On track for arrival
After years of delays, date is confirmed for Elizabeth line link-up with London
After years of delays, Maidenhead passengers have finally been told when they will be able to travel into the heart of London on the new Elizabeth line.
Transport for London (TfL) revealed on Tuesday that the longawaited Crossrail connection is set to link Berkshire with the capital from Sunday, November 6.
This means that people travelling from Maidenhead on the Elizabeth line can remain on one train into central London tunnels without having to change at Paddington.
TfL said this new connection will offer reduced journey times and better connectivity on the railway, while leader of the Royal Borough Councillor Andrew Johnson said Maidenhead could ‘utlilise the full benefit’ of the line as it looks to attract more residents and businesses.
During peak times, there will be six trains per hour (one every 10 minutes) travelling to and from Maidenhead and central London. During off-peak times, there will be four trains per hour (one every 15 minutes).
Customers will also be able to use the Elizabeth line seven days a week as Sunday services commence for the first time from November 6.
The final Crossrail timetable will see 24 trains per hour during the peak between Paddington and Whitechapel and is on track to be in place by May 2023, TfL said.
The full line – which will eventually stretch from Reading in the west to Shenfield in Essex – is also not expected to open until May next year.
The £18.9billion project has been hit with a series of major setbacks and was meant to be complete back in 2018. There have also been reports of the scheme suffering funding shortfalls as costs spiralled.
Much of Maidenhead’s regeneration has been built on the promise of Crossrail’s arrival, with thousands of new flats and infrastructure either complete or planned across the town.
Cllr Johnson said that while the four-year delay was not ideal, he was looking forward to the town now being ‘on the map’ as it goes through its extensive period of change.
“It is fantastic news for Maidenhead, we have been waiting a long time for this,” said the council leader.
“We can really utilise the full benefit of having the Elizabeth line – you can jump on a train at Maidenhead and go right into the heart of London without the process of changing at Paddington. “It has benefits for our existing residents but on the reverse side, hopefully it makes Maidenhead a far more attractive destination for businesses.
“We do not want to rest on our laurels – I am determined to make sure that when people think about the ideal place to relocate their businesses, they think Maidenhead
“We are connected to the global city that is London – it really puts us on the map.”
Andy Byford, London’s transport commissioner, added: “I am excited to see the Elizabeth line unlock quicker and better journey options, greater accessibility, and further connectivity to jobs and leisure for even more people.
"This will be another giant leap for London’s public transport system, which supports economic growth in the capital and right across the country.”
A total of nine new stations have been created in central London for the Elizabeth line, while a number of stations in Berkshire and South Bucks – including Taplow – have been refurbished with purple TfL branding.
Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps MP, said: “From November, even more passengers will be able to benefit from this fantastic line with the introduction of Sunday services, direct journeys to Berkshire and Essex and a brand new station at Bond Street.”
Great Western Railway, which also runs services at Maidenhead, said the announcement was ‘incredibly exciting’ and will deliver ‘even greater connectivity’ for passengers.