Tuesday 24 May 2022 01:19 PM Crossrail: On board the first Elizabeth line train from Paddington to Abbey Wood trends now

It's been delayed by four years, cost £4billion more than planned and faced numerous setbacks that had left many Londoners wondering whether it would ever run at all.

But the cheers that erupted as the gates opened at Paddington today for the hundreds of passengers eager to travel on the first Elizabeth line service suggested few were worried about what had led to this point.

In fact, they had little time to ponder the many construction difficulties and complications installing signalling systems that have hindered the Crossrail project and seen the budget balloon to £18.9billion.

The journey time to Abbey Wood took just 29 minutes, with many of those on board the 6.33am service being rail enthusiasts who had been gathering outside Paddington from the early hours of this morning.

These included people who had been queuing since midnight, one man who had flown in from Canada and hundreds of Britons who wanted to be a part of railway history at the station dating back to the 1850s. 

The delayed line has boosted capacity and significantly cut journey times for east-west travel across London, with another first train also running in the opposite direction from Abbey Wood to Paddington at 6.30am.

But the line – which stretches from Reading in Berkshire and London Heathrow Airport to Abbey Wood and Shenfield in Essex – is initially running in three separate sections, which are set to be integrated in the autumn.

By next May, Transport for London hopes to have the service running in full. For now, it will initially be closed on Sundays - apart from during the Platinum Jubilee weekend - to allow for further testing and software updates.

Crossrail was due to be completed in December 2018 and was set a budget of £14.8 billion in 2010. But the final total cost has been estimated at £18.9billion, including £5.1billion from the Government.

The line is named in honour of the Queen, who visited Paddington last Tuesday to celebrate the completion of Crossrail. Here is MailOnline's diary from on board the 6.33am service from Paddington to Abbey Wood:

PADDINGTON, 6.33am 

MailOnline arrived at Paddington for around 5.30am today, with around 200 people already gathered behind a barrier in the rain as excitement mounted ahead of the first Elizabeth line train to Abbey Wood at 6.33am.

Transport for London commissioner Andy Byford greeted the crowds but also urged them to avoid running when the gates opened. He also gave a young boy an Elizabeth line mug and posed for pictures with those waiting.

People had been queuing from as early as midnight, with many paying homage to the colour of the line with purple-dyed hear, purple hoodies and face masks in the style of the Elizabeth line seat moquette.

There was a hubbub in the air with lots of excited chatter as rail enthusiasts - including one who had flown in from Canada yesterday - spoke to the media and posed for pictures, ahead of the opening of the gates at 6.20am.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan arrived to greet the crowds shortly after 6am, and spoke to those at the front of the queue. He also fist bumped a child who was among those ready to be first on board.

Mr Khan then spoke to three Chelsea Pensioners who joked that he looked much shorter than they had thought in real life. Six police officers monitored the scene along with a throng of station staff. 

Mr Byford - who admitted that he could not sleep last night ahead of the opening - said a successful start would be a 'normal day of service' and that he hoped passengers would be 'amazed' by the journey.

Vernon Kerswell, 33, a drone designer from Wimbledon, South West London, was the first person to arrive for the opening at midnight. He told MailOnline: 'I was the first person here. It is a big celebration.

'I knew there would be a crowd but I did think they would get here a bit later than me. I got a feeling there would be a lot of people here so I wanted to get here early. I had a chair and a water ski suit to get warm and kept entertained with Twitter.

'I didn't get much sleep at all but did nod off a bit. I think it is a great transit system for the modern day. It is frustrating that it took so long but it is not an easy project, it runs on complex terrain.'

Reece Martin, 25, a transport YouTuber from Toronto in Canada arrived yesterday in London to be able to see the line open. He said: ''The Elizabeth line is a very powerful and impressive project. It could be transformational.

'It is disappointing that it was late but that is part of the course for a complex project. It will really help commenters, you can cross the city at speeds you just weren't able to before. I have been to London five or six times before and I am a big fan of the city.'

Receptionist Paul Jubb, 64, stayed at the Hilton hotel just metres away from the new Elizabeth line platform last night after coming down from Birmingham to visit. He said: 'I set my alarm for 5.15am but I hardly slept all night. I was so excited I even left my phone at the hotel and had to go back for it. 

'I may not have slept well but I am still half awake to be on the 6.33am to Abbey Road which will be quite something. To be here for the first time riding a line which was opened by the Queen is really exciting. 

'This is certainly more than a Tube journey. The line really decreases journey times and will really help commuters and the tourism industry by being linked to Heathrow.'

There were cheers as passengers were allowed through the ticket barriers to the new 682ft (208m) underground platforms at what is the latest addition to Isambard Kingdom Brunel's world-famous station built 168 years ago.

They touched in with Oyster and contactless cards through two surface-level entrances before walking down into the gigantic new station directly below Eastbourne Terrace and Departures Road, which spans three levels.

More than 500 people appeared to be gathered when the gates were opened at 6.20am, with a member of staff urging people 'please don't run'. Some of those at the front of the queue had been waiting for up to six hours.

They rushed through into the station so they could get onto the first train at 6.33am. Station staff initially only partially opened the gates to manage the crowd as they walked through before going down the escalators.

Once on the platform, people were urged to spread out by Transport for London employees. One member of staff acknowledged: 'I know we all want to be at the front.' 

And as the 6.33am service to Abbey Wood pulled in, the announcer said: 'The train is your first Elizabeth line service from Paddington to Abbey Wood.'

The station, which has undergone its biggest transformation since opening in 1854, features a 295ft (90m) clear opening covered by a steel and glass canopy which let in plenty of natural light in the bright spring morning.

Passengers also walked past a 393ft (120m) long canopy of art by US artist Spencer Finch which is said to create a picture of the sky appearing to change according to the light, the direction of the sun and the time of day.

Some had arrived by train on one of the early services from West London which stretch out to Reading and Heathrow Airport on what was previously known as 'TfL Rail' but has now been rebranded the 'Elizabeth line'.

Others had come in on one of the first Underground services of the day, with the new Crossrail station providing direct access to the Bakerloo line as well as changes to the Circle, Direct or Hammersmith & City lines. 

By the time the full Crossrail timetable is implemented and the network is full joined up in May 2023, there are expected to be 34 trains per hour going through Paddington - including

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