Source: Crossrail
The much-delayed Elizabeth railway line will open for business on 24 May 2022.
The Crossrail service was originally scheduled to open in December 2018 but has been beset by delays.
The line will initially operate as three separate services, with the western section running from Paddington to Reading via Heathrow, the middle section connecting Paddington to Abbey Wood south of the Thames while the eastern section will run from Liverpool Street to Shenfield.
The new underground section will start operating 12 trains an hour between Paddington and Abbey Wood from Monday to Saturday, between 6.30am and 11pm.
Outside of those hours engineering work will continue to allow a series of testing and software updates in preparation for more intensive services from the autumn, Transport for London (TfL) said.
Assuming it is ever completed, the full service, covering more than 60 miles, will eventually enable passengers to travel from Reading or Heathrow through central London to Shenfield or Abbey Wood without changing trains.
“We are using these final few weeks to continue to build up reliability on the railway and get the Elizabeth line ready to welcome customers. The opening day is set to be a truly historic moment for the capital and the UK, and we look forward to showcasing a simply stunning addition to our network,” claimed Andy Byford, TfL’s commissioner.