London’s Crossrail to be called the Elizabeth Line

The £16bn Crossrail project will be known as the Elizabeth Line when it opens in 2018.

Stretching from Reading and Heathrow in the west across to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, the Elizabeth line will significantly increase the Capital’s rail capacity, carrying over half a million passengers per day. They’ll come with Wi-Fi, 4G connectivity and air conditioning as standard.

Gotta wonder how much that’s cost.

The queen plunged 28 metres on a lift to inspect works deep under the Bond Street station in the heart of London’s shopping district. “The opening of the Elizabeth line in 2018 will be a significant moment for London”.

She’s already got the Jubilee Line on the tube named after her, and now the Queen is set to lend her name to another of London’s public transport lines.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said today: “The Elizabeth Line will provide a lasting tribute to our longest serving monarch”.

United Kingdom transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin, who was also present at the event, highlighted the Queen’s long-standing association with United Kingdom transport, becoming the first reigning monarch to travel on the London Underground in 1969 when she opened the “Victoria” line – named after her great-great grandmother.

Her son Prince Charles inaugurated the Jubilee Line – named in recognition of the queen’s Silver Jubilee – in 1977.

Once fully operational, 24 new 656ft-long trains with nine walk-through air-conditioned carriages will run on the line.

The network will be opened in several phases, beginning with the Liverpool Street to Shenfield route in May next year.