Crossrail - what's in it for you and me? Where will it be?

If you've been into central London in the last couple of years you might have noticed that Tottenham Court Road station at the west end of Oxford Street near Foyles bookshop and landmark Centrepoint skyscraper has been closed and cordoned off. Tottenham Court Road station is one of many which are being redeveloped.

Others include Farringdon.

I was excited to read that the new Elizabeth line will connect to places as far away and out of London as Reading. Not only that, journey times within London, for example from Tottenham Court Road to Heathrow airport will be quicker.

I was pleased to see one of the new stations has a floor to ceiling glass barrier, like the ones on some DLR (overhead light rail) platforms in East London. The ones in Singapore are wonderful. You know exactly where the train doors will be. You can form an orderly queue waiting on the platform behind the red lines either side of the doors.

The glass barriers also affect cleanliness, safety, and the on time trains. You cannot drop your phone, fall, push somebody onto the line, jump to commit suicide. So the trains are reliable. Less stress from delays and accidents. Good news all around.

I wish all the new stations were to be built like that. Unfortunately it appears that some are, some are not.

Several websites allow you to take a look at drawings of the new stations and the artworks.
http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/news-and-information-about-crossrail-events

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and editor.

Good News For World Travel Market - 2019 Crossrail Heathrow to ExCel

The new Crossrail line which is already being mentioned in local papers is scheduled to go from Heathrow via Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Paddington and Canary Wharf to Excel.

I've seen the building works cutting off Tottenham Court Road station at the end of Oxford Street.

I was trying to calculate times of travel.

I've also seen the building works Farringdon station, near to Comptoir Gasgon restaurant (see my review in a previous post and on TripAdvisor) and Barts Pathology Museum. What a pity the Crossrail line does not connect Heathrow to City Airport.

2019 - some of us will be retired or dead by then. At least if you have a five year travel plan, you can put visit London on your list for 2019. MeanwhileI am watching progress.

What will happen is good news. But must we wait until 2019? No. Some of it will be open earlier.

The Farringdon station underground is currently open. Out in the street you can see the wonderful old mainline building with its art deco facade still standing waiting, I hope, for renovation, all curves and parallel lines and faces. (Or is it art nouveau?) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_stations_that_are_listed_buildings

I do like the look of the new art work letting light from the ceiling or changing lights to it will change every day.

Go to the website:
http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/heathrow-funding-major-artwork-at-paddington-crossrail-station

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, speaker and author.