Transport for London’s much anticipated new Elizabeth Line is finally set to open doors to passengers on 24 May.
The new line, known as Crossrail during development, will open its route between Paddington and Abbey Wood in south east London – although it will not call at its Bond Street stop to start with.
Crossrail’s opening comes following numerous delays, having originally scheduled to open in 2018.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “I’m delighted that our world-class new Elizabeth Line will be opening to passengers later this month, helping build a better London – one which is safer, fairer, greener and more prosperous city for all Londoners.
“Green public transport is the future and the opening of the Elizabeth Line is a landmark moment for our capital and our whole country, particularly in this special Platinum Jubilee year.
“I’m so proud of this new line and can’t wait for millions of passengers to start riding on the Elizabeth Line from 24 May.”
The Elizabeth Line is set to operate 12 trains per hour Monday to Saturday between 6.30am and 11pm.
The route will operate trains every five minutes and is expected to considerably slash journey times across central London.
The entire Crossrail network will not be complete until next year, however, with the next phase of opening expected in autumn.
When finished, the line will stretch from Reading in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east – along with a link to Heathrow Airport.
Andy Byford, Transport for London’s commissioner, said: “I am delighted that we can now announce a date for the opening of the Elizabeth Line in May.
“The opening day is set to be a truly historic moment for the capital and the UK, and we look forward to showcasing a simply stunning addition to our network.”
Crossrail began construction in 2009, and during construction its budget ballooned from £14.8bn by a further £4bn.
Find out more about the Elizabeth Line here.
Featured image: Crossrail
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