Lesnes Abbey (and a #PurpleTrain).

26th May 2022

Unfortunately I had to work so couldn’t make it to the opening of the CrossElizPurpLineRail central section on 24th May 2022.Two days later, a day off so why not see what all the fuss was about nearly 4 years after my previous visit. I’d seen Lesnes Abbey mentioned a few times in videos by the great writer and film maker John Rogers. Abbey Wood takes its name from Lesnes Abbey and Abbey Wood station is now less than two hours away by train. Two birds, one stone and all that.

 

#PurpleTrain

 

My GWR train arrived into platform 1 at Paddington, convenient for the new Elizabeth Line entrance. Poor old Paddington Bear has been moved, presumably so as not to obstruct the increased flow of passengers around platform 1 and he’s now languishing next to the Cornish Nasty shop next to the Praed Street smokers’ ramp.

 

 

 Paddington Elizabeth Line entrance.

 

 

 Paddington platform level.

 

 

 

I went straight through to Abbey Wood and as advertised it took just 29 minutes. It will certainly bring East London “closer” for me. Later on my way back I hopped off at some of the intermediate stations for a nose around, the 5 minute train frequency makes this simple, no hanging around waiting for the next departure. It is an impressive railway line, the stations are huge, the new Dean Street entrance is dead handy for Soho. I like it. At some point changing trains will no longer be necessary at Paddington although for me that will actually make for a longer (time wise) journey so I’ll most likely continue to get a non-stop GWR service from Reading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tottenham Court Road new Dean Street entrance.

 

My Crossrail/Elizabeth Line Photo Album

 

Lesnes Abbey

 

About half a mile walk from Abbey Wood station (pro tip: come out of the Harrow Manorway exit not the other one like I did) in a public park lie the ruins of Lesnes Abbey. Lesnes Abbey, as it is now known, was founded by Richard de Luci, Chief Justiciar of England, in 1178. This may have been in penance for the murder of Thomas Becket, in which he was involved. The former London County Council purchased the the ruins in 1930 and opened them to the public as a park in 1931. Since 1986, the site has been the property of the London Borough of Bexley. It seems odd to find an ancient ruined abbey in what’s now a south east London suburb. It's a really nice place, well kept, and free to enter, with public toilets and a cafe. (Imagine what English Heritage Ltd. would want to charge you for something like that.) The sun came out too although it was a rather gusty afternoon. And the cafe provided good coffee and cake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17 Photos of Lesnes Abbey

 

A little oddity spotted on the way back to the station was these finger posts pointing the way to “Abbey Wood Cross Rail Station”. Cross Rail as two words has never been correct. I wonder if they’ll get changed to Elizabeth Line at some time?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Behind the hoardings at Whitechapel Elizabeth Line Station

Got a sneak preview of the new Crossrail Elizabeth Line station at Whitechapel this morning. Well not so much sneak actually as Crossrail are quite keen for people to come and see what's going on as part of their "Engineering - take a closer look" Open Days programme.

Whitechapel ticket hall

The station is still very much a construction site and for the event there were plenty of barriers and plenty of staff on hand to guide visitors around and to answer questions about the station and the new railway generally.

The new ticket hall cum concourse will also form a new route north-south from Whitechapel Road for the locals.

The roof of the ticket hall is a "green roof" topped with sedum plants which gives benefits for biodiversity, conservation, and noise reduction.

The escalators are still being installed, they're in but not finished so no step-free access yet. Instead visitors had to take the 164 steps (according to the information supplied with the invitation ticket) down to platform level. I didn't count them but it did feel like it on the way back up! 

It's the equivalent of a fifteen storey building. (That's an "in joke" the explanation for which can be found here. 😉

Once at platform level visitors were able to explore and take photos and ask questions. Parts of two of the platforms were open, one a little more finished than the other, also the cross passages, and the bottom "landing" area of the three escalators.

Platform level. Light airy space with LED lighting and full-height platform edge doors.

Cross passage showing wide curved corners to ease passenger flows.













New purple roundels!

The escalators.

Slightly less finished platform.

Platform seating.

Notice showing how platform signage will be laid out.

Another cross passage. Cladding still being applied.

As I was coming out transport video blogger Geoff Marshal was going in so for a much better look at the station than I can give you I suggest you check out his Youtube Channel where the video he was making today is now online.

If you're interested in railways, Crossrail, or engineering generally check out the Crossrail Events page where you can sign up to get advance notice of events like the one today. 

They even gave away freebies 😀

Whitechapel Crossrail Oyster Wallet