Crossrail from 24th May : implications for LHR T5
May 9, 2022, 4:07 am
#91
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May 9, 2022, 7:36 am
#92
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It's easy to make fun of the fact that it's a long way behind its original schedule. But so far as the revised framework of "in the first half of 2022" is concerned, I don't think that it's unreasonable to ask whether it would have been better to miss the Jubilee Central Weekend in order to get more - and more thorough - testing done first, rather than saving that for Sundays after the line has been opened for the purposes of a ceremonial date that is, so far as operations are concerned, pretty arbitrary.
Having Sunday as a test day should work well to that end. They can test all day on Sunday, then spend the week iterating on any problems that are encountered. The software development process probably wouldn't be sped up all that much by having every day to test.
May 9, 2022, 8:28 am
#93
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It's easy to make fun of the fact that it's a long way behind its original schedule. But so far as the revised framework of "in the first half of 2022" is concerned, I don't think that it's unreasonable to ask whether it would have been better to miss the Jubilee Central Weekend in order to get more - and more thorough - testing done first, rather than saving that for Sundays after the line has been opened for the purposes of a ceremonial date that is, so far as operations are concerned, pretty arbitrary. https://www.londonreconnections.com/...-opening-date/ is worth a read, including the comments.
The project that became Crossrail has origins in the 1943 County of London Plan and 1944 Greater London Plan by Patrick Abercrombie. These led to a specialist investigation by the Railway (London Plan) Committee, appointed in 1944 and reporting in 1946 and 1948.
it has hardly been rushed
May 9, 2022, 9:39 am
#94
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Given that Geoff Marshall has been mentioned a couple of times in this thread, I thought I would post his take on the likely service patterns. I don’t believe I’m breaking any copyrights here as he posted it publicly with one of his previous videos.
May 10, 2022, 5:19 am
#95
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Aww, I've only just seen that it's not open on Sunday initially. Will mean I can't get to try it next time I'm in London (well, unless that doesn't last long).
May 10, 2022, 6:08 am
#96
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Worth noting that the two tph to T5 are fast, i.e. only stopping and Ealing Broadway after Paddington. Which will be useful for us and make the difference in time with the HEX somewhat less.
May 10, 2022, 7:20 am
#97
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https://content.tfl.gov.uk/tfl-rail-west-may-2022.pdf
Was looking as I’m considering the Elizabeth Line for a trip in a couple of weeks, though with those journey times and less frequency, I might just take it to PAD and get the HEX from there, albeit at higher cost.
May 10, 2022, 7:45 am
#98
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That map must be of the final set-up, because it shows direct trains from Abbey Wood to Heathrow. And that's not going to happen for another 6 months or so, on current plans.
May 10, 2022, 7:56 am
#99
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Yes, the map I posted reflects the expected service patterns once all testing and infrastructure is complete.
May 15, 2022, 10:59 am
#100
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I had my first Crossrail experience yesterday, since the Piccadilly line to Heathrow was closed and I had resigned myself to taking the HEX. Instead, the first available train was a service running directly to Heathrow (T2/3 then T5) from Paddington. It worked fine.
The trains are mostly standing room - only a few seats - which for a 15 minute journey is tolerable. I'm not at all sure about that for the much longer journeys from the edges of Crossrail to the centre of the City when they start running, let alone from end to end.
However, this did mean that my journey from the East of the country was in an air conditioned train, followed by an air conditioned Tube, followed by an air conditioned Crossrail, and that is a significant advantage over the Piccadilly Line hot-house.
The trains are mostly standing room - only a few seats - which for a 15 minute journey is tolerable. I'm not at all sure about that for the much longer journeys from the edges of Crossrail to the centre of the City when they start running, let alone from end to end.
However, this did mean that my journey from the East of the country was in an air conditioned train, followed by an air conditioned Tube, followed by an air conditioned Crossrail, and that is a significant advantage over the Piccadilly Line hot-house.
May 15, 2022, 12:02 pm
#101
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I had my first Crossrail experience yesterday, since the Piccadilly line to Heathrow was closed and I had resigned myself to taking the HEX. Instead, the first available train was a service running directly to Heathrow (T2/3 then T5) from Paddington. It worked fine.
The trains are mostly standing room - only a few seats - which for a 15 minute journey is tolerable. I'm not at all sure about that for the much longer journeys from the edges of Crossrail to the centre of the City when they start running, let alone from end to end.
However, this did mean that my journey from the East of the country was in an air conditioned train, followed by an air conditioned Tube, followed by an air conditioned Crossrail, and that is a significant advantage over the Piccadilly Line hot-house.
The trains are mostly standing room - only a few seats - which for a 15 minute journey is tolerable. I'm not at all sure about that for the much longer journeys from the edges of Crossrail to the centre of the City when they start running, let alone from end to end.
However, this did mean that my journey from the East of the country was in an air conditioned train, followed by an air conditioned Tube, followed by an air conditioned Crossrail, and that is a significant advantage over the Piccadilly Line hot-house.
https://images.app.goo.gl/NYAedKKxnVroTDgr9
May 15, 2022, 12:46 pm
#102
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While there is a lot of space for standing, i have never had a problem getting a seat
https://images.app.goo.gl/NYAedKKxnVroTDgr9
https://images.app.goo.gl/NYAedKKxnVroTDgr9
May 15, 2022, 1:00 pm
#104
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You must have been in one of the end carriages? All the others have a mix of longitudinal (tube style) and a few facing.
May 15, 2022, 1:13 pm
#105
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I had my first Crossrail experience yesterday, since the Piccadilly line to Heathrow was closed and I had resigned myself to taking the HEX. Instead, the first available train was a service running directly to Heathrow (T2/3 then T5) from Paddington. It worked fine.
The trains are mostly standing room - only a few seats - which for a 15 minute journey is tolerable. I'm not at all sure about that for the much longer journeys from the edges of Crossrail to the centre of the City when they start running, let alone from end to end.
However, this did mean that my journey from the East of the country was in an air conditioned train, followed by an air conditioned Tube, followed by an air conditioned Crossrail, and that is a significant advantage over the Piccadilly Line hot-house.
The trains are mostly standing room - only a few seats - which for a 15 minute journey is tolerable. I'm not at all sure about that for the much longer journeys from the edges of Crossrail to the centre of the City when they start running, let alone from end to end.
However, this did mean that my journey from the East of the country was in an air conditioned train, followed by an air conditioned Tube, followed by an air conditioned Crossrail, and that is a significant advantage over the Piccadilly Line hot-house.