The Elizabeth Line

[theplayingmantis]

Why is it so bad?

I've used it 4 times in total. Every time it has severe signaling issues that despite being ongoing are not mentioned on the status signs or when one board the train, maybe that's unique to CW. I have used it from CW into the City and central London only. i know this is a trifling sample, but friends and colleagues report similar issues and to rely on it to get to Heathrow is a massive gamble. And why in this day and age do drivers still say they cannot contact the signalers/control/no response - i assume that's just a line from their excuse playbook and not really the truth?

Last night i lost my table at a Soho cocktail lounge because of its crappiness and lack of warning of delays.

Given its should be brand spanking new with innovative high tech systems how can it be so bad.

Or is that the issue - its too advanced and gremlins never been use tested?


edit for spelling

Edited by theplayingmantis on Friday 19th September 14:07

[LastPoster]

I have used it from Paddington to TCR or Bank and back dozens of times. Never had an issue and it sure beats Bakerloo/Central (my route) before it existed.

It can get really busy in the mornings at Padd, trains that have run in from the west can be full by time they arrive, but every third or fourth one must have just been turned around (so to speak) as it will be empty so just a case of waiting a few mins

[Peterpetrole]

Can't immediately see the overall report but I recall it was ranked bottom in London for reliability recently. Just in relation to the rolling stock, built by Alstom, Derby:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/elizabet...

The Elizabeth line’s £1billion fleet of trains is well below average in terms of reliability, a detailed analysis of UK rolling stock has revealed.

The 70 nine-carriage trains were ranked 26th best out of 38 different types of trains in use across the country, with an average of 5,732 miles between developing faults.

[zbc]

Used it frequently to get from Maidenhead to Liverpool Street with no significant problems and at least even when it's an insignificant problem it's a lot more pleasant an environment than most of the alternatives

[Simpo Two]

theplayingmantis said:

Given its should be brand spanking new with innovative high tech systems how can it be so bad.

Or is that the issue - its too advanced and gremlins never been use tested?

Bingo. What we need is some Victorians and some coal. That worked.

[tog]

Never had an issue, handy and has always worked well for me. Has made getting into and across town from Paddington so much easier. I happened to need to use it on the day it opened to the public and thought it was amazing. It had only been open an hour and there were purple tabard-wearing guides everywhere.

[geeks]

Yeah perhaps confirmation bias but have never had issues with the Lizzie line when I have had to use it.

[theplayingmantis]

i think my sample size of 4 is more accurate than regular uses tbh. so i will go on believing its sh*t!

thanks all

[theplayingmantis]

Simpo Two said:

theplayingmantis said:

Given its should be brand spanking new with innovative high tech systems how can it be so bad.

Or is that the issue - its too advanced and gremlins never been use tested?

Bingo. What we need is some Victorians and some coal. That worked.

im like james may on that shunter in mauritania thinking about that. oh the golden age...

[Terminator X]

I go from Slough into London fairly regularly and I'd say it is 99% great. Not having to get off at Paddington is bliss.

Also seems to run when the tube strikes are on.

TX.

[LastPoster]

I ca't get the link upthread to open but I think the EL suffers from being expected to act like an London Underground service but being measured as a Heavy Rail service (which is what it is)

In another report I found it was the worst for cancellations (9%) and XC was next at 7%. The impact of an XC train being cancelled is massive, been there done that (wait an hour for another one, no chance of a seat when it gets to you). EL, wait 10 mins in most cases. I think it's possible they just cancel a service, rather than have multiple trains running late instead as due to the frequency, there is no way to catch up. On the underground, in the main if a service doesn't run, 15 mins later it's forgotten about.

[arfur]

I use it occasionally from Ealing Broadway to Canary Wharf return when I need to go to a particular office.

18 mins from EB to CW each way for sum total of about 8 quid return ... cannot knock it at all

Never had a problem (yet) !

[Chrisgr31]

I use it a couple of times a month either from West end to the City or West End to Paddington and it’s usually fairly reliable.

If there are signalling issues then drivers will have issues speaking to the signaller. There are a lot more drivers of trains out on the network than signallers. If it’s all gone wrong lots of drivers will be trying to contact the signaller at the same time.

[anyoldcardave]

LastPoster said:

I have used it from Paddington to TCR or Bank and back dozens of times. Never had an issue and it sure beats Bakerloo/Central (my route) before it existed.

It can get really busy in the mornings at Padd, trains that have run in from the west can be full by time they arrive, but every third or fourth one must have just been turned around (so to speak) as it will be empty so just a case of waiting a few mins

I think Central runs better than the suburbs and run when there is problems further out,

Ever wondered why London City Airport did not get a station? It was planned, but LCY were strong opponents of it, backed by the council, so they scrapped it, begging for it now though.

The thinking was Heathrow being easier to get to would take passengers away, it is now lol.

[wiggy001]

Maybe one for the "things that annoy you beyond reason" thread, but why on all the maps and signage is it "Elizabeth Line"? No other line has the word "Line" in it's name which leads me to call it the "Elizabeth Line Line".

Or "Lizzie Line" like everyone else

[ro250]

Always use it now from Stratford to Tottenham Ct. Road rather than the horrific Central Line. Always been great for me.

[valiant]

Because it’s only brand spanking new in the central core. From Shenfield to Stratford and Paddington to Reading it’s all on aging existing infrastructure with a legacy signalling system which then has to migrate to an ATO system once it gets on the new bit and then back again once it gets to the other end.

The trains are 345s which are a generally proven stock but *I think* this is the first time they’ve been used in an semi-automated environment within the central core so I guess a few teething issues will continue to rear their heads from time to time.

Good thing is is that it will continue to improve as time goes by as these kinks continue to be worked out.

[LastPoster]

wiggy001 said:

Maybe one for the "things that annoy you beyond reason" thread, but why on all the maps and signage is it "Elizabeth Line"? No other line has the word "Line" in it's name which leads me to call it the "Elizabeth Line Line".

Or "Lizzie Line" like everyone else

The new Overground lines are signed as "Weaver Line" for example. Like the EL they are rail lines not underground lines