Crossrail to be named after the Queen

Crossrail is to be named the Elizabeth line after Her Majesty the Queen, when it opens in December 2018. It will also be coloured purple on the London Underground Map.

The announcement was made by Mayor of London Boris Johnson as The Queen visited the Crossrail station under construction at Bond Street. He said the Elizabeth line would provide “a lasting tribute” to the country’s longest serving monarch.

The Mayor was joined by secretary of state for transport, Patrick McLoughlin, London’s transport commissioner, Mike Brown  the Crossrail infrastructure company’s chairman, Terry Morgan, and chief executive, Andrew Wolstenholme, as they gave Her Majesty a tour.

McLoughlin said: “Given Her Majesty the Queen’s long association with UK transport, it is very fitting that this vital link across our capital will be named the Elizabeth Line in her honour.”

Meanwhile Crossrail Ltd's chairman Terry Morgan said construction of the railway line was over 70% complete and on time and in budget.

The line is due to open in December 2018, at which point it will be renamed. Once operating, it is expected to carry half a million passengers each day.