The stabling position for the train couldn’t be better - the buildings in the background used to be part of Derby’s once-extensive Locomotive Works; the whole site is steeped in history.
The train carried TfL Rail branding; however, this was changed when the Elizabeth line name became official, once through-running in the underground section commenced in May 2022.
The sleek profile of the new train contrasted sharply with the much older Mk I coaching stock that was coupled to it.
The number seen on the side (340110) revealed that this is train 345010, which comprises cars 340210, 340310, 340410 and 340510 as well.
Three generations of rolling stock design are captured in the picture below, as Reading-bound CrossCountry Class 220 ‘Voyager’ is seen on the platform prior to the arrival of the London service. Incidentally, although the 220s are another Bombardier product, they were not built in Derby, but in Bruges, Belgium.
Almost five years after the pictures above were taken, the underground section of the Elizabeth line (excluding the troublesome Bond Street station) opened on the 24th May 2022. Initially, all westbound services terminated at Paddington, and all eastbound services terminated at Abbey Wood, but through-running to Reading or Heathrow would not arrive until November of the same year, with full operations planned for 2023. My first glimpse of the new tunnel section occurred on Friday, 5th August 2022. My experience commenced at Moorgate (which straddles both this station and Liverpool St, and is, in fact, identified as the latter on the new line). Here I am, about to head down to the new area for the first time.
The passageway from the Northern line was eerily quiet.
The first signage began to appear around the corner. Perch seating is provided at regular intervals, allowing people to have a rest, as this passageway is rather lengthy,
The passageway opens out into this cavernous staircase.
The platforms are reached at the end of another passageway. On the Elizabeth line, platforms are identified with letters, rather than numbers.
Platform Edge Doors are provided at all of the subterranean stations, with departure information provided above each doorway. With the platforms at Bond Street having not opened when these pictures were taken, trains passed through without stopping.
The platform roundel shows the various interchanges, with the Northern line having an illuminated arrow to indicate the route that should be used; presumably, this is based on passenger levels, in an attempt to avoid overcrowding.
The platforms are 250 m (820 ft) in length; this is why there is access to these from both existing Moorgate and Liverpool Street stations.
A feature of the passageways are the totems that provide directional information, as well as illumination in the form of a (heavily heat-sinked) LED uplighter.
These escalators provide another access point between Moorgate and the Elizabeth line.
The totems continue well into the distance.
These screens extend the full length of the longer of the two sets of escalators.
Three shorter escalators provide the final connection.
The top of this escalator shaft is bathed in blue light, thanks to the panelling employed on the station frontage. The ceiling design here is intended to be a nod to pinstripe suits belonging to City of London office workers.
The Class 345 trains feature a mixture of longitudinal and transverse seating throughout.
Here I am sampling the latter type.
The line diagrams showed the three separate lines that comprised the Elizabeth line at the time, along with the fare zones marked faintly behind.
The platform roundels at Paddington double up as seating.
The ceiling lighting here carries a lily pad design; no doubt, the inspiration for this was the nearby Paddington branch of the Grand Union Canal.
The design of the station allows natural light right down to platform level.
The intermediate level between the mainline station and platform level is edged with brick walls, which provide an acoustic function.
An artwork based on clouds is applied to the glass ceiling.
P.E. Culverhouse’s impressive Arrivals Side Offices building, dating from the early 1930s, was renamed Tournament House in 1987.
Back on the Elizabeth line, this is the eastbound platform looking east.
The next four trains that are due to call at this platform are listed on the information screens.
Although there was plenty of seating space on the train that arrived, I decided to try using one of the straphangers, for variety.
The pillars at Canary Wharf station resemble the oval-shaped pillars employed at the nearby Canary Wharf Jubilee line station; the oval shape creating less impedance to passenger flow than traditional circular pillars would.
Canary Wharf station above ground, incorporating Crossrail Place, resembles a large ship - a reminder of the area’s former use as the West India Dock.
A Kuwait Airways aeroplane, departing London City Airport, passed overhead at the time.
The Billingsgate Fish Market is across the water, with an appropriately themed weather vane being installed on the roof.
