Crossrail to open in summer 2021 - two-and-a-half years later than first hoped

Ross Lydall @RossLydall10 January 2020

Crossrail will open in "summer 2021", according to a more optimistic forecast from the company today.

Services will run at first between Paddington and Abbey Wood under the West End - about two-and-a-half years later than first hoped.

Full services linking Reading and Heathrow with Shenfield and Abbey Wood without the need to change trains at Paddington or Liverpool Street will be running by May 2022, about six months ahead of the previous estimate.

Today's announcement from Crossrail is in line with a previous commitment to open the central section as soon as practicable in 2021. A precise opening date has not been made public.

Latest developments with Crossrail: August 2019 - In pictures

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Earlier this week Transport for London commissioner Mike Brown said he did not expect the central section to open until "autumn 2021", but this cautious approach related to when TfL could expect to benefit from fares from Crossrail services.

Today's announcement comes after the Crossrail board yesterday analysed the state of the new station fit-outs and received updates on the integration of the £1bn fleet of new trains and the software that controls the signalling.

Crossrail chief executive Mark Wild said: “Our latest assessment is that Elizabeth line services through central London will commence in summer 2021 but we are aiming to open the railway as soon as we can."

Crossrail Ltd

Crossrail was originally due to open in December 2018. It has soared in cost from £14.8bn to £18.25bn, with TfL also facing a huge loss in delayed fares income.

Today's announcement said trial running of trains is due to start in autumn this year, about six months behind schedule. Testing will take about nine to 12 months - enabling summer 2021 to be named as the likely opening date.

It was also confirmed today that Bond Street station will probably be complete when the line opens. Previously it had been feared the line would open with Bond Street unfinished.

Crossrail trains already run between Shenfield and Liverpool Street and between Reading and Paddington, under TfL Rail services. The ability of through-trains to run the length of the 73-mile line, to be renamed the Elizabeth line, is expected to be achieved by May 2022.

Mr Wild said: “I know that Londoners are deeply frustrated by the delays to the Elizabeth line and we are doing everything we can to get this railway finished and open.

"We continue to make good progress with the central section now reaching substantial completion and we are increasingly confident that Bond Street station will be ready to open with the rest of the railway.

"We have a comprehensive plan to complete the Elizabeth line and the milestones we must hit during 2020, including the testing of the signalling and train systems and safety assurance, but there are no shortcuts to delivery of this hugely complex railway.

"The key focus for everyone on the Crossrail project is commencing intensive testing of the Elizabeth line as soon as we can in 2020, to enable passenger service as early as possible in 2021.”

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