Crossrail first look: All the pictures of the new Elizabeth line ahead of opening on May 24

After years of delays and billions of pounds spent, Crossrail’s Elizabeth line is due to finally open on May 24.

It will run from Abbey Wood, in south-east London, to Paddington via Canary Wharf, Liverpool Street and Tottenham Court Road every five minutes, from Mondays to Saturdays.

Over the autumn, the other sections - which includes routes to Shenfield, Reading and Heathrow Airport - will be connected up, so by spring next year Crossrail will be fully operational.

However Londoners can test out the much-vaunted new Tube and rail line for the first time later this month.

The Elizabeth line’s trains - which are already running on some TfL Rail routes - are state-of-the art carriages, which are more than 200m long and can carry up to 1,500 passengers.

They have air-conditioning, real-time travel information updates and Wi-Fi.

Modern platforms have been built across the 10 central London Tube stations, which are connecting with the Elizabeth line.

And the new route will mean it will take just 17 minutes to travel from Canary Wharf to Paddington, and less than 40 minutes to get from the Isle of Dogs to Heathrow Airport.

Ahead of the opening on May 24, here’s a sneak peek of all the pictures of the brand new Elizabeth line stations and trains.