Central and South East Stations

Ten new stations have been built in central and southeast London and the Docklands. It was critical that Crossrail got the design right as the new stations have been designed to last for the next century.

The Elizabeth line has the capacity for 200 million passenger journeys each year so the new stations need to cope with large numbers of passengers, be easy to navigate, accessible for everyone and able to endure wear and tear. To create this transport legacy for London it is essential to ensure every fixture and component is fit for purpose, cost-effective and built to last.

The work across these stations is on a scale not seen since the Jubilee Line Extension opened in 1999.

Paddington

Paddington station has undergone the most significant transformation since the completion of the original building in 1854. A busy terminus for local, regional and international passengers, the new station will increase capacity at this major interchange.

Built to the south of Brunel’s iconic 19th Century station, directly below Eastbourne Terrace and Departures Road, the new station spans three levels, with two surface-level entrances into the station via a new pedestrianised public realm.

A 90 metre clear opening - a unique feature for urban underground station design – is covered by a dramatic steel and glass canopy eight metres above Departures Road that lets natural light flood down to the station. The open void allows natural air to circulate through the station.

When the full route opens, passengers will be able to catch Elizabeth line services from Paddington to Heathrow and Reading in the west and Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east.

Step-free access from street to train

Bond Street

Work is ongoing at Bond Street Elizabeth line station, which means that it will not open with the other stations on 24 May. The station continues to make good progress and the team at Bond Street are working hard to open the station to customers later this year.

The station will help improve accessibility and increase capacity at one of the busiest shopping districts in the UK to accommodate over 225,000 people using the Jubilee, Central and Elizabeth lines daily.

Two brand new ticket halls at street level – one at Davies Street, the other at Hanover Square - flooded with natural light, lead passengers to the platforms.

Entrances bordered by colonnades – red sandstone and bronze for Davies Street, pale Portland stone for Hanover Square – blur the line between interior and exterior spaces creating a great sense of openness and civic presence, a feature which is further reinforced by the high ceilings at each location.

When the full route opens, an Elizabeth line service every two and a half minutes at peak time will allow passengers to travel all the way through to Paddington, Heathrow or Reading in the west and Shenfield or Abbey Wood in the east.

Step-free access from street to train

Tottenham Court Road

Located in the heart of the West End, Tottenham Court Road has undergone a major transformation. The Crossrail project is delivering a new station with a new ticket hall at Dean Street in Soho and a second integrated ticket hall below St Giles Circus on Oxford Street.

When the Elizabeth line opens Tottenham Court Road will be one of London’s busiest stations, offering an interchange between the Northern, Central and Elizabeth line services with a capacity of 170,000 passengers in the Elizabeth line station every day.

The new station at Tottenham Court Road stretches from a new plaza in front of Centrepoint westwards to Dean Street, running directly below Soho Square. Above ground, a protected conservation area, heritage-listed buildings, bustling retail, businesses and a new theatre frame the local station context.

When the full route opens, an Elizabeth line service every two and a half minutes at peak time will allow passengers to travel all the way through to Paddington, Heathrow or Reading in the west and Shenfield or Abbey Wood in the east.

Step-free access from street to train

Farringdon

When the Elizabeth line opens, Farringdon station will be one of the busiest in the UK, connecting with Thameslink and the London Underground to provide links with outer London, the home counties, the City, Canary Wharf and three of London’s five airports.

Liverpool Street

A number of physical constraints below ground at Liverpool Street made the station one of the trickiest to thread into the urban fabric, including a maze of sewers, existing Tube lines and the Post Office Railway. In addition, layers of the city’s history had to be revealed before much of the work could get underway, which in total uncovered nearly 4,000 skeletons from the Bedlam burial site as well as thousands of artefacts dating back to Roman times.

Stretching from Moorgate in the west to Broadgate in the east, the Elizabeth line ticket halls are connected by two mined platforms. Fully accessible ticket halls provide direct interchange with the Northern, Central, Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines, as well as National Rail services to Stansted and Southend airports.

When the full route opens, an Elizabeth line service every two and a half minutes at peak time will allow passengers to travel all the way through to Paddington, Heathrow or Reading in the west and Shenfield or Abbey Wood in the east.

Step-free access from street to train

Whitechapel

Located in a rich and culturally diverse area, Whitechapel station is an important interchange for both the Hammersmith & City and District lines and London Overground. The design approach will see the new Elizabeth line station weave between the existing transport services to an elevated station concourse which acts as a bridge improving community links.

Access to all interchange services is from a spacious new ticket hall sitting on a bridge above the Victorian railway. Entry to the station is through the refurbished original entrance on Whitechapel Road. To improve connectivity to the surrounding area a new second entrance has been provided at the northern end of the station.

When the full route opens, an Elizabeth line service every two and a half minutes at peak time will allow passengers to travel all the way through to Paddington, Heathrow or Reading in the west and Shenfield or Abbey Wood in the east.

Step-free access from street to train

Canary Wharf

Sitting below a five storey mixed-use development known as Crossrail Place, the new Canary Wharf station helps connect this key business district to the City of London, the West End and Heathrow. At the same time, it acts as a bridge between two communities - Canary Wharf Estate and Poplar to the north.

The 250 metre-long station box is surrounded by the water of West India Quay dock. Designing a station to be built 18 metres below water level presented significant design challenges but has resulted in optimum access to and through the Canary Wharf Estate while retaining a navigable channel for boats within the dock.

When the full route opens, an Elizabeth line service every five minutes at peak time will allow passengers to travel all the way through to Paddington, Heathrow or Reading in the west and Abbey Wood in the east.

Step-free access from street to train

Custom House

The site of the new Elizabeth line station at Custom House, constrained by the existing DLR line and power cables passing overhead, residential properties to the north and ExCel London to the south, required a unique solution.

It was crucial that the station integrated well within the existing infrastructure and wider urban surroundings. To achieve this, a freestanding building with an elevated concourse above it was designed using thousands of pre-cast concrete segments.

When the full route opens, an Elizabeth line service every five minutes at peak time will allow passengers to travel all the way through to Paddington, Heathrow or Reading in the west and Abbey Wood in the east.

Step-free access from street to train

Woolwich

The historic site of the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich was once a walled off private world that saw the manufacture of guns and explosives, munitions testing, a military academy and the production of medals and other civilian goods.

Today, the new station is a key part of a new masterplan on the Royal Arsenal site which includes 3,750 new homes and new cultural, heritage, commercial and leisure quarters. The new Elizabeth line station will help to transform Woolwich, supporting regeneration, reducing journey times and creating new transport links for local people.

When the full route opens, an Elizabeth line service every five minutes at peak time will allow passengers to travel all the way through to Paddington, Heathrow or Reading in the west and Abbey Wood in the east.

Step-free access from street to train

Abbey Wood

The new station building at Abbey Wood has opened to passengers. Delivered by Network Rail as part of the Crossrail project, the opening of the striking station building and concourse, marks the start of the transformation of transport links for Abbey Wood which will be served by existing Southeastern rail services and the Elizabeth line when the route opens.

Key to the design of the new station is its integration with the elevated flyover, Harrow Manorway, and made it much easier for local people to get from one side of the railway to the other. The new station building has been built over the railway where the two new Elizabeth line tracks terminate and the existing Southeastern lines continue on through.

When the full route opens, an Elizabeth line service every five minutes at peak time will allow passengers to catch one train right through central London to Paddington, Heathrow or Reading in the west.

Step-free access from street to train

Western Section

The western section of the Elizabeth line route will run on the existing rail network from Paddington to Heathrow and Reading.

A number of major upgrades have been carried out by Network Rail on this section of the route in preparation for the arrival of Elizabeth line services. The Crossrail project is providing new trains, better stations and easier, more reliable journeys for passengers in west London, South Bucks and Berkshire.

Reading

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Reading station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

When the full route opens, four Elizabeth line trains an hour (six an hour at peak times) will allow passengers to travel right through central London without having to change trains. Two Elizabeth line trains an hour (four an hour at peak times) will run between Maidenhead and Reading.

Fast services currently operated by Great Western Railway will be unaffected by the introduction of Elizabeth line services.

Step-free access from street to platform

Twyford

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Twyford station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

When the full route opens, two Elizabeth line trains an hour (four an hour at peak times) will allow passengrs to travel right through central London without having to change trains.

Due to the platform length at Twyford, not all doors on 9-carriage, full-length Elizabeth line trains will open. Audio and visual information as to which carriages you can alight from will be available on the train.

Step-free access from street to platform

Maidenhead

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Maidenhead station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

When the full route opens, four Elizabeth line trains an hour (six an hour at peak times) will allow passengers to travel right through central London without having to change trains. Two Elizabeth line trains an hour (four an hour at peak times) will run between Maidenhead and Reading.

Fast services currently operated by Great Western Railway will be unaffected by the introduction of Elizabeth line services.

Due to the platform length at Maidenhead, not all doors on 9-carriage, full-length Elizabeth line trains will open. Audio and visual information as to which carriages you can alight from will be available on the train.

Step-free access from street to platform

Taplow

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Taplow station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

When the full route opens, up to four Elizabeth line trains an hour in each direction will serve Taplow station, allowing passengers to travel right through central London without having to change trains.

Due to the platform length at Taplow, not all doors on 9-carriage, full-length Elizabeth line trains will open. Audio and visual information as to which carriages you can alight from will be available on the train.

Step-free access from street to platform

Burnham

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Burnham station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

When the full route opens, up to four Elizabeth line trains an hour in each direction will serve Burnham, allowing passengers to travel right through central London without having to change trains.

Due to the platform length at Burnham, not all doors on 9-carriage, full-length Elizabeth line trains will open. Audio and visual information as to which carriages you can alight from will be available on the train.

Step-free access from street to platform

Slough

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Slough station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

When the full route opens, four Elizabeth line trains an hour in each direction will serve Slough station, allowing passengers to travel right through central London without having to change trains. An additional two Elizabeth line trains an hour will call at Slough station at peak times.

Step-free access from street to platform

Langley

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Langley station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

When the full route opens, up to four Elizabeth line trains an hour in each direction will serve Langley station, allowing passengers to travel right through central London without having to change trains.

Due to the platform length at Langley, not all doors on 9-carriage, full-length Elizabeth line trains will open. Audio and visual information as to which carriages you can alight from will be available on the train.

Step-free access from street to platform

Iver

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Iver station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

When the full route opens, up to four Elizabeth line trains an hour in each direction will serve Iver station, allowing passengers to travel right through central London without having to change trains.

Due to the platform length at Iver, not all doors on 9-carriage, full-length Elizabeth line trains will open. Audio and visual information as to which carriages you can alight from will be available on the train.

Step-free access from street to platform

West Drayton

West Drayton station has benefitted from major improvements in preparation for the new Elizabeth line services including a new glass and steel extension which provides an additional entrance as well as a covered walkway between the existing building and a new footbridge.

When the full route opens, up to six Elizabeth line services an hour will serve West Drayton station, allowing passengers to travel right through central London without having to change trains.

Step-free access from street to platform

Hayes & Harlington

Passengers travelling from Hayes & Harlington station can now benefit from major improvements in preparation for the new Elizabeth line services including a redeveloped station entrance and façade, and a new, bright, spacious ticket hall providing a more welcoming environment for passengers.

TfL Rail provides stopping services from Paddington to Heathrow Airport (Terminals 2&3 and Terminal 4 stations) via Hayes & Harlington.

Services from Paddington to Heathrow run every 30 minutes, with a journey time of about 35 minutes. Free shuttle services run from Terminals 2&3 to Terminal 5 with a journey time of 6 minutes.

When the full route opens, up to ten Elizabeth line services an hour will allow passengers from Hayes & Harlington to travel to Reading or Heathrow in the west or through the central London tunnels to Essex and southeast London.

Due to the platform length at Hayes & Harlington, not all doors on 9-carriage, full-length Elizabeth line trains will open. Audio and visual information as to which carriages you can alight from will be available on the train.

Step-free access from street to platform

Southall

Southall station now benefits from major improvements in preparation for the new Elizabeth line services including a redeveloped glass and steel station entrance and façade, and a new, bright, spacious ticket hall which provides a more welcoming environment for passengers and a new forecourt that reduces congestion at the entrance to the station.

When the full route opens, up to ten Elizabeth line services an hour in each direction will serve Southall, making it quicker and easier to get to destinations across London, South Bucks and Berkshire.

Step-free access from street to platform

Hanwell

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Hanwell station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

When the full route opens, four Elizabeth line trains an hour will allow passengers to travel to Heathrow or through the central London tunnels to Southeast London and Essex.

Due to the platform length at Hanwell, not all doors on 9-carriage, full-length Elizabeth line trains will open. Audio and visual information as to which carriages you can alight from will be available on the train.

Step-free access from street to platform

West Ealing

West Ealing station has benefitted from major improvements in preparation for the new Elizabeth line services including a new station entrance and façade, and a new, bright, spacious ticket hall constructed as part of the overhaul of the station. The glass and steel structure lets in natural light and is surrounded by a large canopy.

When the full route opens, four Elizabeth line services an hour will allow passengers from West Ealing to travel through the central London tunnels or west towards Heathrow, South Bucks or Berkshire.

Step-free access from street to platform

Ealing Broadway

Major improvements have been delivered at Ealing Broadway station in preparation for Elizabeth line services. The new station has a long, curved canopy running the length of the forecourt, the dated façade has been replaced with a new glass structure and a new entrance twice the size of the previous one gives the building a much larger, brighter feel.

When the full route opens, up to twelve Elizabeth line services an hour in each direction will serve Ealing Broadway, making it quicker and easier to get to destinations across London, South Bucks and Berkshire.

Step-free access from street to platform

Acton Main Line

Acton Main Line station benefits from major improvements in preparation for the new Elizabeth line services including step-free access, a bright, spacious ticket hall which provides a more welcoming environment for passengers and a range of other upgrades.

When the full route opens, four Elizabeth line services an hour in each direction will serve Acton Main Line, making it quicker and easier to get to destinations across London, South Bucks and Berkshire.

Step-free access from street to platform

Heathrow Airport

The new Elizabeth line services will significantly improve links between Heathrow and a number of central London destinations, including the West End, the City and Canary Wharf.

TfL Rail provides stopping services from Paddington to Heathrow Airport (Terminals 2&3 and Terminal 4 stations) via Hayes & Harlington. The Heathrow Express will continue to provide a non-stop service between Heathrow and Paddington.

Services from Paddington to Heathrow run every 30 minutes, with a journey time of about 35 minutes. Free shuttle services run from Terminals 2&3 to Terminal 5 with a journey time of 6 minutes.

When the full route opens, the Elizabeth line will provide a direct link between the airport and central London destinations including Bond Street, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf.

A total of six Elizabeth line trains per hour will serve Heathrow Terminals. Four will go to Terminals 2, 3 and 4 and two will go to Terminals 2, 3 and 5. This will also increase services to Ealing Broadway, Southall and Hayes & Harlington.

Step-free access from street to train

Eastern Stations

The eastern section of the Elizabeth line route runs on the existing rail network between Stratford and Shenfield in Essex.

A number of major upgrades are being carried out by Network Rail on this section of the route in preparation for Elizabeth line services. The Crossrail project will provide new trains, better stations and quicker, easier, more reliable journeys for passengers in east London and Essex.

When the Elizabeth line is fully open passengers will be able to travel through to central London without having to change trains, however, from the railway’s launch in May 2022 until the autumn of 2022 you will need to change at Liverpool Street for Elizabeth line stations between Paddington and Abbey Wood.

At peak times 12 Elizabeth line trains an hour will run between Shenfield and central London, calling at all stations. Outside peak times this will reduce to 10 trains an hour. At peak time, an additional four trains an hour will run between Gidea Park and Liverpool Street mainline station.

Stratford

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Stratford station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

Since May 2015, TfL has been operating the stopping services from Stratford station. Class 345 trains purpose-built for the Elizabeth line are in use between Shenfield and Liverpool Street.

At peak times 12 Elizabeth line services an hour will run between Shenfield and central London, calling at all stations. An additional two services an hour will run between Gidea Park and Liverpool Street mainline station at peak times.

Step-free access from street to platform

Maryland

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Maryland station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

Since May 2015, TfL has been operating the stopping services from Maryland station. Class 345 trains purpose-built for the Elizabeth line are in use between Shenfield and Liverpool Street.

At peak times 12 Elizabeth line services an hour will run between Shenfield and central London, calling at all stations. An additional two services an hour will run between Gidea Park and Liverpool Street mainline station at peak times.

Due to the platform length at Maryland, not all doors on 9-carriage, full-length Elizabeth line trains will open. Audio and visual information as to which carriages you can alight from will be available on the train.

Step-free access from street to platform

Forest Gate

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Forest Gate station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

Since May 2015, TfL has been operating the stopping services from Forest Gate station. Class 345 trains purpose-built for the Elizabeth line are in use between Shenfield and Liverpool Street.

At peak times 12 Elizabeth line services an hour will run between Shenfield and central London, calling at all stations. An additional two services an hour will run between Gidea Park and Liverpool Street mainline station at peak times.

Due to the platform length at Forest Gate, not all doors on 9-carriage, full-length Elizabeth line trains will open. Audio and visual information as to which carriages you can alight from will be available on the train.

Step-free access from street to platform

Manor Park

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Manor Park station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

Since May 2015, TfL has been operating the stopping services from Manor Park station. Class 345 trains purpose-built for the Elizabeth line are in use between Shenfield and Liverpool Street.

At peak times 12 Elizabeth line services an hour will run between Shenfield and central London, calling at all stations. An additional two services an hour will run between Gidea Park and Liverpool Street mainline station at peak times.

Due to the platform length at Manor Park, not all doors on 9-carriage, full-length Elizabeth line trains will open. Audio and visual information as to which carriages you can alight from will be available on the train.

Step-free access from street to platform

Ilford

Network Rail is currently rebuilding Ilford station, enhancing accessibility and making journeys easier for the thousands of passengers who use the station every day. In June 2021, an enhanced southern entrance opened which serves customers alighting from buses on Ilford hill as well as providing a route on to TfL Rail (and when open, the Elizabeth line) for residents of over 1000 new homes being planned on development sites to the south of the station.

Since May 2015, TfL has been operating the stopping services from Ilford station. Class 345 trains purpose-built for the Elizabeth line are in use between Shenfield and Liverpool Street.

At peak times 12 Elizabeth line services an hour will run between Shenfield and central London, calling at all stations. An additional two services an hour will run between Gidea Park and Liverpool Street mainline station at peak times.

Step-free access from street to platform

Seven Kings

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Seven Kings station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

Since May 2015, TfL has been operating the stopping services from Seven Kings station. Class 345 trains purpose-built for the Elizabeth line are in use between Shenfield and Liverpool Street.

At peak times 12 Elizabeth line services an hour will run between Shenfield and central London, calling at all stations. An additional two services an hour will run between Gidea Park and Liverpool Street mainline station at peak times.

Due to the platform length at Seven Kings, not all doors on 9-carriage, full-length Elizabeth line trains will open. Audio and visual information as to which carriages you can alight from will be available on the train.

Step-free access from street to platform

Goodmayes

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Goodmayes station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

Since May 2015, TfL has been operating the stopping services from Goodmayes station. Class 345 trains purpose-built for the Elizabeth line are in use between Shenfield and Liverpool Street.

At peak times 12 Elizabeth line services an hour will run between Shenfield and central London, calling at all stations. An additional two services an hour will run between Gidea Park and Liverpool Street mainline station at peak times.

Step-free access from street to platform

Chadwell Heath

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Chadwell Heath station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

Since May 2015, TfL has been operating the stopping services from Chadwell Heath station. Class 345 trains purpose-built for the Elizabeth line are in use between Shenfield and Liverpool Street.

At peak times 12 Elizabeth line services an hour will run between Shenfield and central London, calling at all stations. An additional two services an hour will run between Gidea Park and Liverpool Street mainline station at peak times.

Step-free access from street to platform

Romford

Romford station is currently being rebuilt, with significant improvements being made to benefit passengers for many years to come. These benefits include an upgraded ticket hall providing improved passenger circulation from the entrance to the platforms, an improved station façade, a new entrance onto The Battis walkway and new lifts providing step-free access to platforms 3, 4, and 5.

Since May 2015, TfL has been operating the stopping services from Romford station. Class 345 trains purpose-built for the Elizabeth line are in use between Shenfield and Liverpool Street.

At peak times 12 Elizabeth line services an hour will run between Shenfield and central London, calling at all stations. An additional two services an hour will run between Gidea Park and Liverpool Street mainline station at peak times.

Step-free access from street to platform

Gidea Park

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Gidea Park station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

Since May 2015, TfL has been operating the stopping services from Gidea Park station. Class 345 trains purpose-built for the Elizabeth line are in use between Shenfield and Liverpool Street.

At peak times 12 Elizabeth line services an hour will run between Shenfield and central London, calling at all stations. An additional two services an hour will run between Gidea Park and Liverpool Street mainline station at peak times.

Step-free access from street to platform

Harold Wood

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Harold Wood station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

Since May 2015, TfL has been operating the stopping services from Harold Wood station. Class 345 trains purpose-built for the Elizabeth line are in use between Shenfield and Liverpool Street.

At peak times 12 Elizabeth line services an hour will run between Shenfield and central London, calling at all stations.

Step-free access from street to platform

Brentwood

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Brentwood station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

Since May 2015, TfL has been operating the stopping services from Brentwood station. Class 345 trains purpose-built for the Elizabeth line are in use between Shenfield and Liverpool Street.

At peak times 12 Elizabeth line services an hour will run between Shenfield and central London, calling at all stations.

Step-free access from street to platform

Shenfield

Crossrail, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have worked together at Shenfield station to prepare for the start of Elizabeth line services.

Since May 2015, TfL has been operating the stopping services from Shenfield station. Class 345 trains purpose-built for the Elizabeth line are in use between Shenfield and Liverpool Street.

At peak times 12 Elizabeth line services an hour will run between Shenfield and central London, calling at all stations.

Step-free access from street to platform