Queen on track to unveil Crossrail
THE Queen made a surprise appearance to officially open the completed Elizabeth line, named in her honour.
She was given an Oyster card and shown how to use it on a ticket machine.
The 96-year-old monarch, who now rarely carries out public engagements outside of her royal residences, joined her youngest son the Earl of Wessex at Paddington Station.
The Queen smiled warmly as she met Crossrail and Elizabeth line workers and walked slowly as she made her way around the concourse.
Elizabeth line customer experience assistant Kofi Duah said he was “thrilled” to present an Oyster card to the
Queen and show her how it could be topped up on a machine.
The Queen did not top up the card, which was pre-loaded with £5 of credit.
Mr Duah said: “I gave her an Oyster card and told her she can tap it on the yellow reader.
“She said ‘Where can I use it?’ I said ‘You can use it across our line, so from Paddington to Abbey Wood.
“She said ‘Oh nice, splendid’.”
The Crossrail project, due to be completed in December 2018 was set a budget of £14.8bn in 2010.
The total cost has been estimated at £18.9bn.