The Leader

Crossrail opens: behind the scenes

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Episode notes

It was a huge day for improving the ease of travelling through London as the first passenger section of the Elizabeth Line, AKA Crossrail, opened for business.

While it wasn’t all plain railing - a fire alert sparked the evacuation of Paddington station - there were plenty of enthusiasts from London and beyond eager to try out the £20 billion purple line.

By 10am, 130,000 journeys had been clocked and the Standard was there from the very early start.

And what about those future fares?

Hear expert analysis, the thoughts of passengers travelling on the purple line for the first time on the open stretch from Paddington to Abbey Wood, and make sure you stay tuned until the end to hear Mayor Sadiq Khan discuss the project’s handover from previous City Hall incumbent Boris Johnson.

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