit, so if going from Purple Train to SB TL or CHCM then its a mistake to turn left instead of going up the stairs.

[@barttheanorak]

Thank you for this very thorough guide. I imagine a similar hidden lift will be at Moorgate.

[@MrR777]

Great thameslink lift tip,nice one Geoff!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Geoff, you look so adorable in your Purple Madness Attire. As usual, I’m excited to see any and all updates.

[@benedettobruno1669]

I have just realised that if they had built an Elizabeth Line Station at King's Cross-Saint Pancras instead of Farringdon you would have got an interchange facility between the Piccadilly and Victoria lines which sadly are now the only Underground lines being left out and not directly linked to the Elizabeth Line in Central London. Yes, I know, the Piccadilly Line meets the Elizabeth Line at Heathrow but this isn't useful to passengers travelling in and through Central London. Thank you. (The Waterloo & City line is out as well but as this is a 2-station line this is another story).

[@bogdanconstantin5911]

Imagine adding yet another line at King's X

[@benedettobruno1669]

@@bogdanconstantin5911 Bogdan Constantin, iI you happen to go to Tokyo, Japan, do take a walk in the incredibly vast World existing below Shinjuku Station (there are also plenty of videos on KZbin).

[@bogdanconstantin5911]

@@benedettobruno1669 Japan is on my bucket list! If my memory serves I believe most of Tokyo's infrastructure has been built after WW2 which allowed them to build with more capacity in mind. Central London's underground tunnels are arguably harder to extend as proven by CrossElizPurp Line..

[@benedettobruno1669]

@@bogdanconstantin5911 Bogdan Constantin-san, they might have built most of Tokyo's infastructure after the Second World War, as you say, but as you surely know, the whole of Japan, including the Tokyo region, was then and still is one of the most earthquake-prone areas of the entire World. Add to that that the metropolian area of Tokyo has a population of 38.000.000 people (that is about half of the entire population of the United Kingdom) and they still manage to do amazing, impossible things in quite constrained spaces always managing to keep disruption to people and business to a minimum. The whole point of my messages here? Where There Is A Will There's A Way! Sayounara!

[@chrisoddy8744]

If Crossrail 2 gets the go-ahead it will have a station at Euston St. Pancras, which will therefore link to Euston, St P and by extension Kings X stations, plus all the various tube lines there as well as Euston Square tube just because. It's a massive interchange plan and if you thought King's Cross St P is already a mess you ain't seen nothing yet 🤣

[@robertcoleman4861]

Well done thanks geoff.

[@wu_1116]

The one thing I find a bit strange are the on board announcements. "This is the train to Paddington" like there was only one a day... Why not "This is an Elizabeth line train to Paddington"?

[@onkarshinde2041]

Because there is no ambiguity about which line it is. It is unlike some of the underground stations where you can catch different line trains from same platform ex. District or Circle.

[@daviddirom7429]

Geoff and his guests always a fun time

[@coldisopropyl]

I think touching in and touching out is the pain point travelling in london. There are too many rules and things you need to be aware of. For example, let say you want to go from Vauxhall to IKEA Croydon (Ampere way tram stop). So you touch in at Vauxhall NR station. At Wimbledon you touch the reader on the tram platform. It does two things 1. End your National Rail journey 2.Validate your card from your tram journey. The correct fare will be deducted (Zone 2 to Zone 3 + Tram). When you go back, you validate your card at Ampere way. After arriving at Wimbledon, you need to actually touch out at Wimbledon NR platform, otherwise a maximum fare will be charged. Because the system now has the record (Missing touch -> Vauxhall). Because the oyster system treats the tramlink as a separate system. I think something similar happens at Lewisham when changing between the DLR and NR.

[@adamwhite648]

Another great video Geoff! It was a great and pleasant shock to see the adorable Louis again, and I LOVED his purple nail polish! Not too many guys would be brave enough to do that!

[@Sim0nTrains]

Yes Spectre is a Bond Film, Farringdon was my very first Elizabeth Line experience that I ever took the Purple Train on to Paddington, was on the purple train when the karaoke was happening at Paddington. Great Video Geoff.

[@brianfretwell3886]

Didn't Spectre feature a tube train/base sequence using tunnels near Smithfield market which is between Farringdon and Barbican?

[@Sim0nTrains]

@@brianfretwell3886 think it was Skyfall

[@tristanmccoppin5761]

These these stations are so epic, it seems like you could make a week of videos just in farringdon

[@Parborway]

I bet that the least used of the new Crossrail stations is probably Bond Street.

[@neiljackson3133]

Farringdon is the station I've most been looking forward to visiting.

[@brunostransportjourneys2807]

Brilliant video Geoff!

[@harveybcoke]

Love the Lizzy line

[@John-gw3mj]

I'd be surprised if it's quicker to do the underground crossrail change without going out. The transfer to the northbound Thameslink platform is at the north end of the station so you'd have to walk three-quarters of the Thameslink platform to get to the escalators down. Source: Daily commute.

[@srfurley]

Re. the curved separator, in the video you have to walk to the right of it, as I did last week, but there are no signs for this and I got it wrong the first time and ended up at the up escalator. However, this afternoon the flow had been reversed, and it was necessary to walk to the left of it. Just to the right of the new exit on the Northbound Thameslink platform is a smaller opening with a gate which was always closed until recently. This leads to the new toilets, male, female, accessible and baby changing. A welcome facility, and much better than the terrible facilities provided at Stratford station. TfL, please do something about Stratford station toilets. Since Elizabeth Line will directly serve Heathrow, and serves all five other London airports with one change, I think maybe the trains should have been provided with a bit more luggage space. Passengers are advised to change at Farringdon for Luton and Gatwick, and at Liverpool Street for Stansted and Southend, but strangely, no mention of changing to the DLR for London City. I think when through running to Shenfield starts Stratford would be a better interchange for Southend than Liverpool Street.

[@uberseehandel]

This is going to be a good one for First Off The Tube"!

[@SlowLineTrainspotting]

It feels so weird having been there 2 days ago. If only i knew all this before i almost got lost 😅 Great video Geoff!

[@krewfan617]

Please Keep doing Elizabeth Line Videos, I love it!

[@simonk3539]

You found it. Well done!

[@LocoMotive142]

Categorically and empathically, Farringdon will be the most expensively cut jewel of London's railways. Just 6 platforms of sub-surface LU lines, Thameslink and the Liz-Alan-Beith line will, at high peak times, if absolutely everything runs beautifully everywhere, shovel a total of up to 160 trains north, south, east and west, giving Clapham Junction a run for its money. But, just like glass, crystals and diamonds, it will be precious and extremely fragile, and sharp when broken. Handle it with great care.

[@nathanwhiles5530]

Interesting informative video as always

[@anthonyharris2359]

I believe that, yes, they don’t want you to know you can get to Barbican tube but that Way Out sign is actually directing you to THE Barbican not the station

[@brianfretwell3886]

Pedantic me. The way from the Tube to Farringdon crossrail is to get off at the nearest TUBE station (Chancellery Lane) and walk down High Holborne and Farringdon Road/Street to it. Farringdon is an Underground station, not tube. It has been frustrating seeing those large gates from the Northbound Thameslink platforms for a few years and even more so that now they can be used I'll stillhave to change at Paddington to get to Ealing at present.

[@Jimyjames73]

Very good & exciting for you 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@that1traiguy181]

this is the best line ever!!!!!!!!!!! purple train forever

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Geoff could come up with the most bizarre name yet I always feel it should be a technical term lol

[@MathTHIR]

I just been on it yesterday, it was soooo spacious and modern)

[@SelkentScania472]

Got to love that purple hair streak still going😍😂

[@raycasey6264]

Another great video Geoff. It's strange that TfL had ages to shakedown Crossrail, but didn't spot the anomaly in the switchover from Thameslink to Crossrail. A minor quibble though - they've done a great job.

[@mats7492]

That slide into the shot …👌

[@thecuttingsark5094]

I used to have a paper ticket into Clapham Junction. I would have to literally exit the station then tap back in on my ouster to use the tube. What a complete pain in the neck. Surely they could put oyster terminals inside the station.

[@andreawoelke]

Liverpool Street is the only Crossrail station which passengers could use to change between other lines (Central and Great Northern Electric; as well as Central and Northern to avoid Bank). This might explain the through tunnel in the middle.

[@Nooticus]

this is actually a great point that i never though of! thanks!

[@HenrysAdventures]

I totally missed that lift the Barbican! I know what I'll be doing next time I'm in London!

[@trainlagged]

I think the reason there isn't an "official" interchange Barbican-Farringdon is this: There is no logical reason why you'd want to get the Tube at Barbican instead of Farringdon. See below: If you're going west on the EL changing for the Tube: change at Liv Street and pick up the Tube there, or Farringdon and pick up the Tube there. Heading to platforms at Barbican would mean calling at Farringdon twice. Same thing heading east, and same thing from Tube to EL. Honorable mention for any westbound Tube to EL journeys - changing at Barbican is actually feasible, just way slower.

[@Gregdotgreg]

The logical reason to catch the H&C from Barbican to Farringdon is the cross-platform interchange with Thameslink southbound.

[@ooyah69]

In case nobody has mentioned it, the purple portal on the Northbound Thameslink platform now has a yellow Oyster card reader (covered up at the moment) that will allow people changing to/from Thameslink to/from the Elizabeth line on paper tickets to tap in/out without having to go up to the ticket hall(s) 🎉or do a convoluted walk across to the Southbound Thameslink platform, where yellow Oyster reader have been in place for years!

[@ooyah69]

Oyster readers are now working on the Northbound Thameslink platform !! 😊 kzbin.infoEzKKBuSc4oI?feature=share

[@shaunhouse8469]

You missed the opportunity for a race, you could have sent Louis on the signed route and you could have gone over the plastic bridge to the northbound TL platform and along that to the express lift Richard told you about. Making this about me; I predict that when a eventually use Crossrail, I will use it at Farringdon/Barbican and I will get lost trying to find my way to the subsurface platforms at Barbican.

[@ACELog]

Geoff - there IS a direct connection from the SOUTHBOUND Thameslink to/from the Elizabeth line. From the TL southbound platform, cross just past the oyster machine to the Northbound underground, then continue up the sairs to the "floating tunnel" bridge, turn left and walk across it towards the Northbound TL platform. Then, go down the righ-hand narrow stairs "in the wall", and hey, presto - you're on the Northbound TL platform, from which you can get directly to the Elizabeth line, all without touching in/out. The reverse applies coming TO the Southbound TL platform, using the other adjacent stairs "in the wall" from the Northbound TL . Obviously, this can only be done, as you/they've discovered, for journeys where you don't need to touch in/out.

[@John-gw3mj]

From the southbound Thameslink platform, you can take the lift or stairs at the south end and you'll be upstairs in the Thameslink/Crossrail entrance hall so you don't need to touch out. It's also less of a walk than going to the north end of the station to cross to the other Thameslink platform.

[@ACELog]

@@John-gw3mj Ah, yes, that would also be another direct route. I suppose it depends where on the 12-car length TL platform you get on/off. I used to use Turnmill Street entrance/exit (only open during peak times) a lot when I worked in that area, so became used to using the bridge across the platforms, because it's nearby.

[@peterjones2956]

I used my intuition today on my first Lizzy Line journey. I wanted to get to Kings Cross St. Pancras, via Farringdon, so I made sure I was at the back. There was a lift straight to the Thameslink Platforms, then a short walk. Bingo: Met Line!

[@peterjones2956]

I made a little video of it, but couldn’t work out how to send or post it. But I’m sure you get the picture.