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THE VOICE OF THE BOROUGH
Thursday, May 5, 2022
No. 362 90p
Crossrail date for Twyford announced IT’S BACK! MAY FAYRE RETURNS P2-5
By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@wokingham.today TRANSPORT for London has announced that the Elizabeth Line will open on Tuesday, May 24.
The service, previously branded Crossrail, will open for its first phase of operation after more than a decade of construction. The line will see the TfL rail services between Reading and Heathrow to Paddington overhauled with brand new trains and stations, and improved frequency and journey times. While the new trains will not feature toilets, they will be faster and more spacious, and contactless payment will be accepted across the new line. Elizabeth Line signage will be unveiled across the network in the run up to its opening, and updated tube and rail maps will be released later in the year. Initially, the service will operate as three separate railways, meaning those travelling from Reading will need to change at Paddington. Work to join the services will begin in autumn. Transport for London is hoping to lead commuters away from driving, and estimates it will add £42 billion to the UK economy. Andy Byford, Transport for London’s commissioner, said: “I am delighted that we can now announce a date for the opening of the Elizabeth line in May. “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.” The service will operate 12 trains an hour on parts of the line from 6.30am11pm, Mondays to Saturdays. Trains between Reading and London will continue to run on Sundays, despite much of the line closing for maintenance works. The Elizabeth line is the realisation of a number of similar plans which have been proposed since the Second World War. The first full scheme mwas submitted to Parliament in 1991, with follow-ups in 2001 and 2005.
WOODLEY’S GIFT TO REFUGEES P31 From left: Sarah Maslin, Charlotte Hibberdine, The Princess Royal, young rider Tyler Fairley on pony Falko, Alicia Randell and Ian Butterworth at Land’s End Equestrian Centre last week Picture: Suzanne Jones
EXPERT: Princess Royal visits equestrian centre … but why did she talk about chickens? • Find out on P11
TIME TO GET BEHIND ARC
Sculpture project seeks supporters to see vision become a reality
EXCLUSIVE
By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today ORGANISERS behind a new public sculpture for Wokingham are hoping the donations will come in more than just two by two. They’re hoping for thousands and thousands.
Earlier this year, Arts4Wokingham unveiled the winning commission for a new piece of art which will be installed at the Carnival Hub development. Called The Arc, it will be created
by Nicola Anthony, and is a metal text sculpture that will feature words relating to each of the 17 towns and parishes that comprise Wokingham borough, and follows on from a recent commission in the United States that was initiated by moviemaker Steven Spielberg – he unveiled her work at its launch. The arches will combine to offer a pathway into and out of the Carnival Hub, which will house leisure facilities including a swimming pool, a performance area, a gym, and a library. n Continued on page 2
THREE DAYS OF FUN AT SIREN P10
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