Introduction

Crossrail is a major programme to run new, direct rail services between Reading and all passenger terminals of Heathrow Airport at the western ends of the railway, through a new underground section beneath central London to Shenfield in Essex and Abbey Wood in south-east London at the eastern ends.

When complete, the railway will be around 118km long, with around 26 miles (42 kilometres) of new tunnels in the central section between Paddington and Canary Wharf, and at Woolwich. There are 10 new stations being built as part of the Crossrail programme, and a further 31 are being improved.

Once Crossrail is open, it will become part of TfL's rail and underground network, and will be known as the Elizabeth line.