The Elizabeth line will open today, subject to safety approvals. It will stretch more than 100km from Reading and Heathrow in the west through central tunnels across to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.
The new railway built by Crossrail Ltd will stop at 41 accessible stations - 10 of them new - and is expected to serve around 200 million people each year.
The new, high-capacity trains have:
- Seven or nine fully interconnected, walk-through carriages. The shorter trains will all be converted to nine carriages
- More standing room with a mixture of seating types
- Air-conditioning
- CCTV
- Information on next stops for customers
- Four dedicated wheelchair spaces as well as separate multi-use spaces which can also be used for buggies, luggage and bicycles
Three sets of double doors along each carriage make it quicker and easier for customers to get on and off the train. Intelligent lighting and temperature control on the driver-operated trains help to regenerate electricity back into the supply when braking and use up to 30% less energy.
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