Her Majesty visited Paddington Station on Tuesday morning to mark the completion of the £ 20 billion rail link, which will change the journey through London.
London Transport Commissioner Andy Byford then told Standard: “She was amazed. She looked around. She told me, “It looks spectacular.” She was really impressed. “
The 96-year-old monarch, who now rarely fulfills public engagements outside his royal residences, has joined his youngest son, the Earl of Wessex, for an official visit.
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Dressed in sunny yellow, the queen arrived at 11:32 a.m., stepping carefully out of the clear elevator while holding a cane.
She left about 10 minutes later after unveiling a plaque that read, “Elizabeth’s Line. Officially inaugurated by Her Majesty the Queen on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 during the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen.
The Queen received a commemorative map of Elizabeth’s Oyster line, but remained in the hall and did not travel on the new trains.
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: “In happy development, Her Majesty the Queen is attending today’s event to mark the completion of the Elizabeth Line.
“Her Majesty was aware of the engagement and the organizers were informed of the possibility of her attending.
Earlier, Boris Johnson said: “I am sure we all agree that in this unique jubilee year, there is no figure more worthy of the honor of bearing this wonderful new line in their name.
Passenger services should start on the line next Tuesday.
PA
The 96-year-old queen “reluctantly” decided not to attend the state opening of parliament last Tuesday after consulting with doctors, Buckingham Palace explained, as “she continues to experience episodic mobility problems”.
She went to the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Friday and met on Tuesday with some of the employees who built the Elizabeth Line, known during construction as the Crossrail. Mr Johnson hailed the line as a “huge new artery” to pump more life through London.
The prime minister added that it was a “great feat” for engineering to “carve out the future” for the capital as it moved away from the Covid-19 pandemic to usher in a new era.
But he also stressed that it would benefit the UK’s wider economy by boosting growth and investment. As London’s public transport network expands, Mr Johnson added: “This huge circulatory system. Bringing life to the extremities of the city and allowing the heart to expand and contract every day as millions head to the center and then back home. It is always under pressure … But today there is a huge new artery. Elizabeth’s line shows the world that when we put our minds to it, when we put our shoulders behind the wheel, we can still achieve great feats in this country.
“We can do great things. We can carve the future out of the rock itself. “
As the government insists on leveling off, he added: “Not only London and the south-east will benefit, but the whole of the United Kingdom, because better transport means a growing economy.
The Tube map has already been redrawn, and the new link is shown as a white line with a purple border. It is not technically part of the London Underground, but there will be exchanges with the Underground or DLR at nine of the 10 new stations.
Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “The opening of the Elizabeth Line, with nearly 70 percent of the total funding paid by London, is a landmark for our capital and our country, especially in this special platinum anniversary year.
“The Elizabeth line has been the most significant addition to our transport network for decades, and this new line will revolutionize travel in the capital and the Southeast and bring economic benefits to the entire country. There is only one week left until our new world-class railway will be open to passengers, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience it. “
The royal event on Tuesday comes more than three and a half years after the Queen was originally scheduled to open Crossrail, on December 9, 2018. She was named the Elizabeth Line in her honor in February 2016 when she visited Bond Street Station.
The royal party today met with Crossrail workers and apprentices, drivers and station employees who will run the Elizabeth Line. The Earl of Wessex “touched” on his way to the platforms using a commemorative map of Elizabeth of the Oyster line.
The train headed east with two stops to Tottenham Court Road in just five minutes. The VIP group, which includes the prime minister, the mayor, transport minister Grant Shaps and Mr Byford, changed trains to return to Paddington.
Mr Byford said: “Everyone at TfL is committed to ensuring that this new railroad serves as a tribute [to the Queen] and by creating faster travel, new jobs and economic growth, it will become a vital part of London’s recovery. “
Crossrail has been delayed due to construction problems – the Bond Street station is not yet complete and trains will not stop there until later this year – and difficulties in integrating train software with the digital signaling system. The cost of the project has increased by £ 4 billion to £ 20 billion.
The new central section, which runs in double tunnels between Paddington and Abbey Wood, will initially operate separately from its western and eastern branches, with passengers switching to Liverpool Street or Paddington.
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