Crossrail, London’s new train line, is almost finished
But will the commuters come?
THE NEW Elizabeth Line section at Whitechapel station is austerely beautiful. Descend the escalator and sharp angles meld into sinuous curves; move towards the platform and the light shifts from cool to warm, the better to entice commuters speedily towards their trains. A sleek new one hisses to a halt—and its doors fail to line up with those separating the platform from the rails. Construction started in 2009 and should have finished in 2018, but completion is now expected only in 2023. With each delay the price tag has risen, from an estimated £14.8bn ($23bn at the time) to £18.9bn.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Light at the end of the tunnel”
Britain August 28th 2021
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