Why I Love the Elizabeth Line

[@chasemason5129]

It’s so refreshing to see the perspective of London transit from someone who isn’t from the UK.

[@DaChaGee]

I took the Lizzie Line from Tottenham Court Road to Canary Wharf, and it only took around 10 minutes. I don't think people realise how big London is and it just felt unreal getting from the Westend to the Docklands that fast.

[@highpath4776]

Its normally two to three mins between Tube station , now try walking the distances.

[@user-ed7et3pb4o]

I remember visiting my friends who lived near Canary Wharf about three years ago and it taking 30-40 minutes to get there. And I had to use the DLR for the last bit. Felt like a backwater. 10 minutes is insane.

[@phildaly3561]

I had a similar experience travelling from Euston to Canary Wharf - took me longer to get from Euston to Farringdon (via Euston Sq) than it did Farringdon to Canary Wharf. Really messed with my perception of distance!

[@mattc9998]

What I found so surprising is that the stations are incredibly quiet. The sound absorption panels are incredible. Plus no screeching trains.

[@szurketaltos2693]

Platform screen doors help a lot with that too.

[@painting4850]

@@szurketaltos2693 its been 3 months but I’ve been on crossrail on other stations and it’s equally silent

[@Liam_]

I could go on for hours about the amazing architecture on the Elizabeth Line, but the best thing for me was how quiet and comfortable the trains were. It makes such a difference switching from the central line where it’s sweaty and actually painfully loud in a few sections to the whisper quiet and air conditioned comfort of the new line. It’s incredible.

[@fasferg2999]

I agree, I used to dread getting on the jubilee line extension from north greenwich because of the ridiculously loud noise it makes. Hopefully when new trains come to the deep level lines this noise can be reduced.

[@hairyairey]

@@fasferg2999 probably because of the narrow bore of the tunnels under the Thames

[@ic3man689]

You missed the strike days, when the London Underground was closed. I can say that the Liz swallowed up all of the passengers from Paddington to the east with ease even with 5 minute increments between trains. Busy but not uncomfortable

[@davidty2006]

Great Success.

[@user-ed7et3pb4o]

are the Elizabeth trains automated?

[@nleak92]

@@user-ed7et3pb4o No they have a physical driver

[@SKAOG21]

@@user-ed7et3pb4o nope, too bad unions hate automation

[@Listenerandlearner870]

@@user-ed7et3pb4o yes apart from west of Paddington and east of Stratford.

[@jmd1743]

I love the interior. A lot of architects try to go over-the-top with "modern" architecture designs that are are outdated before the work crews leave, and they come up with such a design purely for name recognition. The station just seems to hit all of the right marks in a fusion of classic & modern design. It's truly a beautiful design that will age very well.

[@PSNDonutDude]

I think this is a big point. It's actually incredibly important to a) not have a gross outdated system within a couple years that people don't enjoy the look of walking around B) Reduce the cost of refreshes. If the design is timeless, then refurbishment is all that's needed, you can skip total redesigns every few decades which are costly and bothersome.

[@Chanemus]

Crossrail really is a game changer in showing what a modern transit line can be. The general feel and experience of the system is so carefully designed that the whole thing just feels amazingly unified. Just sad that it'll probably be 30 years before we see anything like it again in London

[@lordgemini2376]

Agreed, there are so many other railway lines in London with Crossrail potential beyond just Crossrail 2. I fear I may never see any in my lifetime though. If only infrastructure projects could be quicker in this country 😔

[@de-fault_de-fault]

Could be worse, you could be waiting your whole life for something like it and knowing you won't see it in another 30, 60, or 90 years either. That's what living in the US, even in its least-worst region for transit, is like.

[@mytimetravellingdog]

this country desperately needs to devolve power centrally. Give taxation and revenue raising abilities to the regions as well as a cut of all taxation and rights to make decisions etc So many core transport things, even if they had the money for them, require either ministerial approval or an act of parliament. West Yorkshire should have it's own light rail system and should be able to fund and build it itself without going cap in hand to the national government. It's amazing London has so much done when the mayor is almost singularly powerless. If it wasn't for TFL the mayor would be an almost figurehead position. But every single government for decades has harped on about devolution of powers for ages and done literally nothing about it.

[@Chanemus]

@@mytimetravellingdog completely agree, devolution is needed for myriad reasons, and all the government’s talk of “local control” is really just empty words at this point

[@katbryce]

Thameslink opened in 1988, which is 34 years ago. That was the most recent previous similar project.

[@gregderise9969]

I really like the looks of the Crossrail only stations. Transit is more than just a functional aspect of a city. I believe as it evolves it also becomes stylistically important like the above ground architecture. Good transit is as important to a big city as good working blood vessels are in our bodies. And I hope that the biggest most modern looking stations on the Elizabeth Line are an inspiration to transit builders the world over.

[@paulfarthing2807]

Great to see you with Geoff Marshall. I have a foot on both sides of the Atlantic having spent more that 20 years in Montreal although a Londoner by birth and current abode. I was in Montreal in November and spent a lot of time hanging around Édouard-Montpetit metro station waiting for a bus, and used to use the old Deux-Montagnes commuter line when I lived there, so I enjoyed your video on the new REM station. Yet to try the Elizabeth Line though.

[@RMTransit]

The REM is great - definitely another city-changing transit project!

[@AFCManUk]

A good test of speed is to start at Paddington, hop on the Lizzy Line to Canary Wharf, then go BACK to Paddington using DLR and Tube, and timing both journeys.

[@mralistair737]

why would you use DLR on that trip?

[@AFCManUk]

@@mralistair737 Hmm, I guess you COULD use the Jubilee Line...but I was thinking DLR to Bank, Central Line to Notting Hill Gate, then up to Paddington. I suppose if there were 2 of you, one could go via Jubilee Line.

[@mralistair737]

@@AFCManUk two changes and the central line sounds like the work of a masochist. city mapper think the lizzy line will be about 10 minutes faster but even if that route was about 5 minutes slower i'd take it for the air conditioning, space and peace and quiet alone.

[@hairyairey]

Or, go to Abbey Wood and make the return to Farringdon on Thameslink and then to Paddington on the underground. Spoiler alert - it will take you as long to get to Farringdon on Thameslink as it would to get to Paddington on Purple train. Probably longer

[@choppership465]

@@AFCManUk not up to paddington from notting hill gate, its more like back to paddington

[@Sean-D78]

I went on the Lizzy Line on the first day and it was fantastic, will definitely go back on it on my Train trips again!

[@RMTransit]

It’s definitely a must ride for when I get back in town next!

[@HY9891]

Just came back from a short trip in London. The Elizabeth Line is just enormous. The project is just huge, for example, Canary Wharf Station. Anyhow, it is simply great to see that these huge projects can still see the light.

[@planefan082]

I'm thoroughly stunned! This reminds me a lot of the MTR in HK that I miss so much every day. Good job London!

[@wafl423]

its literally the same people

[@laupeter4594]

Yea it’s the same…it’s always been like this in HK

[@SKAOG21]

@@laupeter4594 It's literally run by the MTR Corporation. Probably the reason why it's the only decent Rapid Transit system that is decent in London by Asian Standards (Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, China etc.)

[@John_259]

If and when the three separate parts of the line are connected for through passenger trains, it will become much more useful.

[@cephalopod7300]

I don't think there is any real question mark over whether this will happen, right? It's just a matter of timing. Give it a few months and we should have full services running end to end.

[@ijmad]

It's definitely a 'when' and that 'when' is Autumn, provided the final integration work stays on schedule. Which is not absolutely a given, but the bulk of the work is done already, just needs a little more proving.

[@noahbowie5985]

Its not an if. This will be happening and when it does happen the system will get even better. There was probably a bit too much time devoted to the interchanges at Paddington and Liverpool Street in this video given that they are only going to be around temporarily for at most a year but they should start integrating even before then

[@RMTransit]

Definitely! Can’t wait to see it happen!

[@hairyairey]

@@RMTransit As I understand it, the three signalling systems are not fully working together yet. However the tunnel is open all the way through so there will be test trains running

[@sameaulahad2824]

We need more projects like this done and quicker. The wonders it will do to the city. I’ve lived in London all my life and the fact that it’s cut my journey time from 1 Hr and 20 during peak times to 25 min to my girlfriends house is just amazing

[@pascaleibner138]

I recommend trying out the Kusttram in Belgium if you're focusing on light rail or trams in Belgium. It connects the towns on the costal line of flanders and is a really interesting topic. Especially Belgian public transport in general has a lot of interesting stuff, just briefly mentioning Charleroi metro. Don't forget to check out Salzbourg and Linz in Austria as well, their public transport system is really interesting as well to talk about! In austria, the capital of Vienna has (in my humble opinion at least) the best public network.

[@milesvonlehman2526]

1:32 person in orange jacket touches foot to platform. Probably to say they have been to every station.

[@Wispa9K]

Man, it's such a relief to see my country do something right for a change - a much needed bit of good news to see it realised so well. I'm looking forward to my next trip up to London so I can try it for myself!

[@bugumness]

I was absolutely gobsmacked at how quickly you can get across London on the lizzie line. What used to be a 50 minute commute to work has now been cut down to 30. Getting from central London to the east end in 13 minutes blows my mind

[@ericgriffin6698]

Recently went to the UK for a short break, arrived T4.. I tried out the Elizabeth line for the first time travelling to Liverpool Street station. Found the staff very helpful and polite, it's a brilliant service to get me home to Ipswich. I travelled at 10 pm from T4 and staff helpful to assist with my ticket I really enjoyed the fast connection to Paddington and Live St. I'll be using Greater Anglia and then to Heathrow from now on. Great job, great service Elizabeth Line well done guys this service is to he best line route ever plus it's direct from T4. Enjoyed my journey, sat back and relaxed on the lovely new carriages very pleasent change I can imagine Londoners will really benefit from this brilliant Service. I'll be back soon guys 😊👍👍👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@robinhatwell194]

Yo dude, great video. As a fire engineer encompassed within Crossrail project, it's important to mention that safety was a major factor during it's construction. For example, the grills you see above the lighting on the COS, or Central Operating Section stations, actually incorporate a highly sophisticated smoke extraction systems activated by smoke beams located on each platform, cool eh. I'd love if you would revisit the line now that Bond Street is operational. It's a marvel.

[@eldqvist]

I live in the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich and we've waited years for this - but definitely worth it! It's nice seeing the area getting international coverage 😊

[@history_leisure]

I agree with the walk through trains, especially when the doors are about to close. With the Madrid Metro, after about a month I started figuring out where the exits from the platforms at the stations I frequented (Alverado, Cuatro Caminos, Moncloa, Arguelles, Nuevos Ministrios, Valdebernando, Lago, Batan)

[@IvanMacKenzie]

I watch with interest to see how long it will take the signalling supplier to get the full through running working as envisioned. Seamless transition between the central section signalling (CBTC) and the eastern and western section signalling (each having different signalling, so 3 signalling systems in total!) is a huge technical/safety challenge.

[@fraseraitken1837]

Great vid. I generally use it from canary to central London (TCR) after a transfer from the DLR. It is such an improvement. Cool, quiet and comfortable and now I dont have go go through bank so major bonus

When I went to London I made a point to check out the Elizabeth line. I liked it so much that I tried to use it whenever the route made sense, rather than use the alternative options. The news line felt like the future of underground lines and something other cities should try to copy.

[@manjacovus5342]

Fascinating to have such an insightful, non-UK perspective. Thanks. Just a small point, though: apart from some recent designs on the Bakerloo and Central lines, longitudinal seats have always had arm rests.

[@gnhansen29]

I think the construction of Crossrail was a very good move for London.

[@toffthe]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I was impressed by the design and the quietness was amazing, the old deep lines in London are quite screechy, you see young kids covering their ears and grimacing....nevertheless... I love living in London.

[@nomenestomen8952]

the indirect lighting of the new stations looks amazing...much more calming and cozy

[@manjacovus5342]

And I was glad you singled out the Jubilee line extension, which has some of the best public architecture to be found, in the capital or elsewhere. Keep up the good work!

[@mattc9998]

Absolutely agree that it's a space-time shrinkage. It feels absolutely bizarre to be able to go from Soho to Canary Wharf so smoothly and quickly. I also find getting up to the surface is waaay less long-winded than in tube stations.

[@krozjr5009]

6:00 A year on and this comment is fascinating. I’ll go up to London to see my family who live on the local line out to Reading. What we tend to do is get on the Elizabeth line at Paddington or somewhere else convenient and then I’ll sit on it all the way to Reading whereas they’ll get off partway along. We tend to do this on weekdays so we hit the line at peak hours and it *is* busy but by the time we’ve left Greater London it’s always emptied out enough that we can sit down.

[@darinblass]

This is very helpful and it makes me want to visit London! You asked where you should travel to next; I'd love to see videos about South American transit options, specifically the gondola systems like the Medellin Metrocable and La Paz' Mi Teleferico. They're some of the most out-of-the-box transit options, but they've served their cities well.

[@Ianchia860]

1:32 lol. That guy simply want to set foot on the station

[@lik7953]

Lol I do that a lot. I tried to visit every tube station, so that’s what I did at ones I didn’t want to go out at

[@RMTransit]

IIRC it was the first train - didn’t want to lose his spot!

[@superraegun2649]

I'd still say the Elizabeth line needs better signalling between Southall and Paddington. I also think they need one from north to south that goes through Waterloo and up to either King's Cross or Euston.

[@productjoe4069]

Great video, as always. I think the carriage indicators may have been added to the digital signage in anticipation of the SDO that’s needed at some of the old, former mainline stations (once the sections are joined up). I know that on Thameslink and Overground they announce SDO using carriage numbers because it’s variable per station (depending on where the stop point is relative to the platform)

[@T_Dubbs]

It’s an miracle, very accessible, efficient, smooth, speedy and classy. As someone who lives on Thameslink, it’s super, super helpful and so glad it’s finally open (just one change to Heathrow for me now!)

[@dplabn813]

Reece, you are amazing. Thanks for a brilliant video. I live in Woolwich and I love the station here. I have used the Elizabeth Line a lot since it opened. 😊

[@marcussheen]

Great video. It blows my mind such a large line was even possible when you consider how much is already underground in London (the Tube, power lines, sewers and god knows what else).

[@simonbennett9687]

The route was safeguarded against conflicting development in 1991. When the London East West Study was being worked on in 2000/2001 other east west routes were looked at and basically the only other possible option would have been to go under the Thames. Good job we didn’t or Tideway would have had problems.

[@marcussheen]

@@simonbennett9687 wow I had no idea, that's really interesting - thank you

[@simonbennett9687]

@@marcussheen another thing you might be interested in is that most of the things you mention (apart from other underground railways) weren’t a problem for the running tunnels as they are much deeper. It’s a different matter for the stations as they affect the top few metres, which is where the majority of the utilities are.

[@Cheeseatingjunglista]

Capacious mate, very capacious - you should know, Geoff used this in his Liverpool st vid, after you had handed to him at Tot Crt RD!!!! Its is that thing, well done mate

[@monoonyx]

Was great to see you at Paddington on the morning of the second day, also happy that theres another Woolich fan, easily favourite of the stations.

[@murdelabop]

I haven't been to London in a while, but if the Elizabeth Line offered an alternative to the Central Line which would get me where I needed to go then I'd use it. The Central Line was one of the worst train rides of my life. It was oppressively hot and deafeningly loud. The Elizabeth Line sounds heavenly by comparison.

[@cephalopod7300]

You're not wrong about the noise and heat of the Central Line! As a non-Londoner who visits from time to time that experience is almost my defining image of the city. I don't find it wholly unpleasant though: like visiting a Tudor house and having to duck under cramped doorways, it reminds me that the middle part of the Central Line was constructed in the 1890s and has been at the core of London's transport infrastructure ever since. The Elizabeth line will definitely take a lot of pressure off it.

[@chrisoddy8744]

The Central line should be getting NTfL trains (subject to funding, naturally) within a decade or so - fully walk-through, air cooled trains with regen braking and the capability to work with better signalling - which should help decongest and de-hot the line, and hopefully it'll be less loud as well thanks to the lack of friction brakes. Alas, it's probably going to get them last after the Picc, Bakerloo and the W&C, so it'll probably be a while before that happens

[@atholmullen]

I've been working on a proposal for a new link in Sydney for years. I even submitted an early version of it to a 2012 NSW government study. I just realised that it would be the Sydney equivalent of RER or Crossrail, since it would enable through running from inter-urban (regional) lines north of Sydney to inter-urban lines south, south-west or west.

[@Pesmog]

You now have another example of how successful that this kind of line can be so that you can use it to press your case further. You should try and get some funding for a fact finding trip to London and Paris 👍

[@MattMcIrvin]

The mythical North-South Station link in Boston is a similar idea. It will probably never exist, but we can dream.

[@chattenmetchad]

That exciting moment when you come home from work and RM uploaded a video. Thank you for your quality videos !

[@artursdobrecovs]

The car number is incredibly useful when you get out to the east and west ends of the line, where the old platforms could not be extended to fit the full 9-car trains.

[@ricktownend9144]

Do the announcements make it clear which is car no 1? - is it always the front of the train? - in which case you may need car 1 eastbound and car 9 westbound... Or is car 1 always at the east end (for example)?

[@artursdobrecovs]

@@ricktownend9144 Numbered in the direction of travel, which is why they're on the screen and not as a sticker anywhere. Front of the train in direction of travel is always car 1. There's no need for a different number going eastbound or westbound. When a platform is too short for the entire train, the front of the train will always be on the platform, so it's only the back doors/cars that get cut off. Also, in the case of Custom House where you need to be in a specific car for step-free access, that car is number 5 which is bang in the middle of the 9 car train, so again it doesn't matter which way you're travelling

[@57bananaman]

Those signs that say which carriage you are in (for example "4 of 9") are of particular use if you intend getting off at one of the stations on the outer sections, such as the line from Liverpool Street to Shenfield where the line uses stations and platforms that have been there for decades. Many of the pre-existing outer stations still have short platforms and not all of the train can fit in the station, as a consequence in some stations ... Maryland, Forest Gate and Manor Park as examples ... the doors don't open on the last two carriages so you don't want to be in carriage 8 or 9. Also in some of those stations the exit out of the station is not at the end, but in the middle ... Maryland and Romford are examples of this ... so it is useful to be in carriage 4 or 5. Of course, being a Star-Trek fan, I do get a buzz when I find that I am in "7 of 9"!!! LOL.

[@nathanlewis42]

My first thought when I rode the Elizebeth line was how much the design reminded me of the Washington DC metro design. Both have the tubular spaceship look with soft light and long escalators.

[@MattMcIrvin]

That was what immediately struck me as well--in videos it looked like the interiors were all white, but they're gray concrete in textured vaulted curves with somewhat low lighting, and uniform design for the underground stations, all of which is very DC Metro-like. The platform screen doors reminded me more of Singapore.

[@michaeltajfel]

In the west there is also cross platform interchange at Ealing Broadway between the Central line, and the Elizabeth line and main line trains. At the moment, to travel between the west and east it is probably best to use the Central line and change at Ealing Broadway and Stratford.

[@hammalamiri12]

I live exactly between Paddington and Bond Street stations, The line is awesome however I will fully appreciate later this year when it is fully integrated

[@lam6786]

I was in London a couple of days ago and had to change at Tottenham Court Road, but those tunnels are so much bigger than they look on video. it's incredible.

[@offichannelnurnberg5894]

7:36 Sometimes I linger around major bus stops, not to catch a bus, but to connect my phone to wifi of waiting or passing buses. The time it takes for a bus to stop is enough for writing 2 short whatsapp messages or 1 long one😂

[@BaldwinMax]

I have to travel from Bristol (South West England) to Essex (South East England) via Paddington, it used to take 90 mins from Bristol to Paddington then a whole hour and a half to then get out to Essex despite the distance being about 1/3 of the first leg. Since the Elizabeth line opened my total journey time from Paddington to my final destination has gotten down to as low as 40 minutes

[@andrenewcomb3708]

Looks really nice. Amazing how the lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnng trains enter stations so rapidly and depart so rapidly. Looks so super efficient! And less cars on the surface so that kids can play.

[@ELSpaceAgency]

when you said that the display saying which carriage you are in was kind of useless, it actually is because some stations have short platforms where you can only get off at the front seven coaches.

[@wigwayj]

When you're used to the victoria line, then you're used to cross platform interchange. Lizzie line is amazing and stunning, but it feels like it's built more for single journeys rather than interchanging. Great vid!

[@alexlyster3459]

It's because it's not actually part of the London UnderGround technically. It's actually a train line that just happens to go underground. So it's not as integrated into the system as most lines.

[@wigwayj]

Have to admit I'm feeling pretty smug now given Reece's newest video...

[@bas3q]

0:44 Next: Washington, D.C. please? I'd love to see an "every Metro station" video, especially your thoughts on the National Airport station. Fly into DCA and see just how convenient it is to get into downtown and beyond!

[@LeveLUP.]

I made use of it this weekend. Thameslink into the city change at Farringdon to Paddington. 1 change instead of 2+ from my usual station

[@willneverforgets3341]

It will be a standard for future projects elsewhere... nice design, and quick. I never understood for example Line 14 in Paris, because it runs parallel to other existing metro lines, but when you actually use it, you understand why, and the benefit of having such a line... same goes for the Elizabeth Line.

[@davidstone408]

If you start in the west at Reading and take Elizabeth Line to Abbey Wood, even after the trains run through the central section, it would still be quicker to take the GWR non-stop service to Paddington and change, depending on timings. As the non-stop service is 25 minutes faster than Elizabeth Line

[@ollie2074]

Yes and if they build the station at Old Oak Common and have all Intercity Trains stop with a cross platform interchange it would be even faster !!! I guess there's a similar situation on the Shenfield to Stratford to Liverpool Street section with GA express services.

[@joermnyc]

The NYC system has been installing big vertical screens either on the walls or in kiosks at set spacing along the platforms that do display connecting train info & arrival times (much easier to read than the usually single overhead arrival time display on the lettered lines, which may be hidden behind stairs, or a curved platform.) They do rotate between this info and ads though, so if your timing is poor you might miss info about a delay until after you’ve exited the train you were on and it’s already closed it’s doors.

[@K-o-R]

7:20 I reckon the quietness of the ride compared to the Jubilee or other deep-level Tube lines is because the latter are not air-conditioned, and thus have many openings to allow tunnel noise in. The Class 345 Aventra (and, honestly, any new train this century) is air-conditioned and _sealed._ That sealing makes a _huge_ difference to the soundproofing. Hopefully the New Tube or whatever they end up calling it, which _is_ air-conditioned, will be an end to the ear pummelling. I got to ride the line yesterday (aside: I was going to ride it anyway but as it happened it was basically the _only_ option available. London with near-zero Tube service operating is... fun.) and it was an excellent experience. Whenever people talk about how CrossPurpLizLine is bringing RER-style stuff to London I feel like Thameslink is sitting there all, "Am I a joke to you people?"

[@fasferg2999]

I never thought of Thameslink as an RER before, but thinking about how it runs, it works just the same as the elizabeth line, though a much further distance.

[@hairyairey]

Thameslink is not as fast in Central London because the stations are so close together. In fact the train arrives at Blackfriars before the back of the train has left City Thameslink!

[@hairyairey]

There's also the wider tunnel with the footpath which means that there is less compression of air as the train moves through it. Not new of course the Tyne and Wear Metro has been like this since the 80s.

[@mdhazeldine]

I went on the Lizzy line last week, and as a long-time veteran commuter, the biggest game changer for me was the AC! So nice to feel cool under ground, especially in the summer. I also totally agree about the noise. I took the Jubilee Line back to Waterloo after travelling on the Lizzy line to Canary Wharf, and OMG the sound level difference is shocking. The Jubilee line is REALLY loud on corners. My kids stuck their fingers in their ears multiple times, whereas the Elizabeth Line was barely audible. I really hope TFL does something to improve the noise levels because I'm sure it's bordering on a health hazard!

[@earleyriser1967]

I took the Elizabeth Line to Canary Wharf and then the Jubilee towards Stratford and actually got off the Jubilee Line train and switched to DLR due to the noise. I agree it felt so excessive as to be a potential health hazard.

[@mdhazeldine]

@@earleyriser1967 Apparently TFL have been getting 100s of complaints about it and are trying to fix it with rail grinding and replacing track, but I wonder if there's just some fundamental design issues there.

[@joegrey9807]

Two of the biggest flows I was expecting and witnessed aren't actually dependent on the through running. 1. From Paddington to the West End (TCR and Bond St when that opens), the City (Moorgate/Liv St and the Docklands (Canary Wharf). The three major employment centres were all a bit remote from Paddington and the mid/long distance services that will continue to terminate there. Linking Paddington to the City is of course why the first ever underground line was built but that's not very frequent nor fast. Many commuters used to walk from Paddington to Lancaster Gate Central line station for onward connections, their lives are now a lot easier. 2. From North Kent (Woolwich and Abbey Wood) to just about anywhere north of the river. For these passengers, the line really is a game changer. The Heathrow, the Thames Valley (to Reading), and Shenfield services will be very good cherries on the cake. Btw, the history of the Shenfield* services is worth a look up if you're into transport, as it was probably the most intensively operated steam commuter service in the world in its day. Look up 'Jazz service LNER' *Correction, it was Liverpool Street to Chingford and Enfield, but still worth a read up

[@ahuman9143]

Yet they got rid of our Shenfield express services that used to stop at Stratford, Ilford, Romford then all stops to Shenfield or Stratford, Ilford then all stops to Shenfield, whilst West London still has their trains skipping some stops :(

[@joegrey9807]

@@ahuman9143 yeah I think the reason the Shenfields are like that is to keep the frequency up but still run everything on the slow lines. This improves reliability.. The Thames valley section has lower frequency so they can skip stop without trains catching up with each other. Personally I think the frequencies west of Pad could do with improving now.

[@ahuman9143]

@@joegrey9807 Frequency out east doesn't get any better than 5-7Mins, so at least making the 2 tph express out of the Mainline Liverpool Street, as it still is annoying that Greater Anglia doesn't stop at Romford from just before 4PM until 8PM, despite quite a lot of people using Greater Anglia at Romford

[@joegrey9807]

@@ahuman9143 not sure what the headway rules are there, but likely to be at least 3 minutes, so you could in theory miss one stop (ie be 2 minutes faster) before you catch up with the train in front. But that adds to performance risk. 10tph is one of the highest on a decent length of suburban rail.

[@ahuman9143]

@@joegrey9807 Could make them run on the fast lines until just before Romford then on the slow lines to Shenfield.

[@kreppa2]

3:23 xD this npc just looks like elon musk

[@TobyStewart-dy4qq]

Sydney Metro is quite similar- it starts off as a suburban link, then goes underground through the city and back out again

[@reezdog]

I like that the seats are facing inward. Infacing seats allow for more standing room. I wish the TTC implemented this on the LRTs.

[@joegrey9807]

More standing room in the peaks. Room for luggage, pushchairs/strollers, luggage off peak. Win win.

[@hairyairey]

Not on all the carriages fortunately as some of us are not fans of being accelerated rapidly sideways.

[@ahuman9143]

Trust me when you have a 40 mins journey you do not want inwards facing seats

[@corleth2868]

I live near Abbey Wood and Woolwich and rarely go further west than Paddington or to Stratford so it's great for me. I'm not sure much will change (for me) when it's fully operational other than the frequency.

[@bronxsportsfan]

Have never ever step on foot in London (or anywhere else outside of the United States), the new rail line in the Originator (my nickname for London & the TfL) is a game changer in that, just by watching this video, there are a lot more safety features in the Elizabeth Line (though not at all stations). Just goes to show that it's easier to install new bells and whistles (protective platform gates at a new transit network, for example) than to retrofit at an older subway system.

[@fasferg2999]

Basically all new platforms in london use the screen platform doors as they are required in future for automatic trains. The DLR had to be grandfathered into the new safety rules as an exception to that.

[@sihollett]

The screen doors are about air, dirt and noise from the tunnels and stopping them getting into the stations. They aren't about safety or automation, or the surface stations would have them too and they don't. Sure, the safety and automation benefits are side effects, but weren't why they were added.

[@cephalopod7300]

@@fasferg2999 But the two recently opened new Northern Line stations don't have platform edge doors, right? Does anywhere else in London have them other than the Jubilee line extension stations opened around 1999?

[@Listenerandlearner870]

From 6th Nov 2022 Crossrail train routes will be joined up. Trains will go underground near Paddington and Liverpool Street.

[@dunkandeggbricks]

Had the chance to ride the Elizabeth Line for the first time last weekend and the comparison between it and the existing underground is night and day - it really is epic! Also love the LEGO Crocodile Locomotive - is RMTransit an AFOL?

[@Smart1529]

Hey RM i agree with the information about the carriages but I think you need to remember that some stations have shorter platforms like Hanwell, Manor Park etc. And they don't want to give people too much information that it may confuse some. I still agree that they should've handled it better. By the way great video 👍🏽

[@lenchannon]

I recently used the Elizabeth Line and comparing it to the tube is a massive difference in terms from getting from A to B and also now seamless going through the new tunnel sections. I live near Heathrow Airport and got the Lizzie line at Hayes and Harlington. To get to Canary Wharf took around 50 minutes. Getting there by tube would take almost 90 minutes due to changing stations from the Picadilly line to Green Park and get the Jubilee line to Canary Wharf. Getting to Woolwich took me much longer by normal tube and rail. But now with Lizzie now in place. It cuts that by half. Let's just say it has brought London much closer and costs the same as the tube.

[@satellite1882]

Such a beautiful new system I can't wait to use it myself. Hopefully it's now time to think about improving the UK's entire public transport system fingers crossed.

[@davidosilverman900]

Fun fact about the core: later this year, when the three parts are connected up and 24 trains an hour are running, by the time you've walked from one end of the platform to the other, you'll have missed a train.

[@joshlikescola]

While I'm really excited to see new transport infrastructure in the UK, it's really sad how little there is outside of London. That said - London shouldn't be punished. Indeed, the government's levelling up agenda is being weaponised to justify service cuts in London, rather than you know... investment in the rest of the country. Things get pretty shocking outside of the M25 😬

[@enemyofthestatewearein7945]

What a bizarre comment, when over £100b is being spent on HS2, there are brand new trains in many parts of the UK, plus electrification projects, signaling and junction upgrades being done all over the place. Yes aspirations have been trimmed and there is always much more that can be done, but it's really not true to say only London gets investment.

[@cephalopod7300]

@@enemyofthestatewearein7945 Unfortunately the direction of travel with HS2 plans is their scaling back, with the cutting of the eastern leg, and now the Golborne link which will significantly compromise HS2's contribution to connectivity between the south of England and Scotland unless it is replaced by something better. The UK should have had the high speed rail of its neighbours decades ago. Long overdue plans to improve connectivity between the big cities of the north of England have also been scaled back dramatically, and meanwhile in your average decent-sized town or city in provincial England, it can be difficult and expensive to get a simple reliable bus into the centre. It's great that London has seen this investment, and I know London commuters crammed into tube trains have their legitimate complaints, but public transport in much of the UK looks like something from a far less developed country than what you see in London.

[@user-ed7et3pb4o]

@@enemyofthestatewearein7945 HS2 is really about benefitting Londoners first and foremost. It won't bring too much immediate benefit to Birmingham except by making house prices more expensive and turning it into a London suburb. I live about 15 minutes drive from Birmingham city centre but it takes 45 minutes minimum and sometimes as long as 1.5 hours to get there by public transport. A massive city centre station to London doesn't make a whole lot of difference to me or to most Birmingham citizens who are struggling with substandard public transport in the biggest European city that doesn't have its own metro. Birmingham has a population of 2 million, the same size as many European capital cities, and has suffered massively from over-centralisation and London-centric planning. Before it was deliberately restrained in the 70s/80s, it was the most prosperous city in the UK by average household income (yes, ahead of London).

[@enemyofthestatewearein7945]

@@user-ed7et3pb4o As a regular visitor to Birmingham I fully understand your sentiments. HS2 does though offer many opportunities to improve local and regional links around the west midlands, through the capacity released on the classic network. There are already a number of plans in progress.

[@user-ed7et3pb4o]

@@enemyofthestatewearein7945 Sorry, I missed this comment earlier! The current plans fall way short of making much difference - by 2040/2050 most suburban stations (according to current plans) will still have only 4 trains per hour or 6 at most. It’s pretty dire. There’s tons of potential for massive upgrades but it will take money that the government is unwilling to spend on local rail. Bits of investment here and there aren’t really enough when the city’s starting at such a disadvantage. I am all in favour of HS2, but it seems like a waste when quite frankly, Birmingham isn’t in a position to make use of it. At that point, calling it an investment in regional rail is kinda dishonest. If there was a way to capture HS2 uplift and reinvent it in local rail we might be getting somewhere, but our political system precludes that.

[@Fan652w]

Thank you Reece for an excellent video. Did you get uot to Reading, to see the very modern station which has to cope with a very diverse range of rail services, ranging from Inter-Cities through Crossrail to local services worked by relatively small diesel trains?

[@cephalopod7300]

It's a cathedral of escalators

[@adem2782]

Great video! Keep making them, I love to stay updated- and by the way, you should go to see the Sydney Metro City and Southwest when it opens too!

[@Zoexkate]

Have you been to the London transport museum? They have lots of cool information about the history of London underground and at the end theres a shop that sells load of Elizabeth line things. I got a model train of the Elizabeth line for only £15. I completely recommend it. It's in Covent garden on the Piccadilly line not far from the station. About 3 minutes if Google maps sends you by the right entrance which it didn't for me 😂

[@codyfinnegan9197]

I love that you talked about the costs/benefits of such an expensive project. I live in the DC area and I would be really curious about your thoughts on the Silver Line extension that was also overbudget and delayed. Was it worth it? Why did that happen and how does that reflect on other transit projects in the US? Also, the Purple Line: is light rail the best solution for suburb-to-suburb transit? Is there anything you would have preferred instead? How does that compare to the DC metro's typical style - is it better? Should other cities try projects like it or was it a mistake? I really want to know more about transit in my own city and I haven't seen much content on it that wasn't solely lamenting the cost overruns.

[@hypernewlapse]

you have to check the new Barcelona Metro series 7000 sets; they have screens that sync up with the train position on the stop so they show which direction to walk for different connections or exits. they just started service on L3

[@Brapish]

The onboard display software on the Elizabeth Line trains (and the newer Overground stock) is so bare bones 😢 I was hoping it was a place holder for TfL Rail but I guess not! Thankfully easy to change and I hope TfL do!

[@DangerousDac]

One thing I noticed with CrossElizPurp when I first got on was the silence - but then the EXTREME vibrations I encountered travelling from Canary Wharf to Whitechapel. It was actually quite disconcerting.

[@hairyairey]

Could have been a flat tyre

[@drakeil]

Service issues for now are noted on announcements on NYC trains and are posted in stations. The big touch screens at some of the mid town stations also help and yes they all need to be improved. I hope that trains like these are put on the Interboro Express once it is built an they should be dual power pick up (third rail and overhead wire) like the New Haven trains so that they can go on all NYC lines: Metro North and LIRR. That way some trains can be diverted into Penn Station, East Side Connect or sent up onto Metro North.

[@alexandertarver5154]

I am a commuter, not an expert but I take Thameslink from Brighton, right through to Farringdon in the City of London. I know it’s a rail service, rather than the Tube or an “RER” per se, but it has many virtues that you praised on the “Purple Line” (and a few faults too, but what doesn’t?)

[@swiper1818]

Your videos are excelent! Keep up the great work

[@RotchildFrancoisJr]

Love the spaceship feel

[@RMTransit]

Me too!

[@funtcat2011]

When you change lines at tottenham court road it feels like stepping out of a time Machine 😂 if only all the lines were like that..i wish

[@emjayay]

One thing the mostly terrible NYC subways does that TFL doesn't is flash the current time on the information (usually next station) displays in the cars (carriages). It's vary useful. The DC Metro has LED signs that only say what line it is - no next station etc!

[@Jacob-il4yf]

Proud to be Londoner the best train projects happen in London can't argue with a valid point 👌

[@larrynebron7140]

I have to wonder if the designers visited japan? There are no door closing Melodie’s on the EL.! For regulars these Melodie’s are useful in knowing when to hurry and when you can move out of the fast lane. I do not think they visit Switzerland either. The displays could list next bus, or other TfL services connection for each station.

[@Mchannnel]

Wow. I want this style to happen in some subways in Tokyo that connects to suburbs. There are express services (Toei Shinjuku line, Metro Tozai Line) but others, especially Chiyoda line need some Elizabeth line…

[@richie26uk]

The reason for telling you which train car you are in is that some of the outer stations have restricted platform lengths. So if you don't know which car you're in, you might find yourself unable to get off.

[@sihollett]

Also useful if you know what car the exit you want is at.

[@Cloudrak]

The part I have to get most used now is the extreme length of the trains, and how I have to be on the right end for a fast transfer and to get to the right town.

[@nleak92]

They've been mutterings about a 2nd crossrail line from South to North with a massive hub at King's Cross St Pancras Euston. I'm not sure how recent this will be but I'm not holding my breath for the meantime. This would be useful though especially connecting South London

[@camjkerman]

I would note that out West, Elizabeth line services have different stops depending on their destination. Not as clean cut as Local/Express either, which is something we don't really do here, and our way of doing things necessitates even suburban trains have their entire stop list read out in announcements.

[@ricktownend9144]

I'm wondering if that will last. Having skip-stop trains means you can't actually have as many trains in the timetable as when all trains have the same stopping pattern; it's also confusing for passengers. The regular Underground services have always worked very well on 'all trains stop everywhere' (except where there are separate express lines) which means it's simple for passengers, especially when changing trains/lines - giving a proper integrated network with a wide range of travel opportunities; you just don't have to look at timetables. A really frequent service, though not attracting vast numbers NOW, may over time grow the customer base; it may also encourage development around the station, and increase house values.

[@camjkerman]

@@ricktownend9144 the thing with the Elizabeth line is that it isn't a London Underground line, it's a full on national rail service and will operate as such between Paddington and Heathrow/Reading and Stratford and Shenfield. Currently they have "Not Stopping At" notices for Bond Street and I imagine that will be used for Reading services that skip Acton Mainline and Hanwell out west.

[@ricktownend9144]

@@camjkerman That's it; it's not technically an Underground line, though TfL seem to set its timetable etc., and they seem to have ignored the outstanding example of good practice for integrated urban networks that the Underground has displayed! - as have most main-line rail operators (and TfL's bus people in lots of areas). I just think the complication of these skip-stop trains is self defeating and will probably be dropped at some point - after all, the time-saving is pretty minimal. And let's hope that other main-line suburban rail operations within greater London will some time adopt a simple underground pattern of minimum 8 trains per hour, all stations, to make a really great simple, integrated transit network, and watch the customers flow in!

[@michaelrmurphy2734]

The Elizabeth Line was opened by the Queen herself in May. And now well, just a few months later... :(

[@katbryce]

One problem with the service status indicator is, when it says "Overground: Severe Delays", or "Overground: Part Suspended", the Overground is lots of different lines, and usually only one of them has problems and the others are running just fine. If I am planning to continue my journey on the Overground, I have to get out my phone and try to figure out which line is having the problems.

[@simonbennett9687]

The Overground needs to be divided into the 6 lines it so obviously is. I think this was in Sadiq Khan’s last manifesto so I’m hoping TfL are working on it.

[@cephalopod7300]

I suppose it is at least a useful notification that you need to look into the disruption further. Though I agree with Simon that it would be better to divide the Overground up into named lines.

[@lollol6812]

Man at 1:33 wanted to say he stepped on every platform

[@canmateya69]

As a person from perth city, i have went to london before and really liked the elizabeth line to get to the airport and it was very "Modern"