Progress over the last three months was summarised as:
- Multi-train testing commenced in June
- A team of train and signalling testers was established from Bombardier, Siemens and Crossrail
- Testing and commissioning is underway at all central section stations, except Bond Street where fit-out continues
- Overall, fit-out is nearly complete and Crossrail will begin to hand over the completed shafts and portals
- Network Rail has awarded contracts for the remaining ticket hall improvements at Southall, Hayes & Harlington, West Drayton, Ealing Broadway, West Ealing and Acton Main Line stations.
A spokesperson for Crossrail said, “By the end of this year, final fit-out and testing and commissioning are due to be completed at many stations and [testing] will be in its final stages. The trial running phase will commence in the first quarter of 2020.
Crossrail has identified a six-month window between October 2020 and March 2021 for the delivery of the central section and this remains unchanged. Following the central section opening, full services across the Elizabeth line from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east, will commence as soon as possible. Crossrail will be able to provide increasing certainty about when the Elizabeth line will open once we start to fully test the operational railway and integrate the train and signalling software.”
