Riding the Elizabeth Line

Chaplains Michele Ashton and John Roe are part of the chaplaincy team that looks after the new Crossrail links on the Elizabeth Line.

On 24 May 2022, the line was officially opened by the Queen, and Michele and John rode the trains to gain a sense of anticipation for the new transport link for people travelling across London. We asked John and Michele for some of their first impressions of the line as they travelled. John says, “The big day finally arrived: The opening of the Elizabeth Line, a new high-speed rail service from Paddington through Central London to Abbey Wood and Shenfield. “Michele and I joined tens of thousands of passengers at Paddington on that special day, to sample this latest addition to London’s public transport.” And they will be well served by Michele and John, along with fellow Railway Mission Chaplains Dylis George and John Robinson, as Railway Mission continues to build relationships with staff and provide pastoral care. Michele adds, “As we explored outside Liverpool Street station to find the entrance to the Elizabeth Line my excitement increased. We found a cavern

of an entrance unlike other stations giving a great sense of space which continued inside. “A big surprise was the unusual diagonal lift we tried out. These lifts were cheaper to install and should save on power compared to vertical lifts. The travelling experience was quite unique as it followed the path of the escalator.“ John continues, “It was a unique experience. Almost everyone was smiling, strangers talking to each other, sharing photos with each other and the helpful staff, resplendent in their new purple livery uniforms. There was an overwhelming sense of spaciousness on a huge scale. “Richard Fry, Elizabeth Line Station Manager proudly announced that the Shard Building (the highest building in London) would fit comfortably on its side on the platform. “From conversations with staff, it is clear that there is a sense of pride to be working on the Elizabeth Line.”