The Leader podcast: Crossrail opening date finally announced

The long-awaited £19 billion Elizabeth Line will start running through central London later this month.

Despite falling years behind schedule and going billions of pounds over budget, Transport for London says Crossrail will add 10 per cent capacity to the capital’s travel network.

But the newly-opened central section of the line will close on Sundays for several months to allow further testing and upgrades, except for the jubilee bank holiday weekend.

Construction of Crossrail began on May 15, 2009, when then Prime Minister Gordon Brown and then mayor Boris Johnson oversaw the start of piling work at Canary Wharf station.

To find out more about the significance of TfL’s announcement about the opening, we’re joined by the Evening Standard’s City Hall Editor, Ross Lydall.

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